Dfg Spring Newsletter 2017.Pdf

Dorset Heath 2017

No 8 Spring 2017

The Dorset Heath Newsletter of the Dorset Flora Group Bob Gibbons

he Dorset Flora Group AGM at the Dorset Last year I went out on a hunt in early April for the Wildlife Trust’s Headquarters back in November elusive Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem and was delighted to seems a long time ago. The meeting was again discover it in a wood in north Dorset. The key to finding aT thoroughly enjoyable affair with plenty of good this little plant was to look out for its bluebell-like conversation and an excellent talk by Tim Bailey on leaves with their distinctive tubular tips, rather than the Dorset’s carnivorous plants – it seems that some of the exquisite pale yellow-green flowers (see photo below), species, particularly the bladderworts, can be fiendishly which are not always present. Later in the season the difficult the identify! Talks by Robin Walls, Ted Pratt and plant all but disappears, which underlines the fact that John Newbould provided a good summary of the work if you are doing some woodland square-bashing for the the Dorset Flora Group has been involved in during 2016 BSBI 2020 Atlas you need to visit sites at least a couple and also some of the highlights of the botanical year. of times in the year to record the full range of species. This issue of Dorset Heath includes their reports. I hope that many of you will be helping with this Many thanks to Amber Rosenthal and the Dorset important project this year, as we are entering the Wildlife Trust for allowing the DFG AGM to last few seasons. be held its offices. Thanks also to Peter and At the end of this issue you will see that Margaret Cramb for once more provided a we are again holding a series of events for suitably testing quiz. Wild Flower Week at the end of May and After yet another winter with next to no beginning of June. Thanks to Ted Pratt for snowfall, Spring is fast approaching. I organising this popular programme. We hope everyone is keen to get out and also have a good range of field meetings, enjoy Dorset’s wonderful flora. Although including some workshops planned, so most people think first of the county’s do register your interest. magnificent displays of coastal and I look forward to seeing you over the meadow plants in high summer, there is coming season at the various meetings. much to excite the keen botanist early in the Good plant hunting! season.

Andrew Branson Andrew Andrew Branson

1 Dorset Heath 2017 Dorset Heath 2017 Vice-county Recorder’s notes for 2016 Robin Walls

Atlas 2020 the most attention: Purbeck and the coastal squares. e are nearing the end of the recording period The systematic recording in west Dorset and around for the BSBI’s Atlas 2020 project. It is clear that Crossways is evident from the yellow and orange dots. the centre and north of Dorset are where we In fact, I expect every monad in Dorset to have over 200 haveW most monads (1km grid-squares) with no records species making the many green dots stand out as under- (Fig. 1). We will be organising some recording days up recorded. Because of historic county boundary changes, there this year, but meanwhile please venture ‘up t’north’ there are two areas that are also being covered by other when you feel the need to look for plants. If you don’t vice-counties. Bournemouth and Christchurch are in have the time for longer than the briefest of visits, please South Hants, vice-county 11. Currently, Hampshire is stop the car when driving through - ten minutes in a being more intensely surveyed than Dorset. The dotted layby listing what you see will almost certainly make a extension to vice-county 9 in the west is now in the big difference to the coverage. If you are lucky you might administrative counties of Devon and Somerset. The find something spectacular (see below). recently published Flora of Devon has covered the Devon Looking on the positive side, the squares that have part and I understand Somerset botanists are recording records are shown in Figure 2. The colour coding the northernmost parish in this area. indicates the number of taxa recorded. As is often the Figure 2 Numbers of plant species recorded since case, the richest areas of the county have received 2000. These maps do not show the latest records. To check Figure 1 Squares with no post-2000 records. the current state for any grid square look at Living Record or DERC ask the recorder for the square. DERC

