2002 Anglesey 20 to 21 June Main Meeting
What a contrast these two days were! Coastal cliffs, sand dunes and saltmarsh in warm sunshine (with the inevitable breeze) helped to make 'day one' most enjoyable. The following morning began overcast, after heavy overnight rain, and by the afternoon we were plodding, in an almost constant downpour, through fen and bog that had been deeply pitted by grazing herds of ponies and highland cattle. Wellingtons were a good idea!
So, to the plants, which were superb. Our leader, Wendy McCarthy, who lives on the Great Orme and is a WFS Secretary, welcomed us at South Stack, on the northwest tip of Anglesey. We climbed the cliff path, with magnificent sea views, noting Anthyllis vulneraria ssp. corbierei (kidney vetch) with red tips on the calyx, Pimpinella saxifraga (burnet saxifrage), Sagina subulata (heath pearlwort) and Spergularia rupicola (rock sea spurrey). At the top we were shown the tiny Tuberaria guttata (spotted rock- rose) surviving within a very limited area. Then down to the lighthouse (RSPB centre), near where Wendy pointed out Tephroseris integrifolia ssp. maritima (field fleawort), on a slippery grass slope beyond the safety barrier, drawing some members perilously close to the edge, with the rocks and sea far below! After lunch we drove to the southern comer of Anglesey to visit the extensive and varied habitat of Newborough Warren, with its very rich flora.
Along the approach lane the identity of a hybrid horsetail, Equisetum x litorale (shore horsetail) was discussed and even before entering the NNR the first of many hybrid orchids, Dactylorhiza purpurella x fuchsii, D. purpurella x D. maculata (northern marsh orchid x heath spotted) were seen. Wendy showed us where the removal of a fence had left the Dianthus deltoides (maiden pink) vulnerable to grazing. However diligent searching produced a few plants with buds and one flower.
We were soon to appreciate the extent of the reserve and its riches. Initially we walked across a field, an artist's dream, filled with Ranunculus acris (meadow buttercup) and Leucanthemum vulgare (ox-eye daisy) picked out with vivid spikes of D. purpurella (northern marsh orchid) hybrids. Further treats were in store, carpets of Viola tricolor ssp. curtisii (wild pansy), both purple and white/yellow forms and of unusually large-flowered Anagallis tenella (bog pimpernel), with Centaurium litorale (seaside centaury) nearby.
Then the flora changed, almost the most dominant plant was Epipactis palustris(marsh helleborine), mainly in bud but a few were found open. The spikes of the above mentioned D. purpurella hybrids added splashes of dramatic purple and other paler shades, interspersed with the brick red of D. incarnata ssp. coccinea (a sub- species of early marsh orchid).
Sharp eyes spotted the rosettes of Pinguicula vulgaris (common butterwort), Gentianella amarella (marsh? (autumn) gentian), a few flowering spikes of Pyrola rotundifolia ssp. maritima (round-leaved wintergreen), Samolus valerandi (brookweed) and Parnassia palustris (grass of Parnassus). In this damper soil rushes began to appear, including Juncus articulatus (jointed rush) and the tiny Eleocharis quinqueflora (few- flowered spike-rush) and then Selaginella selaginoides (lesser clubrush).
Reaching the dunes, grasses such as Phleum arenarium (sand catstail) and Vulpia fasciculata (dune fescue) were recorded, together with Erigeron acer (blue fleabane). Here half the group decided to wait, protected from the wind, where they could admire the splendid view of the Snowdon range. The rest walked on to examine plants on the distant saltmarsh. They were rewarded with Spergularia media (greater sea spurrey), Schoenus nigricans (black bog-rush), Carex extensa (long-bracted sedge) and Spartina x townsendii (the hybrid between smooth and small cord-grasses). There was a profusion of Silene uniflora (sea campion) and Armeria maritima (thrift) in flower almost under water.
The following day our leader was joined by Les Colley, warden of a nature reserve on the opposite side of Angelsey called Cors Erddreiniog. The area is so sensitive that a permit is required to enter. There are 600 acres of fen, bog, wet woodland and hedgerows, with limestone as well as acid habitats. The water levels are controlled by the use of ditches, sluices and dams. Forty ponies and nine highland cattle are grazed and the scrub is controlled by hand weeding. Curlews breed and the rare marsh fritillary butterfly can be seen here.
After our leader had shown us specimens of rushes and sedges, including Carex lasiocarpa (slender sedge) and C. elata (tufted sedge), he led us through a wet woodland, noting a variety of marsh plants on the way, to open heathland with Carex binervis (green-ribbed sedge) and Trichophorum cespitosum (deergrass). There were small pools containing Potamogeton perfoliatus (perfoliate pondweed) and we had a good view of the rare palmate newt.
Moving out onto a fen, we were shown how to identify Phragmites australis (common reed) from Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass). We were also shown a rare Rubus sp. with red stems and pale green leaves, which only grows in this habitat. This was later referred to David Earl who determined it to be Rubus scissus. Leaving the fen we were delighted to find several Platanthera bifolia (lesser butterfly orchid) in a field. Then we crossed a bog with many pools to see, among other plants, Hippuris vulgaris (marestail), Baldellia ranunculoides (lesser water-plantain) and Veronica anagallis-aquatica (blue water speedwell).
After lunch the weather deteriorated but our members pressed on, skilfully led by Les, who has known the reserve for 30 years and lives nearby. But there were times when the study of botany definitely took second place to the hop, skip and a jump across any of the more treacherous looking areas. Occasionally someone did not make it but they were soon hauled out of the mire. Fortunate that this was the second day, as walking boots would certainly not have dried out overnight.
The reward was Hottonia palustris (water violet), Carex diandra (lesser tussock sedge) and Menyanthes trifoliata (bogbean), with Sparganium minimum (least bur- reed) and Potamogeton coloratus (fen pondweed). There were a few orchids to see before we left, Gymnadenea conopsea (fragrant), Ophrys insectifera (fly) and the Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. pulchella (early marsh orchid subspecies) which is only found in peaty bogs. Finally we expressed our thanks to two infinitely patient and knowledgeable leaders for giving us such a botanically rich weekend.
PAMELA LEE