SOMERSET RARE PLANTS GROUP Recording All Plants Growing Wild in Somerset, Not Just the Rarities 2013 Newsletter Issue No
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SOMERSET RARE PLANTS GROUP Recording all plants growing wild in Somerset, not just the rarities 2013 Newsletter Issue no. 14 Editor Liz McDonnell Introduction The SRPG is a strong thriving group, with membership currently standing at 73. We are always looking for people to take an active part in the group and to lead or help lead meetings. For information on subscriptions and membership see the Membership section in the back of the newsletter. Visit www.somersetrareplantsgroup.org.uk to see the current year’s meetings programme, Somerset Rare Plant Register - list of species, criteria for inclusion and written accounts, newsletter archive and information on SRPG recording. Members can also leave comments and news of recent plant finds. This is the first of our new style Newsletter which is distributed to members on-line. A few are printed for those members who are not computer users and who wish to read a paper version. We are intro- ducing colour photos for the first time, which was not possible before due to high printing costs. In 2013 we had a full programme of meetings, starting in February with our rescheduled Annual Members Meeting and AGM which was cancelled in January due to heavy falls of snow. We had 17 field meet- ings in a wide variety of habitats that we have in Somerset, including coastland, reservoirs, limestone grassland, fens, mires, forestry tracks and urban areas. We had meetings to find and monitor rare and scarce species and general recording meetings, filling in some of the under-recorded areas of the two vice-counties (VC5 South Somerset & VC6 North Somerset). We are keen to encourage members to ‘adopt’ a species or a suite of species (especially those in our Rare Plant Register) and/or record in their chosen area, whether it is a patch, parish or tetrad, as we need good coverage of the county. Members of the SRPG currently record at a scale of monad (1km square) level or finer. Six, eight or ten figure grid references are routinely recorded for rarer species. The Mapping programme MapMate is used by the Somerset Vice-County Recorders to store, analyse and share data, all records being passed to the BSBI (Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland). MapMate has only been routinely used for Somerset Plant records since the late 1990’s and many historical re- cords have yet to be added. The following maps generated from MapMate indicate the density of post -2000 records in our database and the number of recorded species on a tetrad (2km) level. These show very clearly the areas of the county that are poorly covered and we are keen to find members who are willing to record in these areas. The 2014 programme of field meetings will provide opportu- nities to survey and monitor some of our rare and scarce species, and will also take us to under- recorded parts of Somerset. 1 tably Helena Crouch and Steve Parker, who take on more than their fair share, and it would be Reports of Meetings good to spread the load. Organising a field meet- ing doesn’t need to be onerous, and can actually Annual Members Meeting and AGM be great fun! Saturday 23rd February 2013 It emerged that only one of those present at the Report by Simon Leach AGM was a fully trained first-aider. It was sug- Our AGM and bring-and-share lunch was post- gested that we might hold a basic first-aid train- poned from its usual January slot due to bad ing event as an indoor meeting next winter. weather. Caroline Giddens stepped down as edi- Christine Loudon gave us an update on the web- tor of the newsletter. She was presented with a site, including some imminent changes to its lay- ‘hamper’ of goodies and thanked for all her hard out and content. The possibility of having a work on the newsletter over the years. “members’ zone” and “message board” on the Members particularly value this annual write-up website was discussed. Christine was thanked for her continuing work on the website, which is a fantastic resource and much used by members and non-members alike. Following the ‘formal’ part of the AGM, Helena gave us her customary romp through the botani- cal highlights of the last year, including many ex- citing records, e.g. Slender Club-rush (Isolepis cer- nua) at Walton-in-Gordano, Wall Bedstraw (Galium parisiense) outside Taunton railway sta- tion, and Maple-leaved Goosefoot (Chenopodium hybridum) in a garden in Bath. As usual, Helena’s Liz McDonnell presenting Caroline Giddens with her hamper © EJMcD enthusiasm was plain for all to see, making us of the group’s meetings and adventures. Liz impatient to get out and start recording again! McDonnell volunteered