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No 8 Spring 2017

HeathNewsletter of the Dorset Flora Group

The Dorset Flora Group AGM at the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Headquarters back in November seems a long time ago. The meeting was again

a thoroughly enjoyable affair with plenty of good conversation and an excellent talk by Tim Bailey on Dorset’s carnivorous plants – it seems that some of the species, particularly the bladderworts, can be fiendishly difficult the identify! Talks by Robin Walls, Ted Pratt and John Newbould provided a good summary of the work the Dorset Flora Group has been involved in during 2016 and also some of the highlights of the botanical year. This issue of Dorset Heath includes their reports. Many thanks to Amber Rosenthal and the Dorset Wildlife Trust for allowing the DFG AGM to be held its offices. Thanks also to Peter and Margaret Cramb for once more provided a suitably testing quiz.

After yet another winter with next to no snowfall, Spring is fast approaching. I hope everyone is keen to get out and enjoy Dorset’s wonderful flora. Although most people think first of the county’s magnificent displays of coastal and meadow plants in high summer, there is much to excite the keen botanist early in the season.

Last year I went out on a hunt in early April for the elusive Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem and was delighted to discover it in a wood in north Dorset. The key to finding this little plant was to look out for its bluebell-like leaves with their distinctive tubular tips, rather than the exquisite pale yellow-green flowers (see photo below), which are not always present. Later in the season the plant all but disappears, which underlines the fact that if you are doing some woodland square-bashing for the BSBI 2020 Atlas you need to visit sites at least a couple of times in the year to record the full range of species.

I hope that many of you will be helping with this important project this year, as we are entering the

last few seasons.

At the end of this issue you will see that we are again holding a series of events for Wild Flower Week at the end of May and beginning of June. Thanks to Ted Pratt for organising this popular programme. We also have a good range of field meetings, including some workshops planned, so do register your interest.

I look forward to seeing you over the coming season at the various meetings.

Good plant hunting!

Andrew Branson

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Atlas 2020

We are nearing the end of the recording period for the BSBI’s Atlas 2020 project. It is clear that the centre and north of Dorset are where we

have most monads (1km grid-squares) with no records (Fig. 1). We will be organising some recording days up there this year, but meanwhile please venture ‘up t’north’ when you feel the need to look for plants. If you don’t have the time for longer than the briefest of visits, please stop the car when driving through - ten minutes in a layby listing what you see will almost certainly make a big difference to the coverage. If you are lucky you might find something spectacular (see below).

Looking on the positive side, the squares that have records are shown in Figure 2. The colour coding indicates the number of taxa recorded. As is often the case, the richest areas of the county have received

the most attention: Purbeck and the coastal squares. The systematic recording in west Dorset and around Crossways is evident from the yellow and orange dots. In fact, I expect every monad in Dorset to have over 200 species making the many green dots stand out as under-recorded. Because of historic county boundary changes, there are two areas that are also being covered by other vice-counties. Bournemouth and Christchurch are in South Hants, vice-county 11. Currently, Hampshire is being more intensely surveyed than Dorset. The dotted extension to vice-county 9 in the west is now in the administrative counties of Devon and Somerset. The recently published Flora of Devon has covered the Devon part and I understand Somerset botanists are recording the northernmost parish in this area.

Vice-county Recorder’s notes for 2016 Robin Walls

Figure 1 Squares with no post-2000 records. DERC

Figure 2 Numbers of plant species recorded since 2000. These maps do not show the latest records. To check the current state for any grid square look at Living Record or ask the recorder for the square. DERC

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Some interesting finds in 2016

More sites for Bolboschoenus laticarpus, the club-rush recently recognised as present in Britain as distinct from the Sea Club-rush

B. maritimus, were found by Fred Rumsey and Helena Crouch on the R.Cale in the upper Stour catchment. These finds complement the first definite identification of the species by Andrew Branson in 2014 and reinforce my view that any stand of Bolboschoenus in fresh water should be checked as a possible for B. laticarpus. Please collect ripe fruit for critical examination.

Charles Whitworth has found a new site for Little-Robin Geranium purpureum. It was found on the north-west side of Weymouth, which is more inland than the better known sites along the old railway line. On a water sampling day around the National Trust land around Golden Cap, we came across the scarcer of our two small clubrushes, Slender Club-rush Isolepis cernua, again at a more inland site than is typical.

The Jersey Cudweed Gnaphalium luteo-album is dubiously native in Dorset, but it is legally protected. It has long been known on a fenced-off munitions waste tip at Holton Heath and more recently along the track near the station, it has now been found further up Station Road by Mandy Marler. This may be a re-discovery because Lynne Farrell had told me she had seen it in this area many years ago. I failed to find any three years ago, when advising Wessex Water on its conservation during their work on the sewer installation. As an annual, it can

be expected to move around into any disturbed, sandy soil and is well worth looking out for when you are in suitable habitat. Like the two species in the previous paragraph, this in not a maritime species as such, but it does like to be where it can smell the sea.

Carolyn Steele and I searched several sites for Yellow Centaury Cicendia filiformis (and Pillwort Pilularia globulifera) for PondNet, with limited success. It is a plant that has good and bad years, so it is not safe to make any deductions from a single survey. This is not an easy plant to find, but well worth the effort since it is classed as Vulnerable (Red list for England 2014) and declining. It is one of the suite of species specialising on winter-wet hollows (typically wheel ruts) on heathland. Often found with Allseed Radiola linoides, which is also vulnerable but more frequent and conspicuous (see photo below).

A rush that can easily be overlooked in stands of Jointed Rush Juncus articulatus is the Blunt-flowered Rush J. subnodulosus. As a component of fens, in our county it often indicates more base-rich water, which, in a heathland environment, should trigger a search for other scarce plants. Jim White found a stand near Scotland Farm with Black Bog-rush Schoenus nigricans, another species of similar significance, although more conspicuous and probably commoner in our area.

On the Atlas 2020 recording day at Ashmore we were delighted to find a small patch of Meadow Saxifrage Saxifraga granulata in the churchyard. Particularly

Yellow Centuary growing with Allseed. Robin Walls

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pleasing was that it had clearly been recognised as worth conserving because the mower had carefully avoided the patch. Meadow Saxifrage may have been more widespread formerly, but we now seem to be down to only five areas in the county where it may be found in small groups. Unlike many of the other plants mentioned above, this is a ‘proper’ flower, very attractive and easily spotted in May.

Heath Lobelia

The good news for Heath Lobelia Lobelia urens is that the developers taking on the after-use of the large quarry at Crossways, Habitat First, are keen

to restore substantial areas to prime habitats. The main function of the site is as holiday accommodation – rather luxurious by the sound of it – and they want the houses set in quiet, attractive countryside. The idea of looking after scarce species has gone down well and as it is only a few fields away from the Heath Lobelia site this would be an ideal one to start with. After a walk over the area we have a site in mind and Habitat First have started preparation by clearing the gorse and will sow a basic grass mix soon. The less good news is that on a late visit to Hurst Heath last year I found the entire seed crop from the Heath Lobelia had been eaten off! Presumably deer are responsible. Somehow or other we will have to prevent a repeat this year if the project is to get off to a good start. Has anyone got a spare roll of netting to put over the main stand in August?

Sugar Hill Arboretum

This Forestry Commission arboretum near Wareham is looking a lot more inviting after our working party with the Forestry Commission

volunteers in January. Much of the brash and fallen timber has been cleared into piles to decay or be removed and some of the weedier trees have been felled, making the wood more open and easier to walk around. Importantly, all the specimen trees have been numbered and Ted Pratt has located them all and recorded the ten-figure grid reference for each. FC’s Matt Parrott has named them and given us the list (contact Ted or me if you would like a copy). By the summer we hope the FC will have made name plates, at least one per species, which we will attach to the trees. There could not be a better resource for anyone wanting to improve their conifer identification skills.

Guide to winter twigs

John Poland, author, with Eric Clement, of The Vegetative Key to the British Flora, has been writing a key to twigs for the last four years. It will be the most

comprehensive so far, as it covers over 350 species and he intends to have it available in time for next winter. He asked me to do a ‘few drawings’ to illustrate the main features of twigs and buds. After foolishly agreeing, this has turned into drawing nearly all the species in the key! This has kept me out of mischief through the last three winters and now I am preparing the final drawings

Heath Lobelia. Sugar Hill Aboretum. Robin Walls

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Orchids and foreigners!

My most exciting find of 2016 was the result of stopping on the way back from a meeting that had finished early in a poorly recorded

square in north Dorset. I came across a lay-by, with a broad scruffy verge and some woodland that looked accessible and would yield a reasonable starter list for the Atlas 2020 project. Having recorded these, I still had twenty minutes spare, so I walked back down the road to a cutting in the hope of some calcicolous grassland species. As I later found out, this was created in 1993-4, so it had not developed one of the usual calcicolous communities. Nevertheless, there was an open sward of Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca, Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and bryophytes in which I recorded a handful of other downland species, including some Ophrys leaf rosettes. To my surprise, one of these had some flowers. The weather was getting a little blustery and it was now well time I left, so with my slightly smart phone I took a few pictures.

