2004 Lower Woods South Gloucestershire 24th April One Day Meeting
Lower Woods Nature Reserve is almost 700 acres of ancient semi-natural woodland owned by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. The Society had sponsored the design and production of an information and way-marked walk leaflet and copies of the leaflet were distributed to all those present. The group of 13 were led by Dr Mike Martin (Chair of the Management Committee) and Sarah Rowlatt (Secretary of the Management Committee and Interpretation Officer for the Wildlife Trust). The weather was exemplary; being fine, sunny and warm with little breeze and this added to the pleasure of the visit.
The group were treated to details of the history of Lower Woods from Roman times to the present day as well as points of more general plant ecological interest. Avariety of habitats were visited including improved meadow grassland, semi- improved meadowland, wet grassland, coppice with standards woodland and streamsides. One of the major influences on the vegetation and flora of this site is the heavy Lias clay soils, which produce muddy and often waterlogged patches. The leaders pointed out a wide range of ancient woodland indicator species (AWIs); Lower Woods has one of the highest scores for AWIs in the southwest.
The day coincided with the peak flowering of bluebells, wood anemones and lesser celandines. Because of the stillness of the wind a notable feature was the delicate smell of the bluebell swards.
The day produced no great plant rarities but an abundance of typical spring- flowering woodland and grassland species. The group were able to see convincing examples of Crataegus monogyna and C. laevigata (common and midland hawthorn) in early flower, as well as hybrids. Primula x polyantha (false oxiips) were found with the parents Primula vulgaris (primrose) and P. veris (cowslip). Large patches of Colchicum autumnale (meadow saffron) were in leaf and early fruit. By the Little Avon River the first flowers of Allium ursinum (ramsons) were visible. White drifts of flowering Prunus spinosa (blackthorn) occurred on many of the larger tracks (trenches) although slightly past the best. In the woodland rides Ophioglossum vulgatum (adder's-tongue) was very abundant. Other ferns included Polypodium interjectum (intermediate polypody), Dryopteris affinis (scaly male-fem) and D. dilatata (broad buckler-fern).
A number of sedges were seen including Carex pendula (pendulous sedge), C. silvatica (wood sedge), C. remota (remote sedge), C. strigosa (thin-spiked wood- sedge), C. hirta (hairy sedge) and C. flacca (glaucous sedge). In Lower Wetmoor Wood substantial numbers of Sorbus torminalis (wild service tree) were pointed out together with different forms of Quercus robur (oak). The latter showed straight, clean stemmed specimens planted after the last felling in about 1850 contrasting well with the less straight stems with abundant epicormic growths on trees that had regrown from thestumps of the earlier felling.
Many spikes of Orchis mascula (early-purple orchid) were seen as were the leaves of Dactylorhiza fuchsii (common-spotted orchid). A highlight was the finding of a few stems of Paris quadrifolia (herb Paris) in good flower; most with 4 leaves but some with 5 leaves. In a more acid grassland area of Horton Great Trench several flowering plants of Pedicularis sylvatica (lousewort) were seen. Although some 369 flowering plants had already been recorded for the reserve the day produced one new record, Aphanes arvensis (parsley piert).
The day provided a relaxed, informal and above all enjoyable visit to one of the largest areas of ancient semi-natural woodland in the region.
M.H.MARTIN and S. R. ROWLATT