Newsletter Issue 39 Winter 2011-2012

WILTSHIRE BOTANICAL SOCIETY

In this issue River Avon and Kennet and Avon Canal ---1 Bentley Wood Fungus Foray------3 The Cholderton Estate ------3 Passed Friends------4 Protected Road Verges ------5 Atlas Recording Project------7 Mistletoe------9 My Garden Weeds------9 Tim’s Crosswords------10 The Back Page------11

Website: http://www.wiltsbotsoc.co.uk Sunday 16th October 2011 River Avon and Kennet and Avon Canal Leaders – Tom and Jean Smith

This was our first go at leading a field trip for the Wiltshire Botanical Society and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience, helped by having the company of nine other members for this trip, good weather and a variety of habitats. The idea of this trip was to combine a general interest walk with a pub lunch.

From the station car park at Photos: Tom Bradford-on-Avon our route was Dipsacus fullonum discussing judaica and Ivy-leaved Toadflax though Barton Farm Country whether this might have been a Cymbalaria muralis. Park almost all the way to … good long-headed hybrid (developed Avoncliff with the last 100 yards weather and a for use in the wool industry). We moved on to cross the river or so along the canal towpath. variety of by the packhorse bridge but habitats. Our attention was drawn to a before we did this we explored We began by making our way to plant with a red/purple tinge the adjacent ford where we found the path beside the River Avon, which was floating on the river, it Ivy-leaved duckweed Lemna but before we got there John transpired this was Water Fern – trisulca – a non-native species Presland pointed out a Winter Azolla filiculoides; we saw more doing very well in this Heliotrope Petasites fragrans, of this along the river and it environment. which was flowering a few weeks seemed really quite abundant. ahead of its appointed flowering Once on the northern side of the period. We stopped at the edge A stone wall offered another river we found a Welted Thistle of the river and inspected the habitat for species such a Carduus crispus. The Council seed heads of Wild Teasel Pellitory of the wall Parietaria has planted a range of trees and shrubs in this area so there was a good display of autumn colour from the Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus, Spindle Euonymus europaeus and Dogwood Cornus sanguinea. With not very much still flowering, we were pleased to find Common winter cress Barbarea vulgaris flowering strongly.

Once back over on to the southern side of the river we continued our walk at a quicker pace (mindful of our lunchtime reservation at The Cross Guns). However, we couldn’t help ourselves stopping to look at a log with some interesting bracket fungi. My first thoughts were Ganoderma spp. John Presland thought it could be a Maze gill fungus Daedalea. We were

Page 1 Wiltshire Botanical Society Winter 2011 - 2012 towpath. We didn’t have time to try the Willow Maze which has been planted here, so we … Becky continued on our walk identifying Addy Woods, both Marsh Stitchwort Stellaria an area of palustris and Water Chickweed shady Myosoton aquaticum along the way. deciduous woodland. We had a very pleasant lunch at the pub (The Cross Guns) at Avoncliff. They were very busy (even at 12 noon), but were well- organised and managed to serve Blushing Bracket Daedaleopsis us relatively quickly so that we confragosa var. intermedia were on our way again by 1.30 p.m. by which time there was a lucky that John had his camera G. australe. All the pores of lengthy queue just to get in to the with him and took some good Ganoderma are small and round, pub. photos to aid subsequent helping distinguish this genus identification; the most prominent from Daedaleopsis. After a brief detour to the bracket on the log turned out to aqueduct to admire the view, we be a rare variety of the Blushing On the opposite bank of the river retraced our steps to cross under Bracket Daedaleopsis confragosa we saw a row of mature the aqueduct and made our way var. intermedia. This variety has Caucasian Wingnut trees up the hill to Becky Addy definite areas of roundish pores Pterocarya fraxinifolia with their Woods, an area of shady and definite areas with very long impressively long, hanging deciduous woodland. In the pores. The popular name derives catkins bearing seeds. wood we found another bracket from the reddening of the fungus – Many-zoned Polypore underside when pressed. On The far western section of Barton Trametes versicolor. We also closer examination there was Farm Country Park is quieter, found a Nettle-leaved Bellflower, indeed also a species of being away from surfaced paths Campanula trachelium that had Ganoderma present on this log: and further from the canal just finished flowering.