At home I could not place the orchid – it looked a bit like a Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera, which does not flower this early, but a hybrid might. The only Ophrys out at the end of April in Dorset is the Early Spider-orchid O. sphegodes, which is found miles away to the south, along the coast. I sent my fuzzy pictures to a few friends and the orchid referees for ideas. To summarise a lot of emails over the next few days, the referees came up with something

even more exotic: Fly Orchid O. insectifera x Woodcock Orchid O. scolopax (O. x nelsonii). Two knowledgeable botanist who visited the site thought the non-flowering rosettes were probably Fly Orchids. This is rare in Dorset, adding to the interest, but in need of confirmation, so we returned in June. The early Ophrys had gone over and did not look like setting seed, but there was an array of Fly Orchids and O. x pietzschii (the hybrid with Bee Orchid). Some assiduous counting by Fred Rumsey and Helena Crouch, who know a similar site in Somerset, totalled 130 Fly Orchids, 42 Bee-Fly hybrids and a single Bee orchid, making this by far the best Fly Orchid site in Dorset, without the additional interest of the hybrids, and a few more common orchid species.

The results of DNA work on the putative O.x nelsonii is still awaited at the time of writing. Meanwhile, we can ponder the origin of a mainly south European taxon on a Dorset roadside. Many road cuttings have been coated with a nutrient-rich soil and sown with robust grasses. Our county ecologist, Phil Sterling, has long had a policy of avoiding this sort of restoration, preferring to sow a basic grass mix thinly on the mineral soil. This has paid off handsomely here and in other places, notably the Weymouth Relief Road, New Road on Portland and the West Stafford bypass.R. M. Walls, February 2017

Artwork for the forthcoming guide to winter twigs. Robin Walls

Dorset’s exotic Ophrys hybrid. Fred Rumsey

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A few years ago, when Dorset botanists started seriously to look at the task of re-recording the Dorset flora by 2020, I agreed to give some help.

A map of Dorset was divided into 10k squares, and mine was among several hastily scrawled sets of initials in the centre of some of those blocks. A year or two went by during which I occasionally wondered a) where my copy of the map was and b) when I might start work on the recording. As 2015 drew to a close I began to realise that it was high time to make a start.

My initials ended up in four hectads, so on the face of it 400 1km squares to survey. One of Robin Walls’s predecessors as vice-county recorder for Dorset found over 1,000 vascular plants in one such square. The task looked intimidating. However, after a more careful look at the map, I realised that none of my squares were fully in Dorset, and two were almost entirely in botanical Hampshire! So only the 254 to worry about! Some 1km squares (monads), were in urban parts of Poole and Wimborne; this would not rule out a visit, but I thought it fair to make them a lower priority.

My summers are quite busy with work, with visits to sites often taking place in evenings and early mornings, so fitting in botanical outings is not easy. I decided that Sunday mornings were the best time to go. There ought to be time to record in two monads, which I thought might be the limit on my own. I use the DERC recording card, and it is always a bit discouraging starting again with brambles, nettles, daisies, etc. Two of these monads in a day are enough if you want to avoid the whole thing turning into a dull grind – this is a volunteer activity done for fun, after all.

I didn’t really get going until after mid-summer, but I did tick off a number of squares on my Sunday morning outings after that. I have an invaluable list supplied by DERC, which shows how many records have been made in each monad, first in total, then between 1970 and 2000, then from 2000 onwards. I have focused on sites with few or no recent records, although there are also tempting sites with hardly any records at all. These don’t always turn out as exciting as they sound – central Ferndown and suburban Wimborne aren’t ideal for a botanical Sunday. I should say, though, that when I was working

on the Ferndown Industrial estate I recorded 147 plants during lunchtime outings there, so don’t ignore anything local just because it is built-up.

I can honestly say that all of the outings turned out to be more interesting than I expected. I stuck to footpaths and byways – some squares are well supplied with those. There always seemed to be something different appearing on the verges and in hedgerows, and often enough there was no gate on a field, or a piece of apparently neglected land, allowing me to wander a little way in to look for different species. Obviously any serious effort to record every single species in a square would mean finding the owner and asking for access permission, but footpaths first is the rule if you don’t have much time. I found two new sites for a real Dorset rarity, Coral-necklace Illecebrum verticillatum, and recorded uncommon plants in all sorts of surprising places.

The other pleasure has been using Living Record to enter the results. I have used it for adding odd records of reptiles and birds in the past, but thought that putting in long lists of plants might be difficult. On the contrary, entering the records made on my Flora recording cards is a breeze – nice drop down lists to tick off, the monads are pre-named for you by DERC and using the aerial photo to locate sites gives a very pleasing reminder of the days out. Best of all, you know that the records are on and sat ready for the vice-county recorder to review – DERC work very hard on maintaining the database of records, but mountains of paper take a while to sift through! This helps them, and if errors are made the VCR check is almost certain to remove them – I’ve had questioning emails in the past and realised my mistake!

I am looking to repeat this in 2017 and would be delighted to have some company if anyone wants to join in. I am happy to meet up with learners or expert botanists, although the walks aren’t suitable for complete novices as there won’t be time to give a lot of instruction. There is no chance that I will complete the required number of squares on my own, so email me on the address below if you’d like to help. Thanks.Jon Crewe; crewie3@btinternet.com

East Dorset botany, Atlas 2020 and Living Record

Jon Crewe

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In 2014 a Red List of vascular plants was published for England, the first for the country as the 2005 list covered the rest of the UK. This potentially adds 58

species to those listed on the Dorset Rare Plant Register. Many of the species are actually quite well recorded being on our Dorset Notable lists; Autumn Gentian Gentianella amarella, Dyer’s Greenweed Genista tinctoria and Ragged-Robin Silene flos-cuculi are good examples. Other species such as Ling Calluna vulgaris and Common Cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium have declined over much of lowland England as their heathland habitat has been lost, but they remain locally common in Dorset. There are, however, a small number of species that do appear to be significantly under-recorded, with few recent (post-2005) records.

Most of these species are easy to recognise, so everyone can get involved in recording and any records would be valuable in building up a better picture of their current status in the county.

Catabrosa aquatica Whorl Grass VulnerableA grass of shallow or muddy water margins of small rivers, streams and ponds, preferring slightly calcareous water. Recently assessed as Vulnerable in the English Red List owing to a significant decline over much of its range in England. Thought common in the 19th Century Dorset flora, but the most recent Flora (2000) only recorded it in 42 post-1987 tetrads, with most localities in the Frome and Piddle catchments. DERC has very few records from the last ten years. As riverine habitats tend to be under-recorded in the county, a survey of old sites would show if there has been a real decline. A specimen or a photograph would be required for determination as this one can be confused with similar species.

Cichorium intybus Chicory Vulnerable

A conspicuous plant of roadsides and field margins, Chicory is easily recognised by its bright blue flowers. The 2000 Dorset Flora found it in 61 tetrads noting that it appeared to have declined in the north and west of the county, with most records in the Poole Basin and Purbeck. In recent years, many road verges have either become overgrown or enriched, with rank grasses dominating. There are relatively few records in the last ten years and more records are needed to see whether the decline is genuine or if it is under-recorded.

Some species to look out for in 2017Bryan Edwards (DERC Ecologist)

Robin Walls

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Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry Near ThreatenedThis familiar plant of tracksides and hedgebanks has recently been added to the English Red List because of a significant decline. Widespread in the county and only avoiding the driest chalky soils and the open heaths, it is mostly found in old hedgebanks, among scrub and in open woodland. Recorded from 400 tetrads in the 2000 Flora it will be interesting to see if the national decline has been mirrored in Dorset. Information on the type of habitat will be useful.

Lathyrus linifolius Bitter-vetch Near ThreatenedThis is a widespread plant of grassland and woodland habitats and is most frequent in western and northern Britain. In Dorset it is a plant of clay soils and is tolerant of mildly acid to slightly basic conditions and mostly found in the northern and western vales and around the fringes of the Poole Basin heaths. It occurs in open grassland, among Bracken, along woodland rides and on old hedgebanks. Recorded from 74 post-1987 tetrads in the Flora, there are relatively few records in the last ten years and it appears to have been under-recorded.

Solidago virgaurea Goldenrod Near ThreatenedThis is a widespread plant of open woodland, old hedgebanks and rocky slopes on mainly acid soils and again is most frequent in western and northern Britain. In Dorset it has quite a disjointed distribution, being found in the far west and far east of the county and more sparingly around the fringes of the heaths, mostly in acid woodlands. A form is also notably frequent on the eastern limestone undercliffs on the Isle of Portland. There have been few records in the last ten years and these are from a very few sites. There are post-1987 records from 72 tetrads in the Flora. A survey of old sites is needed to assess the current status of this species in the county.