to take on the role of editor for the next newsletter. There was much Recording your Local Patch discussion at the AGM about the question of in- Saturday 16th March 2013 surance, and we had some helpful advice from Report by Liz McDonnell Clive Lovatt on this matter. After much delibera- This meeting was well attended, with 23 mem- tion it was agreed that we should go ahead with bers and guests meeting at the Avalon Marshes purchasing insurance for the group. Centre at Westhay. After the usual coffee, chat We were reminded that anyone wishing to at- and notices, Steve Parker started proceedings by tend a field meeting should try to contact the giving the talk that he had planned to present at leader to let them know they are coming. Given the February recording meeting, which he was escalating fuel costs and lack of car-parking not able to attend. His illustrated talk was titled spaces at many of our meeting places, members ‘Natural History and the World Wide Web’. He should car-share as much as possible. Leaders gave us examples of how technology was influ- are now expected to keep a register of atten- encing the way that we undertake our plant re- dees, including mobile telephone numbers and cording projects. Much has changed since Paul ‘buddy’ contact numbers in case of emergency. and Ian Green took over being BSBI VC recorders Leaders should also carry a first-aid kit. Ideally, it for North and South Somerset from Capt. Roe in would be good to have two leaders per meeting, 1993. Before that time all botanical records were with one at the front and the other bringing up held on recording cards, card indexes and paper the rear to ensure no-one gets lost or left behind. files and correspondence. We even used to write An appeal was made for volunteers to lead or co- letters to each other, telling of exciting botanical lead field meetings. There are some leaders, no- finds! Capt Roe’s archive of letters is a valuable 2 data source which is frequently used by Helena 10-figure grid references were used to produce Crouch, the current holder and joint Recorder for detailed and accurate distribution maps of some VC6 (North Somerset). Now e-mail has largely of the key species that occur at Langford Heath- taken the place of hand-written letters and most field. Christine hopes to continue again this year information exchange is now electronic. Many and to expand the species selection to include of us have been using the MapMate recording more notables and ancient woodland indicators. system for years, and share records with each After lunch, the summer field meetings pro- other and with central recording schemes such as gramme was discussed and a plea sent out for BSBI. There are many online natural history re- suitable locations (especially with car parking fa- cording schemes such as the BTO bird Atlas, Som- cilities) and more leaders and co-leaders. erset Moth Group and the Woodland Trust’s Na- ture’s Calendar (where you can record and view Simon Leach gave a presentation on the Taunton seasonal events that show the impact of climate flora, a project that he started in 1996, but first change on wildlife). Apps are currently being de- gave his reasons for lack of recent progress! veloped that enable a recorder to record directly Simon’s many interests include not only active into a small hand-held computer in the field, and involvement with SRPG and SANHS, but Bram- this is the method that many of us will be using bles, plant galls, ‘first-flowering-dates’, counting to record in the near future. Steve talked about birds, plotting the addresses of Taunton’s spar- blogs, tweets, discussion forums, bioblitz re- rows and swifts, ‘1000 for 1ksq’ (counting as cording and social networks. Much interest was many species as possible [all taxa] in a 1km shown in iSpot, a website aimed at helping any- square), completing the ‘weather tree’, research- one identify anything in nature. He outlined ing John Morris (palaeontologist) and of course both the advantages of using the web: wide cricket! Simon showed distribution maps of sev- range of resources; easy to get help from others; eral species, all mapped at a ‘quartad’ 500m x up-to-date information; ability to add data rap- 500m resolution and welcomed more help with idly to national databases; encourages budding recording the 664 quartads in his Taunton Flora area. new naturalists, and the disadvantages: initial cost of computers and associated devices; many Margarete Earle showed pictures of her 2012 trip people are not connected; don’t believe all you to the Russian Caucasus with Greentours Natural read, as there are many errors! History Holidays. As well as seeing Margarete’s Christine Loudon presented her Langford Heath- beautiful photos of Campanulas, Anemones, field Project.