Small Teasel We found an interesting meadow on the other side of the wood. A number of plants had finished flowering but were still evident: Bath Asparagus Ornithogalum pyrenaicum, Ladies Bedstraw Galium verum, Restharrow Ononis repens, Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor. However, still flowering were: Black Knapweed Centaurea nigra, Lesser Hawkbit Crepis Capillaris, Black Medick Medicago lupulina, Yarrow Achillea millefolium.

From the meadow we descended in bright sunshine to the canal, passing bush vetch, Gipsywort Lycopus europaeus, Water Figwort Scrophularia auriculata and much Small Teasel Dipsacus pilosus (gone to seed). It was a short walk along the canal to the Tithe Barn which added diversity to our visit, then back to the cars to end an enjoyable trip. Tom and Jean Smith

Winter 2011 - 2012 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 2 Sunday, 2 October 2011 Bentley Wood Fungus Foray

This year the Natural History Society, Wiltshire Botanical Society and Friends of Bentley Wood fungus foray on 2nd October found us in Compartment 11, Beechways Copse. Collection of any specimen from this SSSI, for any reason, has to be agreed by the Trustees in advance and, in addition, this year the Trustees requested that we should collect as few duplicates as possible. To this end the participants formed three groups, each with a leader who supervised the collecting. Thus we were able to cover different sections within the Examining the catch agreed area in the 1.5 hour foray. However it is The number of fungal fruiting Mycena pelianthina, the From an account by Ailsa bodies seen was fewer than on not Blackedge Bonnet (gills with McKee, originally published some previous years because of dissimilar to black edges). A piece of dead in Bentley Wood Nature the dry conditions. This year we the Panther wood contained not just the Notes are very grateful to Malcolm Cap which is distinctive turquoise coloured Storey again and to Paul deadly wood but also little “Green Elf Sunday, 20 November Howland and James Macpherson poisonous! Cups” of Chlorociboria 2011 for identifying the collection. aeruginascens. This "green" wood was, and still is, a prized The Cholderton Some 47 different species were find for wood carvers and turners identified. These included two as the fungal hyphae invade all Estate members of the Agaricus genus, of the wood leaving it this in which some of our edible distinctive turquoise colour. In Leader: Henry Edmunds mushrooms belong, but both the past it was used to great fungi found were poisonous. effect in marquetry with inlays of Eighteen members met on a mild They were Agaricus different coloured woods in but misty morning to take a stroll xanthodermus var lepiotoides, the pictures and boxes etc. and and find out more about the Yellow Stainer, and Agaricus known as Tunbridge Ware. workings of this remarkable farm. placomyces (moelleri) the Inky Other different-looking fungi We met with owner, Henry Mushroom both of which bruise included two types of Coral Edmunds, who took us on a short yellow, but the latter has a light This "green" wood was, Fungi, Clavulina cinerea & journey to the site of his Water cap covered with tiny dark scales, Company, a reservoir that was and still is, a Clavulina cristata, the Grey and denser and darker at the centre. White Coral Fungi respectively, dug out by his great grandfather. prized find Other fungi found belonging to and also the more slender but The chalk grassland area around the Amanita genus, and therefore for wood similar-looking Ramaria abietina the reservoir was surveyed by likely to be poisonous, were carvers and which was ochre-green coloured. members of the Society on a Amanita vaginata, the Grisette turners as The last is classed as uncommon rather wet morning in 2010. The and Amanita rubescens, the the fungal to rare, found in soil and leaf botanical interest was not so Blusher which is poisonous raw hyphae litter most often in conifer obvious on this morning but we but said to be edible after invade all of plantations. were able to identify a plant of cooking. However it is not the wood Rosa micrantha, one of the dissimilar to the Panther Cap leaving it Our grateful thanks to Sue downy roses with glands which which is deadly poisonous! this Shears who yet again provided give the characteristic apple distinctive tea and great cakes at the end of odour. We learnt a great deal Some of the more robust Mycena the foray. It is much appreciated about the area: the gentle control species were found, Mycena turquoise colour and always makes a happy of scrub and the possible pura, the Lilac Bonnet, Mycena ending to this event. archaeological interest. In sharp rosea, the Rosy Bonnet, and Page 3 Wiltshire Botanical Society Winter 2011 - 2012 contrast to the many chalk-loving plants we also saw a few Passed Friends specimens of Wood Sage (Teucrium scordium) which are Christine McQuitty much more common on acidic soils. It seems likely that there Sad to say, Christine, a founder are very small areas of leached member of the WBS, died last soils, which support the growth year. Her family was attracted of such surprising plants. Those to Wiltshire because of a love of us who try to learn a little of barges - they actually owned about bryophytes were also one. She was square pleased when Sharon pointed out coordinator for SU26 in the a few species indicative of high Wiltshire Flora Mapping Project Joy on Knap Hill quality chalk grassland. and did a lot of recording with Winifred White, as well as Moira Robertson, Joy Newton, Next we moved to a few fields Eileen Rollo, Audrey Summers Joy Newton where some polo ponies were and others. I found over 2000 grazing. They proved to be very plant records of hers on the Sadly, Joy died early in February welcoming – almost too friendly Wiltshire database, some with this year. An expert botanist, self- for some! From here we could Moira, some with John Rayner taught through determined study, see a lapwing plot where one of and some from her alone. Wild Both involved she served on the steering group for the delights of 2011 had been Cornflower on Carver’s Hill in producing the Wiltshire Flora Mapping found. Henry explained that his Farm near Shalbourne was a the 1992 Group, whose task was to update continued cultivation of this area particularly nice find. During “Wiltshire the 1957 “Flora of Wiltshire” by had allowed a colony of Martin’s the WFMP years, she loved the Donald Grose. As a coordinator opportunity to learn more about Flora” Ramping Fumitory (Fumaria and surveyor for WFMP, she plants, to meet with farmers reuteri) to grow. This year there personally contributed around and landowners and to access were hundreds of plants which 16,000 records of the 250,000 sites which were previously would have gone un-noticed if it collected and also wrote a chapter unexplored. had not been for his sharp eyes for the resulting “Wiltshire Flora”, and knowledge that he had published in 1992. She took part in At her request, the collection at something different and worthy the BSBI Local Change project and her memorial service has been of further investigation. There various other surveys over the sent to the Wiltshire Botanical are only around 13 sites for this years. Society. We warmly thank plant in the whole of the UK Christine and her family for this although records for 2011 have Joy skilfully organised the kind gesture. been particularly good. There is programme of meetings for the just one other record from Hants Richard Aisbitt Wiltshire Botanical Society from – from an allotment on the Isle of the beginning of the society in Wight – and none (as yet) from 1992 until Pat Woodruffe took on Wiltshire. the task in 2002. Her knowledge of Wiltshire helped in this, as she We also inspected a thick hedge loved the county and would study of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) the map for new places to visit, setting off each morning to explore. on which the brown hairstreak Many of us have fond memories of butterfly lays eggs. Two white accompanying her on field eggs were found and I am sure meetings or of visiting nice sites there were many more hiding informally with her. She had sharp away. Unfortunately the females eyes to spot interesting plants and lay on young twigs which are would help beginners with gentle often pruned or slashed away expertise. I especially appreciated during autumn management. The her helping me to recognise answer is not to cut both sides in grasses, a group that many of us the same year. Simple really. have found difficult. We also appreciated her healthy fruit buns, Throughout our walk we had which often appeared at meetings, been entertained and enlightened indoors or out. by the various snippets that Henry related. We arrived back We have lost a good friend. at the farmyard for a rather late but most welcome lunch. Pat Woodruffe