Bryan Edwards

Bryan Edwards

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21st April, 2016. High Wood, National Trust, Kingston Lacey Estate. Leader and report John NewbouldHigh Wood is located north-east of Badbury Rings on King Down ST9603 and ST9703. There were just two of us in the party on what was a cool day on the exposed down with a strong north-easterly wind, but inside the wood the temperature was comfortable. We crossed Badbury Rings hill fort; where it was disappointing to see the extent of scrub growth on the ramparts, which will be removed later in the season. We entered the wood in the south-east corner. The western side of the wood is Pedunculte Oak Quercus robur, Ash Fraxinus excelsior Field Maple Acer campestre woodland, with a good cover of Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta and the potential for saproxylic insects, with substantial felled oak left to rot. The east side of the wood is a large area of mainly Hazel Corylus avellana coppice mixed with canopy trees of Ash and Oak.

Along the south-eastern margin is an occasional Wayfaring Tree Viburnum lanata, Spindle Euonymus europaeus, Dogwood Cornus sanguinea and Blackthorn Prunus spinosa. Traveller’s-joy Clematis vitalba and Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum is found climbing trees, whilst, at one place, we noticed an Ivy Hedera helix which had been sawn through with a 150mm diameter trunk. The herb layer had Wood-sedge Carex sylvatica, large patches of Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa, whilst Bluebells were abundant.

A clearing to the north-west will later be dominated by Bracken Pteridium aquilinum, but whilst light is available Bluebells provide colour. There are smaller patches of Dog’s-mercury Mercuralis perennis, Pignut Conopodium majus, Bugle Ajuga repens and occasionally Wood False-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum. In the shrub layer, Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa and Red Current R. rubrum, Dog-rose Rosa canina and Field Rose R. arvensis were seen.

In the eastern section of the wood there is an extensive Hazel coppice, with active management in one place, mixed with good standard Oaks and heavily carpeted with Bluebell.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling and a single Jay was seen, but generally the birds seen were common woodland birds such as Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Wren, Nuthatch and Great Tit. Just one butterfly, an Orange-tip, was seen and whilst a number of bees were around, we had nobody to sample them. We were however, treated to Skylark over the grass downland, whilst we ate our lunch.

2nd May 2016. Green-winged Orchids at Westhay Farm. Leader and report John NewbouldAround 20 people booked for this annual survey, but only 12 turned up as the heavy rain that had been forecast materialised. The two main fields at Westhay Farm had there

Green-winged Orchids at Westhay Farm. John Newbould

Field meeting reports 2016Compiled by John Newbould

Laurence Taylor by a pond at High Wood. John Newbould

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usual populations of around 100,000 flowering spikes, but the two adjacent fields under Stonebarrow Hill had much smaller numbers than in recent years.

Volunteers this year extended the search to fields adjacent to Westhay Water finding good numbers in a large field to the east of Monument Copse with smaller numbers in an adjacent field and in another field to the east of Ridge Water.

One small field just to the north-east of St Gabriel’s cottages had 20 spikes, but also Common Twayblade Neottia [Listera] ovata, Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula and, later in the season, Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius was found on the west margin of St Gabriel’s Wood. Bracken Pteridium aquilinum is lightly spread across the field together with Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Pignut Conopodium majus.

9th May 2016. Moors Valley Country Park. Leader and report Robin WallsThe country park straddles River Crane or Moors River, which is the border between the Watsonian vice-counties of Dorset and South Hampshire, although it is now entirely in the administrative county of Dorset. The object of the day was not so much square bashing, but to help the staff with an up-to-date species list of various management compartments and provide some teaching for the East Dorset rangers. We had a dozen people evenly mixed between DFG members, rangers and MVCP volunteers on a day that threatened rain but only managed very light drizzle occasionally.

Sara Tschersich had selected the compartments of most interest because they needed help with adjusting the management plans to suit the flora. We began with some introductory remarks about plant identification over a welcome cup of coffee and discussion on how to structure the day. We spent the rest of the morning in the south of the park in a series of meadows dominated by Purple Moor-grass Molinia caerulea and Soft Rush Juncus effusus. I led a group focusing on help with identification, whilst Tom and Jean Smith gallantly ventured further afield and worked things out for themselves.

We probably only covered a third of the area, although it is likely that the remainder has a similar flora. On the way back to the Centre we spotted Bird’s-foot Clover Trifolium ornithopodiodes on a worn gravel track.

After lunch we headed for two compartments north of the lake, one known as the ‘gentian field’ because of its Marsh Gentians Gentiana pneumonanthe and its heathier nature compared to the larger meadow used for nature studies with parties of school children. This meadow has two small artificial ponds and a ditch feeding the river. The recording was delayed whilst some of the party watched Water Vole, which are now well established in the riverbank. Whilst Tom, Jean and co. headed for the gentian field, my party put their knowledge to test recording the ‘nature

field’. Although similar damp pasture, there were drier patches and more managed grassland which yielded a different suite of species.

With the late spring we exercised our skills at vegetative identification and many species were not showing at all. The habitats though were promising and we all felt a return later in the year would be well worthwhile.

14th May 2016. Cerne Abbas. Leader and Report John Newbould.Giant Hill during mid-May is a field naturalist’s mecca, with many butterfly enthusiasts coming to pay their respects to His Grace the Duke of Burgundy. The west-facing calcareous hill is rich in many calcareous plants, especially the butterfly’s main food plant, Cowslip Primula veris. The leader had attempted to see the butterfly in 2015, but was thwarted by adverse weather but nevertheless succeeded in undertaking a botanical survey in ST6601 and ST6602, so the need for botanical information was not too pressing. Following the eastern footpath under the Giant we recorded plenty of Tor-grass Brachypodium rupestre and Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxantum odoratum, intermingled with Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba and Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula. Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca was also plentiful together with scattered patches of Spring Sedge C. caryophyllea. Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium had the rare gall Dasineura helianthemi at only the third place I have seen this in Dorset. Quaking-grass Briza media, Dwarf Thistle Cirsium acaule were amongst the herbs in the dominant NVC CG4 grassland. There were small patches of the much scarcer NVC type CG7 grassland with Common Thyme Thymus polytrichus, Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum and Sheep’s-fescue Festuca ovina.

Amongst all this calcareous grassland there were butterflies including Dingy and Grizzled Skipper, but ‘His Grace’ was missing. We resorted to a new strategy – looking for the big telephoto lenses. That worked and we were rewarded by seeing a few by

Early Purple Orchids and Cowslips at Cerne Abbas. John Newbould

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the western hedge. Michael Edwards recorded the sloe shieldbug Dolycoris baccarum and the dock shieldbug Coreus marginatus, He also recorded the hoverfly Brachyopa scutellaris, whose larvae are usually found in sap runs close to the ground in deciduous trees (Stubbs & Falk 2012) and also the fly Eupeodes corollae. The brassy mining bee also known as the green furrow bee Lasioglossum morio and the orange-tailed mining bee also known as the early mining bee Andrena haemorrhoa were also recorded in the field.

Two fungal galls were noted during the trip. Microbotrum lychnidis-dioica forms a smut on the stamen of Red Campion Silene dioica and a blotch gall Puccinea primulae was very scarce on Primrose.

14th May 2016. Ashmore. Leaders Andrew Branson and Robin Walls Report John NewbouldThe meeting was organised to record for the forth-coming BSBI 2020 Atlas. Around 12 members assembled by the village pond where we split into three groups of four. I was with Tom and Jean Smith and Laurence Taylor. The party assembled around the large shallow village pond. The margins had Common Spike-rush Eleocharis palustris. We asked for the squares ST9116, ST9117 ST9216 and ST9217, with ST9117 and ST9217 containing the County Boundary as a forthcoming meeting for the County Boundary Group was scheduled for the area.

The two squares with the most species ST9216 (115 records) and ST9217 (91 records) contained the woodland associated

with the County boundary i.e. Wiltshire Coppice and Hookley Coppice, which Dorset Explorer shows as ancient woodland. Most of Hookley Coppice is now parkland, but is, nevertheless, a National BAP priority habitat. Leaving the village on a public footpath, Common Whitlowgrass Erophila verna was seen at the base of a wall. The meadows adjacent to the path were used for grazing horses and there was little of botanical interest. Historically, the area (a scheduled monument) consisted of medieval fields which were used for cultivation.

The Dorset-Wiltshire County boundary in 1km square ST9117 runs from the eastern corner of Melbury Down in a southerly direction crossing a minor road leading to Woodley Down. Within the survey area, the northern portion of the boundary is effectively a narrow copse (to big to be classed as a hedgerow), with Field Maple Acer campestre, Ash Fraxinus excelsior, Blackthorn Prunus spinosa, Hazel Corylus avellana etc. and on the eastern field margin a ruderal community with Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum. We turned south-east towards Wiltshire Coppice where a narrow strip of NVC W8 woodland has some large Ash, Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur, Spindle Euonymus europaeus, Hazel, Dogwood Cornus sanguinea and Field Maple. Here there were some interesting herbs, including a large area of Ransoms Allium ursinum, Dog’s-mercury Mercuralis perennis, and Enchanter’s Nightshade Circaea lutetiana, together with a few spikes of Toothwort Lathraea squamaria, Town-hall-clock Adoxa moschatellina, Wood Spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides, Yellow-archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and a few spikes of Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula.

