2005 Nacton and Newbourne Suffolk 25th May One Day Meeting
Ten members met at Nacton, led by Stephen Clarkson, who had arranged off-road parking nearby.
A good start was made with Fumaria capreolata (white ramping fumitory) in a hedge by an entrance gate.
On a gentle grassy slope by the first meadow we found various grasses (useful identification practice). Geranium pusillum (small flowered cranesbill) and Amsinckia intermedia (common fiddleneck). Cruciata laevipes (crosswort) made an attractive sight by a stile to the main meadow which was mostly wet grassland which was colourful with flowers, a welcome sight these days. This gave us Equisetum telmateia (great horsetail), E. palustre (marsh horsetail), Carex panicea (carnation sedge) and Moehringia trinervia (three-veined sandwort), Cardamine amara (large bitter-cress) was discovered in a stream, with Stellaria uliginosa (bog stitchwort) half hidden in wet grass nearby.
The main show of Dactylorhiza praetermissa (southern marsh-orchid) was late this year. Nevertheless we were pleased to find a handful of spikes in bloom. Time being short we made a quick three mile dash to Newboume Springs where we found adequate off-road parking. The Springs are a pleasing mixture of woodland, alder carr and clear streams, with typical spring flowers.
Entering through a mass of butterbur in leaf we continued through hazel and alder, coming across Geum rivale (water avens) and Plantago major ssp. intermedia (greater plantain). Also the three bluebells, Hyacinthoides non-scripta (English), H. hispanica (Spanish) and H. non-scripta x hispanica (hybrid) in close proximity to one another.
Descending to the lower levels accompanied by birdsong, including cuckoos and the seldom heard turtle dove, we came upon Viburnum lantana (wayfaring tree) appropriately beside the path, and Dryopteris carthusiana (narrow buckler fem) with D. dilatata (broad buckler fem) nearby for useful comparison, bringing the day to a satisfactory end.
Our grateful thanks to Steve for his painstaking preparation and his guidance throughout.
TOM SMITH