Winter 2011 - 2012 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 4 The scheme currently covers some 50 verges and involves 30 + monitors.

Whilst most of the monitoring is comply with at least one of the woodland or a wildlife undertaken criteria. corridor linking such sites. by volunteers a regular 1. The presence of a rare or 4. The verge is of geological survey every nationally scarce species, importance and designated as Saturday 3 December five years is including RDB, BAP and an SSSI or RIG site. 2011 also species listed in schedule 8 of undertaken the wildlife and countryside 5. The verge is recognised as of Protected Road by a act, 1981. high community value, a professional catchall for verges which may 2. The presence of species which not meet any of the more Verges ecologist to are rare or local in Wiltshire prescriptive criteria. ensure that Fiona Elphick, County Ecolo- and are included in the the species gist Wiltshire Notable Species An overriding consideration for diversity is List. designation and management of Road verges in the county can be being verges is that of safety both for protected for biodiversity and maintained. 3. The verge is an integrated part road traffic and for those working local character reasons by of an NNR, SSSI, County on the site. implementing criteria from a set Wildlife Sites or contiguous of designation guidelines. To be with significant areas of The complete set of rules are appropriate the road verge must ancient or semi-natural available from Richard which has the details of how they are implemented to allow management of these special road verges which can be refuges for native species and by moderating the management these species may be preserved for the future.

