2004 Scilly Isles Come-and-Find 19th to 26th May Main Meeting
Week one of this trip was ably run by the ever enthusiastic Bill and Carol Hawkins who had prepared throughout for the occasion. Those who had not visited the islands before were in for a great treat and a week of blistering hot weather.
We were scattered in hotels and guest houses throughout St Marys so didn't meet up properly until doing so by the quay en route for our first boat expedition. Previously we had received lists of the goodies we were hoping to see: these were supplemented with more papers including a sheaf from one of our number, Gareth Bursnall. Gareth had spent many happy hours compiling a massive list from the BSBI atlas of all the plants recorded in the Scillies. As if this was not enough he had added in the page numbers from Stace saving even more work for us.
Thus equipped with day packs bulging with paperwork we waited for our transport for the week. This proved to be the boat 'Blue Hunter' owned by Paul. The ladies of the party perked up immediately on meeting our charming and handsome skipper and a rapid interest in boats and their workings was developed.
Many of the plants seen during the week were recorded by both groups visiting the Islands so I will concentrate on those not mentioned in the following account. We had decided that starting the week gently would be a good idea so went to Bryher first where we amazed by the profusion of Gladiolus communis ssp. byzantinus (gladioli or the locally named whistling Jacks). These have escaped from fields and together with Geranium maderense (giant herb Robert) provided a stunning magenta show. We spent a lot of time searching for the tiny Viola kitaibeliana (dwarf pansy). Here one of Bill and Carols' Come and Find traditions was introduced to the week. The finder of certain special plants was awarded a 'medal' - an Isles of Scilly badge. Stella Taylor was the first recipient of this honour and by the end of the week we all sported badges for various discoveries. There is nothing like a little healthy competitionto add to the fun and it certainly makes the plants memorable.
Crop fields full of arable weeds proved good hunting grounds and several species of fumitory were seen during the week including Fumaria bastardii, F. capreolata ssp. babingtonii and F. muralis ssp. boraei (tall ramping, ramping and Boreau's fumitories.) Another 'medal' plant was Scandix pecten-veneris (shepherd's needle) growing in profusion in a field on St Martin's. A fantastic find and probably one of my favourite plants of the trip if not 2004.
No trip to Scilly would be complete without a visit to Tresco and the gardens there. Some super alien species were to be seen such as Agapanthus praecox (agapanthus) and Chasmanthe bicolor but finds such as the diminutive Ophioglossum azoricum (small adder's-tongue) growing in abundance outside the gardens were equalyy thrilling. The gardens themselves were of great interest once one had negotiated the ferocious flocks of small birds in the cafeteria. Warning to future visitors, do not turn your back on your lunch. Hungry sparrows are watching your every movement beadily from the bushes. Selaginella kraussiana (Kraus's clubmoss) was our goal there and was found along one path.
St Agnes had fewer new species but by now we were able to concentrate on plants such as eyebrights. Euphrasia confusa was found on the Gugh in profusion and a few minutes spent watching sea birds and looking back at the view to St Mary's was enjoyable.
St Mary's itself provided several late afternoon walks round the coastal path. Allium neapolitanum (Neopolitan garlic), Cyrtomium falcatum (house holly fern) and Erepsia heteropetala (lesser sea fig) were amongst the many plants seen.
The final day on St Mary's was more exhausting for some than others. A small splinter group rebelled from walking and caught the local bus to the lunch stop. There all the cakes were sampled and recommendations given on the best buy to members of the group arriving puce with heat and exhaustion. The rebels did walk back to the hotel however finding Freesia x hybrida (freesia) on the way growing in the hedgerows.
The last night meal was a special occasion and photographs taken that evening show a table of bronzed and happy faces. The week was all too soon over and though the purpose was to see plants we also had great fun. Bill and Carol you are both stars and you certainly know how to show a girl (and her Mum) a good time.
PIPPA HYDE