2 3 Dorset Heath 2017 Dorset Heath 2017 Some interesting finds in 2016 be expected to move around into any disturbed, sandy ore sites for Bolboschoenus laticarpus, the soil and is well worth looking out for when you are in club-rush recently recognised as present in suitable habitat. Like the two species in the previous Britain as distinct from the Sea Club-rush paragraph, this in not a maritime species as such, but it MB. maritimus, were found by Fred Rumsey and Helena does like to be where it can smell the sea. Crouch on the R.Cale in the upper Stour catchment. These finds complement the first definite identification Carolyn Steele and I searched several sites for Yellow of the species by Andrew Branson in 2014 and reinforce Centaury Cicendia filiformis (and Pillwort Pilularia my view that any stand of Bolboschoenus in fresh water globulifera) for PondNet, with limited success. It is a plant should be checked as a possible for B. laticarpus. Please that has good and bad years, so it is not safe to make collect ripe fruit for critical examination. any deductions from a single survey. This is not an easy plant to find, but well worth the effort since it is classed Charles Whitworth has found a new site for Little-Robin as Vulnerable (Red list for England 2014) and declining. Geranium purpureum. It was found on the north-west It is one of the suite of species specialising on winter-wet side of Weymouth, which is more inland than the better hollows (typically wheel ruts) on heathland. Often found known sites along the old railway line. On a water with Allseed Radiola linoides, which is also vulnerable but sampling day around the National Trust land around more frequent and conspicuous (see photo below). Golden Cap, we came across the scarcer of our two small clubrushes, Slender Club-rush Isolepis cernua, again at a A rush that can easily be overlooked in stands of more inland site than is typical. Jointed Rush Juncus articulatus is the Blunt-flowered Rush J. subnodulosus. As a component of fens, in our The Jersey Cudweed Gnaphalium luteo-album is dubiously county it often indicates more base-rich water, which, native in Dorset, but it is legally protected. It has long in a heathland environment, should trigger a search been known on a fenced-off munitions waste tip at for other scarce plants. Jim White found a stand near Holton Heath and more recently along the track near the Scotland Farm with Black Bog-rush Schoenus nigricans, station, it has now been found further up Station Road by another species of similar significance, although more Mandy Marler. This may be a re-discovery because Lynne conspicuous and probably commoner in our area. Farrell had told me she had seen it in this area many years ago. I failed to find any three years ago, when On the Atlas 2020 recording day at Ashmore we were advising Wessex Water on its conservation during their delighted to find a small patch of Meadow Saxifrage work on the sewer installation. As an annual, it can Saxifraga granulata in the churchyard. Particularly Yellow Centuary growing with Allseed. Robin Walls

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Heath Lobelia. Sugar Hill Aboretum. Robin Walls Sugar Hill Arboretum pleasing was that it had clearly been recognised as worth his Forestry Commission arboretum near conserving because the mower had carefully avoided Wareham is looking a lot more inviting after our the patch. Meadow Saxifrage may have been more working party with the Forestry Commission widespread formerly, but we now seem to be down to volunteersT in January. Much of the brash and fallen only five areas in the county where it may be found in timber has been cleared into piles to decay or be small groups. Unlike many of the other plants mentioned removed and some of the weedier trees have been felled, above, this is a ‘proper’ flower, very attractive and easily making the wood more open and easier to walk around. spotted in May. Importantly, all the specimen trees have been numbered Heath Lobelia and Ted Pratt has located them all and recorded the he good news for Heath Lobelia Lobelia urens is ten-figure grid reference for each. FC’s Matt Parrott has that the developers taking on the after-use of the named them and given us the list (contact Ted or me if large quarry at Crossways, Habitat First, are keen you would like a copy). By the summer we hope the FC toT restore substantial areas to prime habitats. The main will have made name plates, at least one per species, function of the site is as holiday accommodation – rather which we will attach to the trees. There could not be luxurious by the sound of it – and they want the houses a better resource for anyone wanting to improve their set in quiet, attractive countryside. The idea of looking conifer identification skills. after scarce species has gone down well and as it is only Guide to winter twigs a few fields away from the Heath Lobelia site this would ohn Poland, author, with Eric Clement, of The be an ideal one to start with. After a walk over the area Vegetative Key to the British Flora, has been writing a we have a site in mind and Habitat First have started key to twigs for the last four years. It will be the most preparation by clearing the gorse and will sow a basic Jcomprehensive so far, as it covers over 350 species and grass mix soon. The less good news is that on a late visit he intends to have it available in time for next winter. He to Hurst Heath last year I found the entire seed crop asked me to do a ‘few drawings’ to illustrate the main from the Heath Lobelia had been eaten off! Presumably features of twigs and buds. After foolishly agreeing, this deer are responsible. Somehow or other we will have to has turned into drawing nearly all the species in the key! prevent a repeat this year if the project is to get off to a This has kept me out of mischief through the last three good start. Has anyone got a spare roll of netting to put winters and now I am preparing the final drawings over the main stand in August?