The group assembling by the pond at Ashmore. John Newbould

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In the second square ST9217, the historical element becomes important. Depending on the map version consulted, the western portion of Hockley Coppice is shown as ancient woodland. However, west of the Roman Road just visible from ST9111175 as a shallow depression the landscape is a parkland, starting in the south-west corner at Ashmore Farm. Regrettably, this all appears to be semi-improved pasture with few herbs, such as Cuckooflower Cardamine pratense and Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris. In addition to the woodland ground flora recorded from the adjacent square, we added Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum, Sanicle Sanicula europaea and Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa. Bracken Pteridium aquilinum and Bramble Rubus fruticosus was plentiful in Hockley Coppice where we also added Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa and Red Current R. rubrum. To the south of Hookley Coppice, there is another earthwork running in a north-easterly direction through Mudoak Wood across a field into Wiltshire Coppice. This scheduled ancient monument is not visible either in the wood or across the field. Adrian Mylward identified the weevil collected from a dock as Apion frumentarium.

In square ST9216, recording along the south side of Mudoak Wood, where Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta were abundant, Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella was added to the list of woodland ground flora. In square ST9116, where we only recorded a small area in the north-east corner, a few Lapwing (increasingly rare these days), Skylark, Yellowhammer and Kestrel were useful records.

9th June 2016. Fontmell Early Gentian count. Leader and Report Amber RosenthalFor the third year running, members of the Dorset Flora Group helped with this year’s survey of Early Gentian Gentianella anglica on this Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve. With only four of us we had our work cut out, zig-zagging across the long, and very steep slopes to give full coverage of the main areas for this endemic Nationally Scarce species. Pleasingly, the distribution of gentians was maintained across the site, though it was another low year in terms of numbers. However, the sun shone, the birds sang and we were rewarded for our efforts by multiple sightings of vibrant Adonis Blue butterflies visiting the masses of Horse-shoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa carpeting the slopes this spring.

11th June 2016. Ringstead to Lulworth. Leader Laurence Taylor Report John NewbouldThis was an ambitious project, due to the undulating terrain, to record six 1km squares along the South West Coast Path from Ringstead to Lulworth, all of which are designated as SSSIs; a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and part of the Start Point to Studland Coastal World Heritage Site. On the day, we only achieved four squares, but during the summer, the task was completed. We parked in the National Trust Ringstead car park making straight to White Nothe Cottages, without recording the

National Trust land, as this will be dealt with in 2017. However, we did search the flowers of Nottingham Catchfly Silene nutans for the larvae of the White Spot moth Hadena albimacula. The moth lays its eggs in the flower heads of the host plant and the larvae gradually eat down the stem. I was delighted to see the larvae for the first time having spent hours searching in the past only to find the eaten down flower stems.

Pevsner (1972) describes a considerable ‘ “Celtic” field system covering about 850 acres in Chaldon Herring, West Lulworth, and Winfrith Newburgh. At The Warren and Newlands Warren “celtic fields” are continuous for 500 acres, with a large number of complete fields over the bottoms and sides’. With the stretch from White Nothe to West Bottom open to sea on very steep slopes with a summit of around 170m and a low point of 25m, it is impossible to graze with domestic animals and the little grazing undertaken is by Rabbits. I last surveyed the area 15 years ago in 2001, describing the area as calcareous grassland NVC CG4 (Tor-grass Brachypodium rupestre), with islands of NVC CG7 Common Thyme Thymus polytrichus, Mouse-eared-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum and Sheep’s-fescue Festuca ovina and Gorse Ulex europaeus/Bramble Rubus fruticosus scrub NVC W23. Little has changed. Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria is quite rare. There were a few Bee Orchids Ophrys apifera, Portland Spurge Euphorbia portlandica, Nottingham Catchfly, plenty of Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa and with it Adonis Blue

Toothwort at Wiltshire Coppice, near Ashmore. John Newbould

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butterflies, plenty of Viper’s Bugloss Echium vulgare often with nectaring Six-spot Burnet moth in good numbers. There was plenty of Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba, Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa and Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare was scarce, as was Dwarf Thistle Cirsium acaule and Pignut Conopodium majus. Wild Cabbage Brassica oleracea is still found on the eastern cliff edge at White Nothe. Greater Knapweed supported the gall Aceria centaureae. Phillip Johnson reported Common Lizard and Yellowhammer on Gorse. In addition to the Adonis Blue, in the field below the Beacon we recorded Small Blue, Lulworth Skipper and Small Heath.

The Warren is fenced to keep cattle away from the cliff edge, leaving a wide strip for the very many walkers, but on the cliffs, floral diversity has decreased. Phillip reported nesting Fulmar (amber listed here but Endangered in Europe), Skylark and Meadow Pipit in the fields, with Rock Pipit on the coast path. We found the RDB1 weevil Mononychus punctumalbum on Stinking Iris Iris foetidissima three times during the day. A really nice find was Early Gentian Gentianella anglica to the west of Swyre Head. Nearby a small area of Red Valerian Centranthus ruber had my first Meadow Brown of the season. There were many Large Skipper, a few Painted Ladies, Grizzled Skipper, Adonis Blue and Small Heath.

Off the Durdle Dor beach, Phillip recorded Common Tern

carrying sand-eels but we added little new to our lists. Interestingly, Scratchy Bottom (a dry valley) is not part of the SSSI, with a grassland of a golden hue dominated by Meadow Oat-grass Helictotrichon pratense (NVC CG6). With the time approaching 4.30pm, the small party retired to our waiting car by Lulworth Church for the drive back to Ringstead. We were resolved to complete the survey and so Rex Bale and Colin Marsh joined Laurence Taylor and me on the next meeting.

14 July 2016. Lulworth. Leader and report John Newbould

Once again parking by Lulworth Church, we surveyed the square from the public footpath running past Hanbury Farm, walking towards Durdle Dor, then followed the Coast Path walking east towards Lulworth.

Surveying the slopes along the South West Coast Path at Chaldon Herring. John Newbould

Early Gentian and the seed pods of Horseshoe Vetch, near Swyre Head. John Newbould

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The list produced around 100 species of mainly calcareous flowering plants and some hedgerow trees including a number of bushes of Barberry Berberis vulgaris, which has largely been eliminated from hedgerows as it acts as a vector for the toxic fungus Claviceps purpurea on grasses. Whilst the northern slopes are often quite rank, it is the southern slopes above the coastal path to Durdle Dor, which has the finer grasses and is most herb rich. The path was humming with people, and as I had the clipboard I was repeatedly asked about Pyramidal Orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis. It was a great place to promote wild flowers! Plants not previously recorded included: Squinancywort Asperula cyanchica, Harebell Campanula rotundifolia, Nodding Thistle Carduus nutans, Cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis, which is nationally becoming a pest in chalk grassland, especially on rocks. Most unusually on a grass cliff top, there was Yellow-horned Poppy Glaucium flavum, but also Shaggy mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella peleteriana (also present on the White Nothe path). Bowen (2000) describes this plant as found between Gad Cliff and White Nothe on the coastal chalk. Gromwell Lithospermum officinale was scarce and with Ploughman’s-spikenard Inula conyzae and Portland Spurge Euphorbia portlandica.

Yellowhammer was seen along the northern hedgerows, with young, as well as Skylark. Eleven species of butterfly were recorded including Marbled White and Common Blue.

Finally, on 1st September, I took my granddaughter, Ruth, to Lulworth to record the least interesting square, Dungy Head SY8179 and Stair Hole, where she had the time of her life catching Dark Bush-crickets with a lepidoptera net. A holidaymaker told me that there were hundreds here after

dusk the previous evening. She also found two examples of the Pointed Snail determined by the National recorder Adrian Norris. This is a small snail of coastal grassland with around 1,600 records on the NBN gateway. Floristically, Stair Hole was past its best, but there was one scraggy example of Golden Samphire Inula crithmoides.

25th June 2016. Tadnoll Meadows. Leader and Report Amber RosenthalEight of us met on a not quite sunny, but not as wet as it had forecast, Saturday to explore and record the flora of Tadnoll Meadows. These wet meadows are a part of the wider Tadnoll & Winfrith Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve and contain a number of species of interest including Marsh Cinquefoil Comarum palustre and Great Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis.

As part of the visit, Bryan Edwards kindly demonstrated the principles of carrying out National Vegetation Classification (NVC) quadrats (with an explanation of what this is for the uninitiated). He then re-surveyed quadrats in the same habitats he had in 1995. Overall this revealed little change in the species composition in these areas, although there was a noticeable increase in how rushy the overall meadows are now following several years of wet summers.

Overall 78 species were recorded from the meadows, including Heath Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata and Southern Marsh-orchid D. praetermissa, Star, Flea, Carnation, Common and Bottle Sedge Carex echinata, C. pulicaris, C. panicea, C. nigra and C. rostrata, Purple and Yellow Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria, Lysimachia vulgaris and Marsh Valerian Valeriana dioica. These not only updated DWT’s record list but have also gone into Living Record to add to the BSBI 2020 data for this area.

