2001 Box Hill Surrey 3 June One Day Meeting
A combination of sunshine and advertising this meeting locally resulted in 34 botany beginners (about 18 WFS members, mostly all new members) greeting us at Box Hill. After handing out packs detailing the geology and natural history of the site and a grasses beginners' guide, we headed off downhill through oak and beech woodland passing classic woodland plants like Sanicula europaea (Sanicle), Geum urbanum (Wood Avens) and Mercurialis perennis (Dogs Mercury). As we were such a large group, members all helped out by leading splinter groups while Gary Bursnall led the way. Gary found the pink variety of Ajuga reptans(Bugle) on the clay-with-flints section of the hill, while I amused others with some local folklore about Briza media (Quaking-grass). Entering open chalk grassland, some members seized upon the grasses while others enjoyed the Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Common Spotted-orchids) and abundant chalk flowers. Many of these plants were new to the group and we all learnt something by actually keying plants out for ourselves.
After a fruitless hunt for Herminium monorchis (Musk Orchid) (too early) we studied a statuesque Aceras anthropophorum (Man Orchid) above the zig-zag road and a colony of Neottia nidus-avis (Bird's-nest Orchid) in damp litter under the shade of the beech canopy. During lunch, a new WFS member found the only Ophrys apifera (Bee Orchid) of the day. More orchids followed on a bank with Platanthera chlorantha(Greater Butterfly-orchid), Cephalanthera damasonium (White Helleborine) and Listera ovata (Twayblade). Gary then showed us the Surrey speciality, Cvnoglossum germanicum (Green Hound's-tongue) by Headley Road conveniently spotted here by another WFS member on a 'recce' the night before. This plant is a Red Data Book species but can be seen regularly on the North Downs in Surrey. The wall beside Headley Road also had some minuscule Ceterach officinarum (Rusty-back Fern).
Then we headed back over Juniper Top to well-earned ice creams at the National Trust car park. Many thanks to Gary and to the other WFS members who assisted with the group.
CLARE COLEMAN