Examples include Deptford, which has a verge for a community of orchids none of them particularly rare, but well valued by the local community who are involved in monitoring these beautiful plants.

An A36 road verge which was reseeded is now protected for the butterflies which have been attracted.

Minor roads, green lanes and Botanists surveying drovers routes are also included

Page 5 Wiltshire Botanical Society Winter 2011 - 2012 particular All in all this is a most Protected verge locations ly ones worthwhile project in which passing many members of the through Botanical group participate as woodland both monitors and recorders. e.g. Clare and Mark Kitchen Common Hill near Ford. The verge in the Midford Glow-worm Valley presents a dilemma as it is used as a traffic short cut, which compromises the management.

The scheme currently covers some 50 verges and involves 30 + monitors. Further volunteers are being recruited so if you would like to join in please let Fiona Bird’s-nest Orchid have your details. Also if you are aware of any verges which are Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey map with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office (C) Crown Copyright 2010

Danewort

Contractors at work not in the scheme but fall within the selection criteria Fiona would be pleased to consider them.

Whilst most of the monitoring is undertaken by volunteers a regular survey every five years is also undertaken by a professional ecologist to ensure that the species diversity is being maintained. Over time this project will produce a large amount of archival material including photographs, observations, and measurements etc for the future. There is also a regular newsletter, which Fiona is keen to have articles for.

Winter 2011 - 2012 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 6 Saturday 14 January 2012 Wiltshire Atlas Recording Project Sharon Pilkington

Our January meeting attracted a large and enthusiastic group of people, keen to learn more about the project and how they might contribute to it.

Sharon described the project in The Newsletter of 2010 – 11 (Issue 37) and her article can be found on our website. The aim is to record most plants at a 1km square basis (4 figure grid reference) and more uncommon ones to 10m or even 1m (8 or 10 figures). The project will extend over the next eight years with a view to BSBI producing a new UK Atlas by 2025.

One of Sharon’s aims at this meeting was to recruit more volunteers and considerable additional interest was expressed. Ideally a member or group is being asked to take responsibility for recording within a 10 km square of which there are 27 entire ones in the county and a further 17 that straddle the which records are from outside reversion field, this should be The aim is to boundary with another county. the main chosen square. noted in a comments column. Those squares which have been record most Others that should be recorded in adopted are indicated below plants at a The project ideally requires detail include invasive aliens (to together with their coordinators. 1km square records of all higher plants, 8 or 10 fig grid references). Only basis (4 including ferns, but an individual relatively easy-to-identify hybrids Although it would be a daunting figure grid could take on an area and omit should be attempted, for example task to record all of the plants in reference) certain categories of plant that the hybrid between goat and grey each of the 100 squares that make and more s/he does not feel confident in willow or red and white campion. up a 10 km square, this is not uncommon identifying – grasses or ferns for Microspecies are probably best necessary. The recommended ones to 10m example. The plants that are avoided – these include the approach is to work out how or even 1m (8 included in the Wiltshire Rare various Hieraciums, Taraxacums, many different accessible habitats or 10 Plants Register (available from Brambles, and Euphrasias. Do I there are in the 10 km square and figures). Sharon on request) are regarded hear a sigh of relief? On ensure that each of these is as uncommon or threatened either stoneworts, Sharon asks that they surveyed at least once at an in the Wiltshire or national be collected and passed to her in optimal time of year. A context and should be recorded as a fresh condition to check, if reasonably sized woodland, for accurately as possible. All plants possible. example, might straddle several that have established naturally are 1km squares but it is sufficient to to be included but not planted BSBI provides recording sheets record one main square or, if the material, such as street trees or that are customised for each vice nature of the woodland varies, to crops. Where there is doubt county. They can be downloaded use a single recording sheet to about the provenance of seeded from www.bsbi.org/resources or record all of the wood, indicating areas, for example an arable obtained from Sharon by email or