Surveying the meadows at Tadnoll. Amber Rosenthal

Slightly faded MarshCinquefoil at Tadnoll. Amber Rosenthal

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25th August 2016. Winfrith Heath. Leader Laurence Taylor Report John Newbould.

This survey was arranged to repeat a survey undertaken in 2012 of Marsh Gentian Gentiana pneumonanthe, now classified as IUCN Near Threatened (Stroh et al. 2014) in England, and also the status of Pillwort Pilularia globulifera, now classed as IUCN Vulnerable, in a large pond on the northern section of this DWT reserve. With rain threatened, we only managed to survey the heath north of Tadnoll Lane. We had our list of records from 2012, with grid references and it was pleasing to report that Marsh Gentian was present in similar numbers and similar places to our 2012 survey. Marsh Gentian seems to favour slightly drier ground where Bell Heather Erica cinerea and Deergrass Trichophorum germanicum, together with occasional Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum, Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis was found.

Laurence Taylor considered that since he last recorded the Pillwort some of the mud has become invaded with Common Spike-rush Eleocharis palustris. There was still a good population. Returning to the cars, we saw Marsh Ragwort Senecio aquaticus and Bird’s-foot Ornithopus perpusillus in short acid grassland.

Elsewhere, the fungal gall Coleosporum tussilaginis was noted on an eyebright. The conjugate host for this fungus is Scot’s Pine, which is still present as saplings across the area. We also recorded the rare acromyzid fly Liromyza eupatorii as a leaf mine on Hemp-agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum.

10th September 2016. Sovell Down DWT Reserve. Leaders Ted Pratt and Amber Rosenthal Report Amber Rosenthal

Nine of us braved the distinctly uncharitable weather (at least it was warm) to get top tips from Ted Pratt about how to sort out our roses. No sooner had we set off up the track

then a perplexing hybrid was happened upon, with Ted taking a specimen home for further consideration (we all quickly learnt that roses can be tricky and especially the very variable hybrids). On the reserve itself it wasn’t long before we found one of our target species – the Small-flowered Sweet-briar Rosa micrantha, a (relatively) unadulterated Dog Rose Rosa canina, and a further hybrid – this time more readily discernible as R. canina x micrantha = R. toddia) It took some bashing to create a route through an exclosure erected to protect the roses to find specimens of the main target of the day – the Nationally Rare Small-leaved Sweet-briar Rosa agrestis, but at least five specimens were found and everyone was able to see the key characteristics of this rose – fruity smelling sub-foliar glandular hairs, glandular hairs on pedicel and truncate shaped leaf bases. The search was then broadened across the site which revealed mostly more R. toddia but also another unconfirmed hybrid. The overall search, however, was somewhat hampered by the on and off heavy drizzle, so we called it a day at lunchtime and headed home in the confidence that we were all right to be hesitant about roses, but at least now had some idea of what to look for.

24th September 2016. National Trust Turnworth Leader and Report John Newbould

We had an interesting four hours at Turnworth recording 37 species of plant galls whilst walking around 500 yards. Bryan Edwards came along to look at fungi and as a result, we explored some interesting aspects of Hazel Corylus avellana ecology.

At Turnworth, some of the Hazel leaves had blotch mines and, more rarely, line mines. These are caused by micro-moths and are relatively easy to identify (see photos below). Note that each of these micro-moths have another species from the same genera on Hazel.

Only two butterflies were seen during the day – Speckled Wood and Green-veined White. We recorded two bugs: the Hairy

Phyllonrycter corylii on Hazel. John Newbould

Stigmella floslactella on Hazel. John Newbould

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Shieldbug Dolycorus baccarum and the psillid Valenzuela flavidus on Spindle Euonymus europaeus. Adrian took the nationally notable beetle Sepedophilus constans, which only has 43 records on the NBN gateway, but he has also recorded it at Hambledon Hill in both instances on dead wood fungi. His haul included many staphylinid beetles rarely tackled by coleopterists. We also recorded Rosel’s Bush-cricket, Dark Bush-cricket and Speckled Bush-cricket.

During the day, 37 species of plant galls were identified. Just concentrating on Hazel, we recorded two species (see photos above). Both Una and I commented that we had never seen the Phyllocoptruta coryli gall. In fact there are just three records on the NBN gateway from Gloucester and Lorn Natural History Society. So it is well worth looking out for.

Another gall, which is rarely reported, is Dasineura (Contarinia) helianthemi. We have been recording this gall here for about five years on Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium on the chalk grassland, but it is rarely reported nationally. We also saw the gall on Bindon Hill, Lulworth, last year and at Cerne Abbas in 2016. We saw galls caused by psyllids: on oak Trioza remota and T. rhamni on buckthorn. One young oak had around 13 different galls, roughly a quarter of the total seen on oaks. The cherry gall, Cynips quercusfolii – a large round gall of 25mm on a leaf – is rarely seen. Another smaller gall on a leaf was the striped pea gall Cynips longiventris and is only found in some years. The artichoke or hop gall Andricus foecundatrix is pretty common in most years, as is the marble gall A. kolari. The ramshorn gall A. aries is a relatively recent British species. Finally, Stenacis (Euonmi) convolvens causing an upturned role on the leaves of Spindle appeared common here.

The beautiful small fungus Melanophyllum haematosporum was found on rotting wood in an area of old Hazel coppice. Bryan believes that this is the first record in Dorset since the early 1980s. Finally, Bryan showed us some fungi associated with Hazel, particularly on old wood. One known as glue crust or Hymenochaete corrugata holds dead twigs together.

References

Asher, J., Warren, M., Fox, R., Harding, P., Jeffcoat, G., and Jeffcoat S. (2001) The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. OUP, Oxford.

Bowen, H.J.M. (2000) The Flora of Dorset. Pices Publications, Newbury.

Cope, T. and Gray, A. (2009) Grasses of the British Isles: BSBI Handbook 13. BSBI, Bristol.

Graham, G.G. and Primavesi (1993)Roses of Great Britain and Ireland BSBI Handbook 7. BSBI, London

Newman, J and Pevsner N (1972) The Buildings of England, Dorset. Penguin, London.

Rodwell, J.S. (1991-2000) British Plant Communities Vols 1-5, CUP, Cambridge.

Streeter, D., Hart-Davies, C.Hardcastle, A., Cole, F & Harper, L. (2009) Collins Flower Guide. Harper Collins, London.

Stroh, P.A., Leach, S.J., August, T.A., Walker K.J., Pearman, D.A., Rumsey, F.J., Harrower, C.A. Fay, M.F., Martin, J.P., Pankhurst, T., Preston, C.D., Taylor, I (2014) A Vascular Plants Red List for England. BSBI, Bristol.

Stubbs, A.E. and Falk, S.J, (2012) British Hoverflies 2nd edn. BENHS Reading.

John A. Newbould, 3 Brookmead Close, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth DT3 6RS

The galls (left) Phyllocoptruta coryli = Phyllocoptes coryli and (right) Phytoptus avellanae on Hazel. John Newbould

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Dorset Wild Flower Week reports 2016Compiled by Ted Pratt

May 28th

St. Catherine’s Hill, Christchurch

Nine people in warm and bright weather attended the morning walk. The group studied the mostly alien flora of Marsh Lane en route to the heathland and pine woods on the hill. An early discovery was of Greater Celandine Chelidonium majus in flower preceded by Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata and followed by the invasive Three-cornered Leek Allium triquetrum and Garden Yellow Archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon ssp. argentatum. The culinary qualities and importance of Garlic Mustard to the Orange-tip and Green-veined White butterflies was explained. At the western end of Marsh Lane before turning into the track leading up St Catherine’s Hill a single plant of Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum was discovered in the grassy verge.

More aliens followed by the track up the hill including two large, flowering plants of another invasive, Fringe-cups Tellima

grandiflora, and also a surprise – the rarely encountered Dusky Crane’s-bill Geranium phaeum. The group then made a small detour to try to escape the noise of the gun club in action and found a small tree of Black Cherry Prunus serotina, no doubt bird sown, among the Gorse Ulex europaea. After admiring the views over the Avon valley and finding the Gorse Shieldbug, we reached the main ridge way on top of St Catherine’s Hill. After explaining the differences between Scot’s Pine Pinus sylvestris and Maritime Pine P. pinaster, we made for the areas of bare ground around the reservoirs before returning to the cars via a shorter route. There was plenty of flora around the reservoirs including invasive Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo; a colourful patch of Heath Groundsel Senecio sylvaticus and Slender Thistle Carduus tenuiflorus growing together and an assortment of clovers and trefoils. The latter included the rather scarce Clustered Clover Trifolium glomeratum and also the Hairy Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus subbiflorus. Phil Budd

Coward’s Marsh, ChristchurchA slightly larger group of 13 came along to the afternoon walk at Coward’s Marsh by the River Avon on a sunny, warm afternoon. Several of those attending had also joined me on the morning walk. On entering the horse paddock above the marsh we soon found some interesting low growing plants including a clover not seen in the morning i.e. Knotted Clover Trifolium striatum. Soon we reached the first ditch system on the marsh and here there was a wealth of plants including Marsh Speedwell Veronica scutellata, Lesser Marshwort Apium inundatum, Pond Water-crowfoot Ranunculus peltatus and Marsh Cinquefoil Comarum palustre.

