Wayland Wood, Watton, Norfolk 1 April
On the drive up to Norfolk I encountered three extremely heavy April showers. They did not last for long, but, if we had been out in them we would have been soaked to the skin in seconds. Thankfully no more rain materialised and we had a sunny, but coolish day. The ground was muddy underfoot and there were few flowers to see. This year spring seems to be very late in arriving; everything seems to be about a month behind. Salix caprea (Goat Willow) sprang into life just yesterday.
Wayland Wood is the only known site in Norfolk for Gagea lutea (Yellow Star-of- Bethlehem) - there may well be several hundred plants here but it is known to be an exceptionally shy flowerer. By this time last year there were a few plants in full bloom but we had to hunt for them today and, eventually we found five in tight bud. It was warming up a bit and we decided that when we returned to the start we would have another look and, sure enough the increased warmth was beginning to open the flowers, just enough to see their bright yellow petals.
The darkly spotted leaves of Orchis mascula (Early-purple Orchid) were all over the place and Viola reichenbachiana (Early Dog-violet) was beginning to show its face. Adoxa moschatellina (Moschatel) was found adorning a tree stump, but again in tight bud. Primula vulgaris (Primrose) was found in good clumps throughout the wood and I demonstrated the pin-eyed and thrum-eyed nature of the flowers demonstrating heterostyly to ensure cross-pollination. The 'pin' is self evident but 'thrum' is also a weaver's term and relates to loose threads that can form a fringe, and that is exactly what the anthers look like at the mouth of the corolla.
After a picnic lunch we moved to nearby Thetford to see some specialities that can be found on a roadside verge reserve. On the way we discovered a beautiful large- flowering Ranunculus ficaria ssp. ficariiformis (Lesser Celandine), and close by some naturalised Euphorbia amygdaloides ssp. robbiae (Wood Spurge). Speedwells soon became the order of the day. In quick succession we had found Veronica persica (Common Field-speedwell), V. agrestis (Green-field Speedwell), V. hederifolia ssp. hederifolia and ssp. lucorum (Ivy-leaved Speedwell).
Amongst the hundreds of pale blue but minute flowers of Myosotis ramosissima (Early Forget-me-not) were the deeper blue and equally tiny blooms of Veronica triphyllos (Fingered Speedwell). A couple of weeks previously I had also found the also deep blue ones of V. praecox (Breckland Speedwell) but on this day we could only find the leaves. What is needed is a really warm and bright spring day in late morning or early afternoon to try and see these rarities at their best.
Our thanks to Bill and Carol for organising the day and arranging to keep off the rain.
STEPHEN CLARKSON