Page 7 Wiltshire Botanical Society Winter 2011 - 2012 post. These are the ideal tool for will forward a copy of this … work out print and it is anticipated that fieldwork and volunteers are spreadsheet on request. how many further comment will be made at required to fill in one for each site different the AGM in March. For those visited. The front of the sheet Another way of entering records, accessible who wish to find out more use the provides a recorder with the of plants or other more casual habitats link: opportunity to fill in all the observations of other groups, there are in was shown to us by Adrian information necessary to satisfy the 10 km www.LivingRecord.net/index.cf BSBI requirements: Bicker, from Dorset, who has square and m?key=KUSZLJLZFPWSKPGLKM developed a programme called ensure that PYAKVGYBTHKW · Grid Reference (4 fig), Living Records. This Tetrad, Vice County programme is being taken up by each of these is surveyed at Joining Living Record through a number of groups and this page automatically puts you least once at · Name of the Locality, individuals, notably the Dorset in the Wilts Botanical Society an optimal Habitat, Route (optional) Environmental Records Centre. team – and joining this team Adrian designed the programme time of year. automatically adds Vascular · Recorder(s) name(s) and with the aim of helping Plants to the list of subjects that dates of recording naturalists to record their data interest you. You can get straight easily and channel it in the on with entering records. Open · Space to record direction of a county recorder. the Options page to add other uncommon species in The county recorder is able to subjects. detail. verify the records before they become incorporated into the BSBI provides Sharon offered to run some main databases. The only person The back of the recording sheet recording identification workshops and who can edit the records is the lists all species that are likely to sheets that asked for volunteers to suggest be found in the given vice county. person who initiated them. This plant groups where help was there is no chance of data being are The print is small, Latin names customised required. Currently we have a are used and abbreviated and a altered by others – for whatever for each vice Ferns Workshop arranged for species number is also provided reason. October and there are plans afoot county. to aid with data input at a later to run a Grasses workshop and stage. This sheet is not user- This programme is also one on Composites in the friendly, perhaps, but it does downloadable, free of charge, summer of 2013. I hope it goes allow for the minimum of page and may offer us the opportunity “Living without saying that members are shuffling when working outside. to keep up to date with the input always willing to help others with of our records and also, if we Records” could be helpful identification of specimens This project is going to generate a wish, to carry out a little brought to any of the field tremendous amount of data and mapping of our efforts within out meetings. help will be needed to transfer the own squares. This could prove information from the recording to be a very useful way of Sharon is also preparing a sheets to digital format. Richard keeping check of our coverage of detailed information pack about has already produced a Microsoft the square, its habitats and the Atlas project for the Excel spreadsheet which, if filled geology. Several members volunteers who have already in accurately, can be imported should have had the opportunity stepped forward and this will be directly into the database which to trial this programme by the available at the AGM in March. both he and Sharon use to time this report is in store all WBS records. This A final plea – please don’t be put format is then suitable for off by the seeming both the Wiltshire and complexities of Swindon Biological computer input and Records Centre and BSBI analysis. ALL help to utilise. Clearly, not will be appreciated everyone will want to and, through transfer their own records, teamwork, we hope using their own computers, that this project, like but if a number of us do the Wiltshire Flora so, the speed with which Mapping Project of the records will be 1980s, will stimulate processed can be interest and, above all, increased and the hours provide enjoyment for which Richard and the next eight years or Sharon spend processing so. the data can be reduced substantially. Richard Pat Woodruffe