Walking further across the damp grassland a lot more Marsh Cinquefoil, with its curious maroon flowers, were seen and amongst the buttercups and Marsh-marigold Caltha palustris there were a number of other interesting marsh plants including Brown Sedge Carex disticha and Slender Spike-rush Eleocharis uniglumis. Eventually we reached a ditch flowing into the River Avon where several common marsh plants were identified including Water Horsetail Equisetum fluviatile, Great Water Dock Rumex hydrolapathum and Tubular Water-dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa. We also found some areas of drier, acidic grassland containing Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta still in bloom and plenty of Tormentil Potentilla erecta, Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum, Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica and Heath Milkwort Polygala serpyllifolia. To finish off the day we again explored the ditches near the edge of the marsh.Phil Budd

Greater Celandine at St Catherine’s Hill.

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May 29th

Townsend Reserve, DWT, SwanageThe walk on Townsend Reserve, south of Swanage, was on a bright, breezy morning. A number of common species were showing well, including Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa, Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba and Burnet Rose Rosa spinosissima, with many Cowslips Primula veris gone to seed. Six Twayblades Neottia ovata by a grassy bank were pointed out and the group was then led to see a patch of Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum in flower on the northern edge of the reserve. After partly retracing their steps, the group went to a grassy bank to see a few plants of the Nationally Rare Hairy-fruited Cornsalad Valerianella eriocarpa in a couple of places where the sward was a little more open; the tiny mauve flowers were admired. The next location was Orchid Bastion – while only one Early Spider Orchid Ophrys sphegodes seed pod was still visible, the main highlight was the purple gems of the endemic Early Gentian Gentianella anglica coming into flower. Returning to the starting point via the western side of Orchid Bastion, a number of spikes of the Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula were found and the leaves of Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii were noted.David Leadbetter

New Ground and Kingbarrow, Portland, DWT, PortlandThis walk aimed to update the species records for the DWT nature reserve and look at the SNCI (Site of Nature Conservation Interest) grassland on New Ground en-route. Fourteen people assembled on a cool but pleasant day and we

set off across the New Ground site towards the quarry access. The SNCI has at least a dozen Dorset Notable Species but the cold spring had held the orchids back. Carolyn Steele took on the role of recorder for the walk. Early finds included Hairy Rock-cress Arabis hirsuta and Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa, with the garden escapee Rosy Garlic Allium roseum causing some confusion.

The nature reserve is a lovely site to get slightly lost in, with scrubby corners, rock faces and some species-rich short turf. We walked through the quarryman’s tunnel, looking at the shelter in the rock face and soon after made our best record, refinding Early Gentian Gentianella anglica 18 years after the record by David Pearman. We made a brief visit to a viewpoint overlooking a working quarry to the East; a great contrast to the peace of Kingbarrow. DWT are to be congratulated for their contribution to the restoration work on Portland, removing the Cotoneaster that blighted so many sites and helping the fine grassland to recover. All walkers were kind enough to contribute to Flora Group funds and the walk ended at 1pm in bright sunshine. Jon Crewe

Durlston Country Park, DCC, SwanageFourteen people took part in the walk. On the way up to the car parks from the castle we noted Ivy-leaved Toadflax Cymbalaria muralis and Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens, and by the car park kerbs several species including Knotted Hedge-parsley Torilis nodosa. In the meadow west of the Learning Centre sharp eyes noted two species of orchid near the path, Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Southern Marsh-orchid D. praetermissa.

Walkers at Townsend Reserve, Swanage.

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We then made the short diversion to see Adder’s-tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum, before visiting the shallow quarry in the next field. Early Gentians Gentianella anglica were flowering well there; Early Purple Orchids Orchis mascula were still in flower nearby. In Ox-eye Field we noted many Ox-eye Daisies Leucanthemum vulgare in bud. Emerging from its south end, Wild Clary Salvia verbenaca was in full bloom by the gate. Returning towards the car parks, we visited one of the colonies of Sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia. Finally, while passing through a gateway, we saw the first flowers of Yellow Vetchling Lathyrus aphaca.Edward Pratt

May 30th

Kilwood and Stonehill Down, DWT

The 13 of us had a pleasant morning at Kilwood, with dry and improving conditions. The track is chalk and as a result its flora has calcareous elements including Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and Downy Oat-grass Avenula pratensis, along with Goat’s-beard Tragopogon pratensis, that had already ‘gone to bed’ by the time we returned just after noon!

Some woodland flowers were still in evidence and a surprise, among the Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea, were several clumps of Star-of-Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum. The attractive damp field had Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis among the Jointed Rush Juncus articulatus and shorter patches grey with Carnation Sedge Carex panicea and Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum (leaves only). Other leaves included Betony Betonica officinalis and

Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis, but already flowering were Tormentil Potentilla erecta and stands of Heath Spotted-orchids Dactylorhiza maculata and a few Early Marsh-orchids D. incarnata ssp pulchella). An uncharted route back through the wood passed some fine veteran Oaks Quercus robur over extensive patches of Wood Melick Melica uniflora, with Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium along the stream.

A short walk along the road reached the base of Stonehill Down where the small former chalk pit had golden sheets of Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa (together with the odd Adonis Blue), and Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, with occasional spikes of Hairy Rock-cress Arabis hirsuta in a sparse turf of Meadow Oat-grass Avenula pratensis, Sheep’s-fescue Festuca ovina and Quaking-grass Briza media. Jim White

May 31st

Slepe Heath, NT

David Brown was joined by Edward Pratt for this walk, and eight members of the public. Some of the participants were regulars on DFG walks, but for a number it was their first experience of both the site and of a Wild Flower Walk. The walk took in the western half of the main body of heathland, currently under restoration following 40 years of conifer plantation. We looked at the typical dry heathland heathers, gorses and grasses, as well as some of the commonest lichens and mosses. We then looked at how botanic diversity is generally greatest where there is some disturbance and open ground. Highlight among the trackway

Yellow Vetchling at Durlston Country Park. David Brown and walkers amidst Early Marsh-orchids at Slepe Heath.

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assemblages was a Common x Pale Dog-violet hybrid (Viola riviniana x V. lactea), while on one of the old burn sites from the days of the forestry clearance we recorded a good colony of Smooth Cat’s-ear Hypochaeris glabra: this latter was the first record for the site and tetrad.

We then moved on to look at Slepe’s best valley mire, in the south-west. Although too early to see Brown Beak-sedge Rhynchospora fusca and Marsh Gentian Gentiana pneumonathe, we were able to look at a good array of wetland plants, including sundews, Bog Asphodel Narthecium ossifragum in leaf, Pale Butterwort Pinguicula lusitanica, spike rushes, among a carpet of the golden bog-moss Sphagnum pulchrum. The highlight here was a group of over 250 Early Marsh-orchids Dactylorhiza incarnata in full flower. David Brown

June 1st

Kingcombe Meadows, DWT

Our walk through Kingcombe Meadows was full of delights. Starting with the grazed pasture, we found Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica, Ragged-Robin Silene flos-cuculi, Knapweed Centaurea nigra, and Common Bird’s-Foot-Trefoil Lotus corniculatus among many others and learnt how in the past flowers have been collected for many purposes, for example, Lady’s-mantle was treasured by early alchemists for the purity of the dew collected in its leaves.

We then headed to the River Hooke and its associated rush pasture, and finally the hay meadows, where we reflected as to

their importance in early farming and took in the abundance of Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium, Common Spotted-Orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Early Purple Orchids Orchis mascula. Emily Newton

Lorton Meadows, Weymouth DWT The six participants and I gathered at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre for a walk around the wildflower meadows of Lorton Meadows nature reserve in Weymouth. The weather was dry, but despite it being the start of June, it was a fairly chilly and overcast day.

However, we walked across a good part of the 75ha reserve, through pasture and hay meadows, alongside mature hedgerows, skirting seasonal ponds and small copses. In the SSSI meadows and those recently restored as part of the Environmental Mitigation Area for the Weymouth Relief Road we noticed: Pale Flax Linum perenne, Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia, Common Vetch Vicia sativa, Smooth Tare V. tetrasperma, Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, Red Campion Silene dioica, Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, Corky-fruited Water Dropwort Oenanthe pimpinelloides, Pignut Cononpodium majus and lots of both Meadow and Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus acris and R. repens. All the participants enjoyed the two-hour walk and stopped for a cup of tea/coffee afterwards at the Centre. Samantha Dallimore

Walkers at Kingcombe Meadows.

Participants at Lorton Meadows.

