2000 Norfolk 1 - 2 July Main Meeting
Thirty-one members met our leaders Alee Bull, author of the acclaimed Flora of Norfolk and Bob Ellis, VC recorder at Cley Beach Park on a damp and drizzly morning. Excellent plant lists were distributed, carefully produced by Bob with rarities helpfully printed in bold. Those lucky enough to get a laser- printed copy were at an advantage in the wet weather.
Our first plants were near by and we were watched closely by a family of avocets and two noisy oystercatchers. They included Carex extensa (Long- bracted Sedge), Triglochin maritimum (Sea Arrowgrass), Rumex crispus ssp littoreus (Curled Dock) the very glaucous Elytrigia atherica (Sea Couch) with the Red Data Book Ruppia cirrhosa (Spiral Tasselweed) filling a brackish scrape. This is the common Ruppia on this stretch of coast we were told. We then set off along the shingle spit to Blakeney Point at a brisk pace and Alee was pleased to note we covered the two and a half miles in an hour. With our first sight of any vegetation we were well rewarded. Calystegia soldanella (Sea Bindweed), not looking its best in the rain, three nationally scarce plants Festuca arenaria (Rush-leaved Fescue), Corynephorus canescens (Grey Hair-grass), Suaeda vera (Shrubby Seablite) all very common here and another Red Data Book plant Limonium bellidifoloium (Matted Sea-lavender) which is confined to the Norfolk coast, growing with Frankenia laevis (Sea Heath) and Puccinellia maritima (Common Saltmarsh-grass).
At this point some of the group chose to walk an extra mile or so to see a more or less naturalised Yucca planted in 1912. The rest of us were asked what time we would like lunch - most surprising for a WFS meeting and we naturally opted for the early time of 12.30 p.m. However, as expected it proved difficult to slow Alee down until after 1.00 p.m. when the intermittent rain of the morning eased off allowing us to sit in the shelter of the dunes.
Alee was then delighted to show us Parapholis incurva (Curved Hard-grass); a plant that really turns you on, was how he described it, growing with Phleum arenarium (Sand Cat's-tail) and Cakile maritima (Sea Rocket). We saw Sarcocornia perennis (Perennial Glasswort) which Alee explained was not easy to pull up because of its creeping rootstock. Annual Glassworts can simply be uprooted. As we were being shown the difference between Limonium humile (Lax-flowered Sea-lavender) and Limonium binervosum ssp anglica (Rock Sea-lavender) Bob found some rust cluster cups of Uromyces limonii which are quite rare, being restricted to Sea-lavenders. We returned to Cley Beach on the southern side of the spit, where extensive areas of shingle looked stunning covered with Glaucium flavum (Yellow Horned Poppy) with the attractive Atriplex littoralis (Grass-leaved Orache) and many other plants of the habitat.
The last plant on the shingle was Lathyrus japonicus (Sea pea) planted by Bob's uncle Ted Ellis in 1953 from seeds planted at Blakeney Point in 1912; these plants have survived several floods and have spread well. A short walk down the lane added Apium graveolens(Wild Celery) and Bolboschoenus maritimus (Sea Club-rush) to our impressive list. Alee made the day a memorable one with his anecdotes and explanations, such as how Atriplex portulacoides (Sea Purslane) grows at the highest and driest part of the dykes so that the tidal channels can be clearly seen through the extensive saltmarsh.
Bob Ellis was our leader on Sunday, a much drier day, warm and humid. We met at Strumpshaw Fen and began by walking through a typical fen meadow with large areas of Juncus subnodulosus (Blunt-flowered Rush), Thalictrum flavum(Common Meadow-rue), the delicate Cirsium dissectum (Meadow Thistle) and Lychnis flos-cuculi (Ragged Robin). We were shown 15 sedges in all including Carex appropinquata (Fibrous Tussock-sedge), C. disticha (Brown Sedge) and C. hostiana (Tawny Sedge). In the ditches we were delighted to find the beautiful Stratiotes aloides (Water-soldier) with abundant upright flowers, a few flowers of Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (Frogbit) and Ceratophyllum demersum (Rigid Hornwort). Dactylorhiza praetermissa and D. fuchsii Southern Marsh and Common Spotted orchids were found and photographers' footprints led us to a fine specimen of Epipactis palustris (Marsh Helleborine).
While walking up the lane and by the river Alee pointed out Rubus conjungenswhich likes a damp site, R. vestitus, R. lindleianus named after John Lindley, R. polyanthemus (often more than four leaflets), the local R. boudiccae named after the Queen of the Iceni who was a thorny problem for the Romans and was a thorny problem to identify, and one Rubus which Alee said you walk past quickly because it hasn't got a name. Meanwhile Bob was showing us Lathyrus palustris (Marsh Pea), Peucedanum palustre (Milk Parsley), Galium palustre ssp elongatum (Marsh-bedstraw), Potentilla palustris (Marsh Cinquefoil) and Cicuta virosa (Cowbane), unfortunately not in flower.
In the reed 'beds was the striking Cladium mariscus (Great Fen-sedge) which was used for the ridges of the thatched roofs, along the sides of the board walks Thelypteris palustris (Marsh Fern) was abundant and in a dyke we found Myriophyllum spicatum (Spiked Water-milfoil).
We moved to the Ted Ellis Nature Reserve at Wheatfen Broad for lunch and Ted's widow, Phyllis Ellis made us very welcome with trays of fresh tea. Phyllis, who has lived here since 1946, is now 87 and is going to abseil down the side of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital to raise funds for the Reserve; admiring WFS members were quick to sponsor her.
Bob led us along many paths where we saw Senecio fluviatile (Broad-leaved Ragwort) Allium scorodoprasum (Sand Leek) and Telekia speciosa (Yellow Oxeye) all well naturalised. We were able to look at, but not count, a specimen of Selinum carvifolia (Cambridge Milk Parsley) planted two years ago. In the wood we were shown Ophioglossum vulgatum (Adder's-tongue) and Dryopteris affinis ssp borreri (Scaly Male-fern). Along a path to Wheatfen Broad the most unusual plants were Stellaria palustris (Marsh Stitchwort) and Sonchus palustris(Marsh Sow-thistle) the latter not in flower. Cetti's Warblers were singing, but dragonflies were hiding. Those with Wellington boots then walked through the reed beds while the rest kept to drier ground by the dykes. We all met up to find a large patch of Scrophularia umbrosa (Green Water Figwort), a nationally scarce plant. Just as we thought the day had finished the unflagging Alee leapt over a fence and into a pond, but could only find Lemna gibba (Fat Duckweed). We returned to yet more tea in the garden.
How privileged we were to have two such knowledgeable and interesting leaders who gave up their time to come with us on both days. Our grateful thanks to them both for such a splendid weekend.
RITA HEMSLEY