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Artwork for the forthcoming guide to winter twigs. Dorset’s exotic Ophrys hybrid. Fred Rumsey Robin Walls Orchids and foreigners! even more exotic: Fly Orchid O. insectifera x Woodcock Orchid O. scolopax (O. x nelsonii). Two knowledgeable y most exciting find of 2016 was the result botanist who visited the site thought the non-flowering of stopping on the way back from a meeting rosettes were probably Fly Orchids. This is rare in Dorset, that had finished early in a poorly recorded adding to the interest, but in need of confirmation, so we Msquare in north Dorset. I came across a lay-by, with a returned in June. The early Ophrys had gone over and did broad scruffy verge and some woodland that looked not look like setting seed, but there was an array of Fly accessible and would yield a reasonable starter list for Orchids and O. x pietzschii (the hybrid with Bee Orchid). the Atlas 2020 project. Having recorded these, I still had Some assiduous counting by Fred Rumsey and Helena twenty minutes spare, so I walked back down the road Crouch, who know a similar site in Somerset, totalled 130 to a cutting in the hope of some calcicolous grassland Fly Orchids, 42 Bee-Fly hybrids and a single Bee orchid, species. As I later found out, this was created in 1993- making this by far the best Fly Orchid site in Dorset, 4, so it had not developed one of the usual calcicolous without the additional interest of the hybrids, and a few communities. Nevertheless, there was an open sward of more common orchid species. Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca, Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus and bryophytes in which I recorded a handful The results of DNA work on the putative O.x nelsonii is of other downland species, including some Ophrys leaf still awaited at the time of writing. Meanwhile, we can rosettes. To my surprise, one of these had some flowers. ponder the origin of a mainly south European taxon on The weather was getting a little blustery and it was now a Dorset roadside. Many road cuttings have been coated well time I left, so with my slightly smart phone I took a with a nutrient-rich soil and sown with robust grasses. few pictures. Our county ecologist, Phil Sterling, has long had a policy of avoiding this sort of restoration, preferring to sow a At home I could not place the orchid – it looked a bit like basic grass mix thinly on the mineral soil. This has paid a Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera, which does not flower this off handsomely here and in other places, notably the early, but a hybrid might. The only Ophrys out at the end Weymouth Relief Road, New Road on Portland and the of April in Dorset is the Early Spider-orchid O. sphegodes, West Stafford bypass. which is found miles away to the south, along the coast. R. M. Walls, February 2017 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

4 5 Dorset Heath 2017 Dorset Heath 2017 East Dorset botany, Atlas 2020 and Living Record Jon Crewe

