1999 Bredon Worcestershire 22 May One Day Meeting
Eleven members met at Eckington Bridge on 22 May, and we were to enjoy excellent weather. The first site visited yielded Oenanthe Silaifolia (Narrow- leaved Water-dropwort) and nearby was an excellent display of Myosurus minimus (Mousetail). Mike Richardson then took us to an arable field, near Pershore, where along the edge we were delighted to see Lithospermum arvense(Field Gromwell), Ranunculus arvensis (Corn Buttercup) and Scandix pecten-veneris (Shepherd's-needle). We then returned to Bredon Hill itself and after lunch commenced our climb. We circled a large arable field noting, among many others, Valerianella dentata (Narrow-fruited Cornsalad), Chaenorhinum minus (Small Toadflax) and Legousia hybrida (Venus's-looking-glass). On a path climbing steadily to the half-way point we saw Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin) and several interesting grasses including Bromopsis erecta (Upright Brome) and both Helictotrichon pubescens (Downy Oat-grass) and H. pratense (Meadow Oat-grass). On the steep grassy slopes at half-way we found Myosotis ramosissima(Early Forget-me-not), Aphanes arvensis (Parsley-piert) and Polygala calcarea(Chalk Milkwort) with much P. vulgaris (Common Milkwort) nearby for comparison.
In the notice in the magazine I had suggested an optional extension to include the summit. All but two people were determined to carry on! During the climb we saw Cynoglossum officinale (Hound's-tongue) and near the summit were Cerastium arvense (Field Mouse-ear) and Saxifraga granulata (Meadow Saxifrage).
DEREK THOMAS