Winter 2011 - 2012 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 8 leaved Fluellen (Kickxia spuria) Mistletoe My Garden was also present as seed as it appeared fairly soon with During this exceptionally mild Weeds cultivation, as also Sweet Violet October and November, many (Viola odorata) and Dog Violet Why should ‘my’ garden weeds be (Viola riviniana). V. odorata plants have got their seasons out I make a of gear and there are a number of different from anyone else’s? Most seems always to be white flowered point of plants flowering a second time or are not, of course – Hairy Bitter- in these parts. never else extending their season. I cress (Cardamine hirsuta), have a very good display of removing a Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa- Wildlife, of which we have a fair amount, is no doubt responsible for Campanulas doing well in the seedling until pastoris), Dandelion (Taraxacum some introductions. I would not garden. I can identify officinale agg.) and Daisy (Bellis it … perennis) along with various have expected to find either Wood species of Veronica and Avens (Geum urbanum) or Now the trees are mostly bare, I Geraniaceae are as common as in Enchanter’s Nightshade (Circaea have noticed the number of anyone’s garden. Unless, of course lutetiana) in my sunny ground, mistletoe clumps on the poplars you are a meticulous gardener who albeit in slightly shady areas which at Countess Roundabout will not allow a weed to dare show coincide with access paths entering Amesbury have increased its head. I am not – I admit to the garden made by badgers. They considerably. There are now having lost the battle against some have setts in the woodland nearby. about eighteen. Although I can’t of them, others I allow because I Squirrels would supply me with a do a complete count before the find them beautiful or are useful to forest of walnuts and hazels, and lights change! I remember a few wildlife (or myself to eat!). I make Jays with oaks to say nothing of the years ago there were only a few. a point of never removing a yews, brambles and elderberries As Christmas approaches, seedling until I can identify it and donated by Blackbirds and mistletoe is of seasonal interest. this way have come across some Starlings. I suspect a Blackbird And much is imported from interesting finds. may be the provider of a Spurge France where it is abundant. … dispersed Laurel (Daphne laureola) which is There are trees in the district of by mistle Our garden, now some 32 years not uncommon locally, though I Central that are burdened with thrushes that since new, is sited on the western know of none growing closer than dozens of the parasite on each wipe their outskirts of Bradford-on-Avon at half a mile away. Even further from us, in so far as I know, grow tree. It is dioecious plant (male beaks on a around the 100-metre contour. The Harebells (Campanula and females on separate plants) branch and ground slopes quite steeply down to the Bristol River Avon and faces rotundifolia). It was a lovely but there are twice as many thus deposit south towards the . surprise to discover a patch females as males. The females the seed … The view takes in Westbury White growing in the lawn in our back are most desirable for decoration Horse, and Alfred’s garden where we carefully mow as these form the white juicy Tower and is largely rural. On old round it at flowering time. It joins berries. A single seed is maps the area is called Quarry the Large Thyme (Thymus polyembryonic producing several Field, so that the soil is very stony, pulegioides), Field Madder seedlings each. The alkaline and very free draining. (Sherardia arvensis) and Mouse- inconspicuous flowers appear in With such a wide view and facing ear Hawkweed (Pilosella February and are pollinated by south, the price we pay is exposure officinarum) amongst others to give blue bottles. There are not many to all the winds – and what they a downland feel to the lawn. We insects about to do this job. It carry – that come straight up from don’t use herbicides so have a was supposed to be aphrodisiac the Bristol Channel on South- flowery mead. (male buds look very suggestive). westerlies. The berries have a sticky juice I haven’t found a local field where formerly used for bird lime. Undoubtedly the wind has been the Field Madder grows, but it has When fermented, they produce a responsible for a number of weeds become quite common in pavement resin, viscin which is poisonous. and naturally all those adapted to edges nearby over the past few It yields a narcotic, nervine used that means of dispersal, but I can’t years, as has also Cornsalad to control epilepsy and help but wonder if it has also (Valerianella carinata). That has recently jumped the garden wall to convulsions. The seeds are brought some of the very tiny seeds appear in a border. dispersed by mistle thrushes that as well. It is quite a puzzle wipe their beaks on a branch and wondering how some have here. I see Ivy-leaved Toadflax thus deposit the seed. From I suspect that Babington’s Poppy (Cymbalaria muralis) creeping accounts in the press, it seems (Papaver lecoqii) may have been closer to us up from the town. Will that this year has been a good one already present in the seed bank as that be next? Over the years I have for mistletoe and there promises it is more common on this side of listed over 90 different species, to be a bumper harvest. Bradford than elsewhere. Common some ever present, others Barbara Last Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) put in its appearing once or twice and then first appearance this year in my never again. garden though it is also quite Gwyneth Yerrington common locally. Probably Round-

Page 9 Wiltshire Botanical Society Winter 2011 - 2012 Tim’s Crosswords Did you have trouble with ‘Flora Mini’? Here are the answers.

Classic Botanical Localities – The South Gower Coast This time we look at one of the most amazing places for plants in the UK and the site for this years WBS holiday. Across 1. Liverwort found in the dune slacks 7. Yellow Whitlow grass 10. Rock-rose white with age 12. Tree mallow Lavatera .... 14. First half is Welsh for The Gower moorland 16. The Welsh name 17. Writer found 'Com- muning with the cold and the quietness' 19. Author of No 99 NN 20. Hip little acrocarp moss 21. Named after an 11th Century Welsh Prince 22. Matthiola sinuata

Down 2. Famous bay 3. Annelids head 4. A very special place for botany 5. Means 'pure' 6. Compiler of the first flora 8. Spurge from Dorset 9. Clinopodium acinos 11. Small Restharrow 13. Contained the 'Red Lady' 15. Spring Squill 18. Frugality

