2003 Ham River Lands Surrey 26th July One Day Meeting
This joint walk with the London Natural History Society prompted a turnout of over twenty people with folk coming and going throughout the day.
A brisk walk from Teddington Station took us past places of local interest such as the Landmark Centre, formerly a church where Noel Coward (born in Teddington) was christened.
Our first stop was a colourful area beside Teddington Lock footbridge where Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife), Mimulus guttatus (monkeyflower) and Impatiens capensis (orange balsam) were running riot. Closer examination found us Mentha x verticillata (whorled mint), the hybrid between M. arvensis and M. aquatica, also Phalaris canariensis (canary grass) and Linum usitatissimum (cultivated flax) and before we knew it over an hour had passed and we hadn't even crossed the River Thames to Ham Lands.
The hot and dry weather of the summer had caused me as leader some concern that all the better plants would be dried up. Fortunately this was not so and Lepidium latifolium (dittander) was found in profusion along with some late Bunius orientalis (warty cabbage). The discovery of a patch of Allium carinatum (keeled garlic) was particularly interesting. Although it appeared to be well established I had been unaware of it in previous years,
After a lunch stop we took a brief detour into the Thames Young Mariners base in search of dried up specimens of Ophrys apifera (bee orchid) which have been reported there. None were found so we moved on finding Trifolium fragiferum (strawberry clover) on the roadside verge before admiring an enormous Vitus vinifera (grape vine). This plant has been on the Lands for many years and I am told local people harvest the grapes for winemaking. I cannot vouch for the results though!
We then took a meandering route to Ham House meeting few other people and showing how easy it is to escape into a semi rural landscape whilst close to town. Ham House provided the chance for some welcome refreshment and rest plus the bonus of a couple of late flowers of Hieracium speluncarum.
From Ham House those remaining stalwarts made a dash for Richmond as the ever-looming clouds unleashed their rain. A quick detour into some wastegroundjust as we turned off the towpath provided Phytolacca acinosa (Indian pokeweed), a late addition to our total for the day.
My thanks to all those who came along, especially those who stayed the course. It was a longer walk than anticipated but I hope the plants made up for that. The company certainly did!
PIPPA HYDE