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Corfe Common, NT

The grey, windy and cold evening was singularly unlike June, but nine of us braved the chill to explore this superb site on Wealden Clay. The usual Heath Spotted-orchids Dactylorhiza maculata were barely out but several fine stands of Early Marsh-orchids D. incarnata compensated. The very herb-rich turf included Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius, Heath Bedstraw Galium saxatile, Heath-grass Danthonia decumbens and Adder’s-tongue Fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, with many colourful patches of Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica and Heath Milkwort Polygala serpylifolia and drifts of Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta. Most of the Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum was not yet open, but Bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata was still in flower in one of the mires, with leaves of Bog Asphodel Narthecium ossifragum and Marsh Lousewort P. palustris visible.

The turf is famous for Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile and sedges are well represented with large stands of Tawny Carex hostiana and Carnation Sedge C. panicea among others, and we also saw one of the less common grasses – Mat Grass Nardus stricta.

The Common has been grazed for many centuries, which with the line of tumuli along the crest, the fans of hollow-ways where Purbeck marble was carted to Corfe for working before going on to adorn mediaeval cathedrals, and the views of the castle, all added to a great sense of history.Jim White

June 2nd

Corfe Mullen Meadows, DWT

Most interesting plants seen were: Green-winged Orchid Anacamptis morio (gone over but still remnants!), Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Southern Marsh Orchid D. praetermissa. These were all found in the one small field we walked around.Katie Wilkinson

Rollington Hill, Corfe Castle

Twenty of us gathered for this walk, including two members of the Isle of Purbeck branch of Dorset Wildlife Trust, with whom it was a joint walk, six people who had booked and 12 who had not booked! The shallow car park was already more than half full, so some parked back in Castle View car park.

As we walked up the gently sloping bridleway the first downland flower seen was Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium. This was followed by the mauve form of Common Milkwort Polygala vulgaris, by Fairy Flax Linum catharticum, and then by Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa. A little further up there was a splendid plant of Mignonette Resedea lutea. Nearing the top we began to see Bee Orchids Ophrys apifera, and finally one ‘Wasp Orchid’ form, which sadly had just been broken off.

At the top, near the radio mast, walkers were given a choice of returning the same way, or walking back along the top of the down and descending the 300+ steps to the road. Most chose the latter. On the way down the steps we saw Mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella officinarum. Edward Pratt

June 3rd

Hod Hill, NT, near Stourpaine

Nine of us gathered to explore this ancient site with its impressive Iron Age hill fort and Roman garrison earthworks. From the top, with its excellent views along the Stour valley, it was easy to appreciate its strategic significance. Sadly, the cloudy weather and the generally cold spring meant that the wildlife was not yet in full swing. However, we saw a good range of chalk grassland plants including Common Gromwell Lithospermum officinale, Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, Fairy Flax Linum catharticum, Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba and Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus. Both Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa and Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria were much in evidence, as was Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, Mouse-eared-hawkweed

Walkers at Corfe Mullen Meadows. Walkers at Hod Hill.

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Pilosella officinarum and Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus.

The yellow theme continued with the song of the Yellowhammer accompanying us around the ramparts of the hill fort. We had good views of the primrose-yellow males. Whitethroats and Corn Buntings were also seen and heard. Several larval webs of Small Eggar moths were found with active caterpillars. We also had views of a pair of Green Hairstreaks, female Adonis Blue and a solitary rather worn Dingy Skipper.

We managed to track down three orchids: Common Spotted-orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii were frequent and just coming into flower, Twayblade Neottia ovata was found sheltering amongst some scrub and a single Chalk Fragrant-orchid Gymnadenia conopsea in bud was discovered by a sharp-eyed member of the group. An enjoyable walk was had by all. Andrew Branson

June 5th

Powerstock Common, DWT

A dull but humid morning did not offer great promise for butterflies that were to be one of the attractions of this walk, arranged by the Kingcombe Centre. Still, 18 had booked to see them – and of course the fine flora. Just a couple of rather well-behaved Marsh Fritillaries were on the wing in a paddock of very rich turf. Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis, Betony Betonica officinalis and Dyer’s Greenweed Genista tinctoria were some of the plants yet to flower, while Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius, Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica, Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum, Tawny Sedge Carex hostiana and large stands of Heath Spotted-orchids Dactylorhiza maculata were among the flowers open here.

The huge former railway cutting has more calcareous soils, with Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium, Dwarf Thistle Cirsium acaule, Downy Oat-grass Avenula pubescens and Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba among many typical plants. Our route through this and the acid grassland, and a small wooded area, enabled us to see five orchid species in all, including Common Spotted-Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Twayblade Neottia ovata, Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis and Greater Butterfly-orchid Platanthera chlorantha, in addition to the earlier Heath Spotted-orchid.Jim White

Chesil Beach, near Abbotsbury

Thankful for the bright and sunny conditions the group of nine set off from Abbotsbury Beach car park towards the north-west end of the Fleet lagoon, trudging along the shingle at the back of the landward-facing slope of Chesil Beach. Our efforts to see the coastal and shingle specialities were soon rewarded. On the landward-facing slope of the shingle beach we found a splendid patch of the Nationally Scarce Sea Pea Lathyrus japonicus in flower, plus several plants of Sea Kale Crambe maritima, frequent Sea Campion Silene uniflora and occasional Sea Beet Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima. At the base of the beach near the large reedbed patches of the Nationally Scarce Divided Sedge Carex divisa were in fine condition, displaying the characteristic bristle-like bract over-topping the inflorescence. Smaller coastal species included Danish Scurvy-grass Cochlearia danica in fruit, Buck’s-horn Plantain Plantago coronopus, Sea Mouse-ear Cerastium diffusum and the neat little Sea Fern-grass Catapodium marinum. Closer to the Fleet and the weathered concrete blocks of the Dragon’s Teeth WWII defences a narrow band of saltmarsh vegetation contained Sea Purslane Atriplex portulacoides , Sea Arrow-grass Triglochin maritima, Sea Plantain Plantago maritima and a couple of plants of Sea Aster Aster tripolium. There were also a few bushes of the Nationally Scarce Shrubby Seablite Suaeda vera, which becomes more frequent alongside the Fleet lagoon.

Our final Nationally Scarce plant of the day was the impressively tall Babington’s Leek Allium ampeloprasum var. babingtonii, a few plants of which were coming into flower at the back of the beach near the belt of mature Tamarisks Tamarix gallica, close to the car park. Near here we saw Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa in flower and a patch of the introduced Duke of Argyll’s Teaplant Lycium barbarum. Bonus sightings during the walk were Painted Lady butterflies and a fine view of a large dragonfly that rested conveniently close. The consensus was that it was a Golden-ringed Dragonfly.Jonathan Cox

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Field meetings and workshops 2017Recording day for the BSBI 2020 Atlas Saturday 29th April France Down, near Blandford Led by Andrew Branson and Robin WallsWe will meet at 10am at pull off along Bushes Road between Stourpaine and Pimperne, at ST879095. The north of Dorset is still comparatively under-recorded, with most records being rather old. This meeting will be a chance to fill in some gaps in the chalk hills and woods north of Blandford. If enough people attend we will split into groups in order to cover as many squares as possible. Bring a packed lunch and wear sturdy boots as it may well be muddy under foot.

Contact for booking: Andrew Branson, email: andrew@3alpacas.co.uk; tel: 01747 838223.

Recording day for the BSBI 2020 Atlas Saturday 20th May Ibberton area, near Okeford Fitzpaine Led by Andrew Branson and Robin WallsWe will meet at 10am in the centre of Ibberton. Parking is very limited, so please try to share cars. Park at the road junction at ST788078. We may be able to use the pub car park and will advise on the day. The north of Dorset is still comparatively under-recorded, with most records being rather old. This meeting will be a chance to fill in some gaps in this attractive part of the county. If enough people attend we will split into groups in order to cover as many squares as possible. Bring a packed lunch and wear sturdy boots as it may well be muddy under foot.

Contact for booking: Andrew Branson, email: andrew@3alpacas.co.uk; tel: 01747 838223.

Wild Flower Week 27th May – 4th JuneA full week of wildflower walks around Dorset for everyone. Leaflets will be available at libraries, tourism information centres, National Trust outlets, and interpretation centres throughout the county. To see the full leaflet, go to the Dorset Environmental Records Centre website (www.derc.org.uk) and follow the links to local groups.

Early Gentian count Date to be finalised (first two weeks in June) Dorset Wildlife Trust Fontmell Down Led by Amber RosenthalDorset Wildlife Trust and the National Trust are working together to count the gentian population over the wider area of the Downs this year. Please contact either Gemma (National Trust - see page 25) for Clubmans and Melbury or Amber (Dorset Wildlife Trust) for Fontmell Down, or both if you want to see all the sites. Meet at ST884176; 10.00am – 4.30pm. This is a repeat survey of the Early Gentians at this site, to be scheduled around peak flowering and suitable weather. Final arrangements

will be made closer to the time. The survey is likely to be run over one or two full days (attending both days not necessary) and will require a reasonable level of fitness, but with the reward of spending the day at this fabulous site and contributing to our knowledge of this endemic species.

