2003 Box Hill Surrey 8th March One Day Meeting
On a brisk morning, eleven members were joined by Clare's mum for the first field meeting of the year, led by Gareth Bursnall and Clare Coleman. Starting out, a large patch of Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot) was examined near the station car park and Prunus cerasifera (cherry plum) and Forsythia x intermedia (forsythia) were also flowering in a sheltered position alongside the A24. Crossing to the River Mole we passed Ruscus aculeatus (butcher's broom) and Phyllitis scolopendrium (hart's-tongue fem). The riverbanks were brightened.with Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop) and Narcissus agg. (garden daffodil). One plant was later confirmed by RHS Wisley as Galanthus elwesii (greater snowdrop) but searches along the river failed to find Viola reichenbachiana (early dog violet) in flower. Binoculars were borrowed to inspect Viscum album (mistletoe) in the large limes overlooking the river and several fine Populus x canescens (grey poplar) were beginning to drop their catkins. A splash of colour in a nearby scrub edge was a large Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry) starting to go over but still covered in its bright yellow flowers. Towards the stepping-stones crossing Buxus sempervirens (box), Taxus baccata (yew) and Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle) were flowering, and Gareth keyed Polystichum aculeatum (hard shield- fem) for us.
Botanising was put on hold as we climbed Box Hill for a well earned sit down and a warming cup of tea at the National Trust picnic area, where we exchanged information on the local botanical rarities and nearby locations for Epipactis purpiirata (violet helleborine). After lunch we saw two small self-seeded Juniperus communis (juniper) and were shown sites for various orchid species, for later inspection, as we strolled across the down to the bottom of the Zig Zag Road. Along the Downs Road track were several Daphne laureola (spurge laurel), Helleborus foetidus (stinking hellebore) and early Primula vulgaris (primrose). There were no signs of life as we were shown sites where Iberis amara (wild candytuft) and Hirschfeldia incana (hoary mustard) are recorded, but the author can confirm that they each flowered nearby at their allotted times. Turning back under darkening skies we passed a fine Quercus ilex (Holm oak) and Ulmus procera (English elm) saplings were surviving along a wood edge nearby, and one member was able to identify Cochlearia danica (Danish scurvygrass) onA24 verges without benefit of flowers. Asplenium adiantum-nigrum (black spleenwort) and Asplenium ruta-muraria (wall rue) were growing on the railway bridge as we recrossed the river, and we saw Asplenium trichomanes (maidenhair spleenwort) on a brickwork parapet as we returned to the station in heavy drizzle.
A surprisingly full species list for the time of year, and many thanks go to Gareth and Clare for organising a very enjoyable start to field botany for 2003.
STEVE MELLOR