2002 Avon Gorge 13 April One Day Meeting
It was a beautiful sunny but cold April morning, when Pam Millman welcomed 13 members at Clifton Down.
Pam explained that the rich and unique flora of the Avon Gorge had been attracting botanists since around 1562 when Turner first recorded Trinia glauca (honewort) in the area. Many others including such famous botanists as Gerard and Banks had also worked in this picturesque part.
The first plant of the day was Lathraea squamaria (toothwort) growing on holly. The nationally scarce plant Potentilla tabernaemontani (spring cinquefoil) was beautifully in bloom on a bank, and we were able to see this again, throughout the day, on both sides of the River Avon.
From a viewpoint overlooking the tidal Avon and its spectacular Suspension Bridge, we had a birds-eye view of the steep rock ledges created by quarrying, and the plants clinging to them and see the jackdaws busying themselves with nesting. Here Allium roseum (rosy garlic) and Nectaroscordum sicilum (honey garlic) were almost breaking into flower, while the Erysimum cheiri (wallflower) was in splendid bloom.
The observatory towered above us and John, Pam's husband, told us that it was a windmill until a camera obscura was placed in it. This camera gave a 360-degree view and brought the Victorians flocking to watch the courting couples. Down to the Suspension Bridge and up a steep climb, rewarded us with Arabis scabra (Bristol rock-cress), a Red Data Book plant, growing in the limestone rock crevices. Then on to the 'Top of the Gulley' where Carex humilis (dwarf sedge) and C. digitata (fingered sedge) both nationally scarce plants were found. Cerastium pumilum (dwarf mouse-ear) caused much searching for its scarious tipped bracts and Saxifraga tridactylitis (rue-leaved saxifrage) was flowering.
After lunch it was across the Suspension Bridge with a toll of 20p, to Leigh Woods. Here we walked through the woods to the west side of the river, enjoying the many spring flowers and noting the bluebells bursting into blue. At the cliff bottom, Carex digitata (fingered sedge) had increased its stand and Cochlearia anglica (English scurvy-grass) was flowering in the mud of the riverside salt marsh.
The day ended with a visit to the University Botanic Garden, where we were welcomed by Nick Wray, the Director. Whilst this visit was short, he gave us a most interesting and comprehensive account of the collection of rarities of the SW of England. We were able to see many wild flowers now threatened in the wild, thriving in a protected environment. Two members of the group said they would not have missed this part of the day for anything.
Thanks must go to Pam, not only for showing us such rare and interesting plants, but for taking care of all the arrangements and sparing time to tell us so much of the local history. It was a great way to start the season, treading in the footsteps of the famous.
GILL READ