For more information see www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/fontmelldownnaturereserve.html or to register your interest please contact Amber on 01305 217984; email: arosenthal@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Workshop on coastal grassland. Purbeck Wares Saturday 17th June Spyway Led by Robin Walls. To register an interest please email: michelle.brown1@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Haydon & Askerswell Sunday 18th June Led by Robin WallsMeeting place to be confirmed. 10am–4pm. In 2017 Dorset Flora Group are assisting the Dorset AONB Project on the South Dorset Ridgeway, recording the flora on some of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest along the ridge.

Please book through DERC (derc@dorsetcc.gov.uk) as a contact phone number for attendees may be needed in case of bad weather or car sharing when parking is limited.

Pitcombe Down Tuesday 20th June Led by Robin WallsMeet on the Green at SY 5872 8910. 10am–4pm. In 2017 Dorset Flora Group are assisting the Dorset AONB Project on the South Dorset Ridgeway, recording the flora on some of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest along the ridge.

Please book through DERC (derc@dorsetcc.gov.uk) as a contact phone number for attendees may be needed in case of bad weather or car sharing when parking is limited.

Haydon & Askerswell Sunday 7th July Led by Robin WallsThis is the second meeting to record this area. Meeting place to be confirmed. 10am–4pm. In 2017 Dorset Flora Group are assisting the Dorset AONB Project on the South Dorset Ridgeway, recording the flora on some of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest along the ridge.

Please book through DERC (derc@dorsetcc.gov.uk) as a contact phone number for attendees may be needed in case of bad weather or car sharing when parking is limited.

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Sedges and rushes workshop Corfe Common Saturday 8th July Corfe Village Hall Led by Robin Walls

To register an interest please email: michelle.brown1@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Chalbury Hill & Bincombe Tuesday 11th July Led by Robin WallsPark in Sutton Poyntz and meet at the quarry at SY 6933 8363; 10am–4pm. In 2017 Dorset Flora Group are assisting the Dorset AONB Project on the South Dorset Ridgeway, recording the flora on some of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest along the ridge.

Please book through DERC (derc@dorsetcc.gov.uk) as a contact phone number for attendees may be needed in case of bad weather or car sharing when parking is limited.

Creech Heath Saturday 15th July Led by Bryan EdwardsThere is limited parking along the road south of the entrance to Blue Pool at SY 9321 8325; 10am–4pm. A joint meet in collaboration with PondNet. The site is owned by the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust and should have some interesting flora, including Pillwort and Marsh Gentian.

Please book through DERC (derc@dorsetcc.gov.uk) as a contact phone number for attendees may be needed in case of bad weather or car sharing when parking is limited.

Recording day for the BSBI 2020 Atlas Nether Compton area Saturday 12th August Led by Robin Walls and Andrew BransonPark alongside the village green beside the road at ST599172; 10am–4pm. The north of Dorset is still comparatively under-recorded, with most records being rather old. This meeting will be a chance to fill in some gaps in this part of the county, near its northern border. If enough people attend we may split into groups in order to cover as many squares as possible. Bring a packed lunch and wear sturdy boots as it may well be muddy under foot.

Contact for booking: Andrew Branson, email: andrew@3alpacas.co.uk; tel: 01747 838223.

Yellow composite workshop Lydlinch Village Hall and Common Saturday 19th August Led by Robin Walls and Andrew BransonIs it a hawkbit or a hawk’sbeard, or, perhaps, a hawkweed, but then again could it be a cat’s-ear or a sowthistle or even an

oxtongue? Some of the members of the Asteraceae that flower in high summer can be confusing. Here’s a chance to get to grips with some common members of this group. For all those doing recording for the Atlas, this will be a good way to brush up on the group.

Meet at the village hall at Lydinch; there is a car park. 10am-4pm. The day will start with an introductory workshop in the village hall, followed by an exploration of Lydlinch Common. Bring lunch. There will be a small fee of £3 to help towards to cost of the hall.

Contact for booking: Andrew Branson, email: andrew@3alpacas.co.uk; tel: 01747 838223.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society field meeting programme 2017

Meetings will start at 10.30am unless otherwise indicated. Members attending meetings should wear suitable footwear and clothes and bring sufficient food and drinks for a day in the field. We require a parent or guardian to accompany young people, under the age of 18. Please telephone John Newbould on 01305 837384 before travelling, especially in adverse weather conditions or email johna72newbould[at]yahoo.co.uk if you wish to take part. Due to the high price of fuel, leaders may not attend in adverse weather conditions.

22nd April Worth Matravers for Seacombe Bottom and Seacombe Cliff where we should find some Early Spider-orchid Ophrys sphegodes. Meet in the Worth Matravers Car Park SY974476 where there is a small charge.

29th April High Stoy and Telegraph Hill. Meet on the old road Long Ash Lane ST 60730282 where we will proceed to look at the features such as the Cross-in the Hand, Penn Wood and Telegraph Hill. This field meeting celebrates places in Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles and The Woodlanders and also Chapter 20 of Oliver Rackham’s New Naturalist Woodlands. We will also be investigating parts of the Hillhead parish boundary discussed in the Dorset Proceedings 1990 Boundaries and Landscape in Blackmoor: the Tudor manors of Holnest, Hilfield and Hermitage (Barker, K. and Seaward, D.R., 1990)

1st May Westhay Farm, Charmouth for Green-winged Orchid. Guided walks organised by West Dorset National Trust at 10.00am and 2.00pm. from the Stonebarrow shop. Booking essential on 01297 489481. The fields are sensitive and numbers are limited to ten per session. The walks are led by John Newbould

25th May Hod Hill Meet in the car park on the Stourpaine to Child Okeford road at ST 854111. This is a repeat chalk grassland survey last undertaken in 2012. The National Trust has changed grazier. In addition, Marsh Fritillary numbers crashed last

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This edition of Dorset Heath was compiled by Andrew Branson. Many thanks to all the contributors, particularly John Newbould, Robin Walls, Ted Pratt, Jon Crewe, and Bryan Edwards and Bob Gibbons. If you have any comments or would like to contribute to a future edition please contact: Andrew Branson, Dorset Flora Group Chairman, Riversdale, The Street, Stour Provost, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 5RZ; tel: 01747 838223; email: andrew@3alpacas.co.uk. Dorset plant records should be sent to VC 9 Recorder, Robin Walls, 10 Old Brickfields, Broadmayne, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8UY, email: robin@rmwalls.plus.com.Dorset Flora Group is linked to the Dorset Environmental Records Centre, Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, Dorset Wildlife Trust, The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, Natural England and The NationalTrust.© 2017 Dorset Flora Group

year. We have been asked to assess the situation. Beware of ticks on this site.

26th May Ringstead Join the National Trust Ranger, Michael Clark, together with our ecologists, who will take you to the chalk grassland at White Nothe; visit one of Dorset’s smallest churchyards to hear about the cherishing churchyard week and Burnt Cliff for Nightingale. Walk leaves at 10.00am from the east end of the car park SY 760823. Ringstead is part of the Purbeck Nature Improvement area and you will hear about how changes in farming will influence a new management plan being prepared. Booking essential 01297 489481.

Week beginning 5th June Fontmell Down. Early Gentian survey. Owing to the exposed position and other weather factors, it is not possible to give a precise date for this survey. Details on National Trust West Dorset website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/westdorset or Email Gemma.Baron at Nationaltrust.org.uk if you willing to help phone 01297 489481.

10th June Langton Herring A walk towards the Fleet to see the wildflower meadows with orchids. Leader Laurence Taylor. There is a small lay-by at SY 610828. Please combine cars

14th July Hardy’s Cottage ‘How wild is our garden?’ A garden survey with an opportunity to talk to the public. Leader John Newbould

20th July Mordon Bog. Leader Laurence Taylor. Meet Sherford Bridge SY 91959260

29th July Meet at the West Lulworth Church at 10.00am at SY 823806. We will walk down to the cove and the walk the coast path to Mupe Bay returning via Radar Hill The intention is to survey squares SY8279 –SY8479.

5th September Westhay Farm Leaders Gemma Baron and John Newbould. Meet at 10.00am by the Stonebarrow shop and information centre SY 38349337 for our annual count of Autumn Lady’s-tresses in the herb-rich meadows around Westhay Farm. Joint meeting with West Dorset National Trust volunteer survey team

16 September Ringmoor and Turnworth Introduction to recording plant galls. Galls are useful indicators of the presence of many insects which can be difficult to identify, and also many fungi. This is one of Dorset’s best sites to find galls. Meet in the small car park at 10.30am ST 81600857. It would be useful if people have the Field Studies Council’s British Plant Galls by Margaret Redfern and Peter Shirley. Parking is quite limited and it would be helpful to pre-book Leader John Newbould.

Purbeck National TrustBotanical survey days will be taking place across the estate each Thursday. To register an interest please email: michelle.brown1@nationaltrust.org.uk. Michelle provides a plan for the coming months and usually emails the precise meeting place on the day before, when she has checked the weather.

Bob

Gib

bons