Winter 2011 - 2012 Wiltshire Botanical Society Page 10 The Back Page

Summer Meetings Future meetings Sat, 17 Mar 2012 Caen Locks, Jane Brown Did you enjoy a particular meeting? Do you know a nice site to visit? Please suggest ideas for meetings or talks. Mon, 23 Apr 2012 Lower Moor Farm/, Contact Pat Woodruffe by writing to: Paul Darby/Catherine Hosie Anchorsholme, Hop Gardens Sat, 28 Apr 2012 AM: Clouts Wood and Markham. Whiteparish, Nr. Salisbury PM: Quidhampton Wood and Wilts SP5 2ST Bicknoll Castle, Richard Aisbitt or by phone or e-mail (01794 884436, Mon, 7 May 2012 Porton Ranges, Anne Appleyard [email protected]) Fri, 18 May 2012 Stonehill Wood, Paul Darby Editors Corner Sat, 26 May 2012 Pear Tree Hill, Rosemary Duckett It’s good to see the Atlas Updating Project getting underway. June 16 - 20 The Brecklands, Norfolk You will see from the article on pages 7/8 that there are a Thur, 28 June 2012 Ramsbury Water Meadows, number of 10-kilometre squares (hectads) without Dave Green “guardians”. Would you like to take on a square? Guardians will appreciate help with recording. Would you Sun, 8 July 2012 Park Bottom and Sherrington Down, like to take part? Contact Sharon if you want to get Pat Woodruffe involved. Thur, 19 July 2012 Sidbury Hill, near Tidworth, Winter is a somewhat lean for botanists,, but we have still Rosemary Duckett and Jenny Amor had some very enjoyable walks with a pub lunch along the Mon, 6 Aug 2012 AM: Oxford Botanic Gardens, way. Also there were a couple of splendid indoor meetings. Dr Alison Foster Thanks to the meeting organisers, to speakers, and to the PM: Harcourt Arboretum worthy people who have sent in reports for this newsletter. We have also had a couple of delightful extra articles - Fri, 17 Aug 2012 Pewsey Allotments, Jane Brown “Mistletoe” and “Garden Weeds”. Thanks to Barbara Last Sat, 25 Aug 2012 Cholderton Estate, Sue Fitzpatrick and Gwyneth Yerrington for these.

Sun, 9 Sept 2012 Plaitford and West Wellow I could not fit a crossword in the last issue, but have Commons (VC8), Dave Green included the solution to Tim’s “Flora Mini” puzzle and a Thur, 20 Sept 2012 Clatford Arboretum, Jack Oliver new one relating to the Welsh Gower peninsula. Sat, 20 Oct 2012 Bentley Wood, Salisbury Natural Please send any items for the summer newsletter (issue 40) History Society (joint meeting) by 19 September 2012. Post to Richard Aisbitt, 84 Goddard PM: Bentley Wood, Avenue, Swindon, Wilts SN1 4HT, or email to Pat Woodruffe [email protected] For details, see our meetings leaflet or the Wiltshire Other News Botanical Society web site at http://www.wiltsbotsoc.co.uk Our Botanical Recorder, Sharon Pilkington’s annual reports about plant life in Wiltshire for the WSBRC can be found at: You can download this newsletter (and other recent http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/YourRecords/CountyRecorder/pla newsletters) in colour from ntandfern/PageTemplate.aspx http://www.southwilts.com/site/WBS/Newsletters.htm Wiltshire Botanical Society Committee

Richard Aisbitt Chairman, newsletter, records 01793 694680 [email protected] Anne Appleyard Annual Field Trip 01980 610 385 [email protected] Jane Brown 01672 569241 [email protected] Paul Darby Wiltshire Wildlife Trust 01380 725670 [email protected] Rosemary Duckett Secretary 01373 858296 [email protected] Sonia Heywood Web site 01380 830478 [email protected] Sharon Pilkington BSBI Recorder for Wiltshire 01373 827074 [email protected] John Presland Editor: Wiltshire Botany 01225 865125 [email protected] Tim Kaye Treasurer and Membership 07980 863 577 [email protected] Pat Woodruffe Meetings Secretary 01794 884436 [email protected]

Page 11 Wiltshire Botanical Society Winter 2011 - 2012