few years ago, when Dorset botanists started on the Ferndown Industrial estate I recorded 147 plants seriously to look at the task of re-recording the during lunchtime outings there, so don’t ignore anything Dorset flora by 2020, I agreed to give some help. local just because it is built-up. A map of Dorset was divided into 10k squares, and mine I can honestly say that all of the outings turned out to was among several hastily scrawled sets of initials in the be more interesting than I expected. I stuck to footpaths centre of some of those blocks. A year or two went by and byways – some squares are well supplied with during which I occasionally wondered a) where my copy those. There always seemed to be something different of the map was and b) when I might start work on the appearing on the verges and in hedgerows, and often recording. As 2015 drew to a close I began to realise that enough there was no gate on a field, or a piece of it was high time to make a start. apparently neglected land, allowing me to wander a My initials ended up in four hectads, so on the face little way in to look for different species. Obviously of it 400 1km squares to survey. One of Robin Walls’s any serious effort to record every single species in a predecessors as vice-county recorder for Dorset found square would mean finding the owner and asking for over 1,000 vascular plants in one such square. The task access permission, but footpaths first is the rule if you looked intimidating. However, after a more careful look don’t have much time. I found two new sites for a real at the map, I realised that none of my squares were fully Dorset rarity, Coral-necklace Illecebrum verticillatum, and in Dorset, and two were almost entirely in botanical recorded uncommon plants in all sorts of surprising Hampshire! So only the 254 to worry about! Some 1km places. squares (monads), were in urban parts of Poole and The other pleasure has been using Living Record to Wimborne; this would not rule out a visit, but I thought it enter the results. I have used it for adding odd records fair to make them a lower priority. of reptiles and birds in the past, but thought that putting My summers are quite busy with work, with visits to in long lists of plants might be difficult. On the contrary, sites often taking place in evenings and early mornings, entering the records made on my Flora recording cards is so fitting in botanical outings is not easy. I decided that a breeze – nice drop down lists to tick off, the monads are Sunday mornings were the best time to go. There ought pre-named for you by DERC and using the aerial photo to be time to record in two monads, which I thought to locate sites gives a very pleasing reminder of the days might be the limit on my own. I use the DERC recording out. Best of all, you know that the records are on and card, and it is always a bit discouraging starting again sat ready for the vice-county recorder to review – DERC with brambles, nettles, daisies, etc. Two of these monads work very hard on maintaining the database of records, in a day are enough if you want to avoid the whole thing but mountains of paper take a while to sift through! turning into a dull grind – this is a volunteer activity This helps them, and if errors are made the VCR check done for fun, after all. is almost certain to remove them – I’ve had questioning emails in the past and realised my mistake! I didn’t really get going until after mid-summer, but I did tick off a number of squares on my Sunday morning I am looking to repeat this in 2017 and would be outings after that. I have an invaluable list supplied by delighted to have some company if anyone wants to DERC, which shows how many records have been made join in. I am happy to meet up with learners or expert in each monad, first in total, then between 1970 and 2000, botanists, although the walks aren’t suitable for complete then from 2000 onwards. I have focused on sites with few novices as there won’t be time to give a lot of instruction. or no recent records, although there are also tempting There is no chance that I will complete the required sites with hardly any records at all. These don’t always number of squares on my own, so email me on the turn out as exciting as they sound – central Ferndown address below if you’d like to help. Thanks. and suburban Wimborne aren’t ideal for a botanical Jon Crewe; [email protected] Sunday. I should say, though, that when I was working

6 7 Dorset Heath 2017 Dorset Heath 2017 Some species to look out for in 2017 Bryan Edwards (DERC Ecologist)

n 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 speciesI 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 Cichorium intybus Chicory Vulnerable appear to be significantly under-recorded, with few A conspicuous plant of roadsides and field margins, recent (post-2005) records. Chicory is easily recognised by its bright blue flowers. Most of these species are easy to recognise, so everyone The 2000 Dorset Flora found it in 61 tetrads noting that can get involved in recording and any records would be it appeared to have declined in the north and west of valuable in building up a better picture of their current the county, with most records in the Poole Basin and status in the county. Purbeck. In recent years, many road verges have either Catabrosa aquatica Whorl Grass Vulnerable become overgrown or enriched, with rank grasses dominating. There are relatively few records in the last A grass of shallow or muddy ten years and more records are needed to see whether the water margins of small decline is genuine or if it is under-recorded. 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. Robin Walls

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Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry Near Threatened This 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 Solidago virgaurea Goldenrod Near Threatened if the national decline has been This is a widespread plant mirrored in Dorset. Information of open woodland, old on the type of habitat will be hedgebanks and rocky useful. 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 Lathyrus linifolius Bitter-vetch Near Threatened Portland. There have been This is a widespread plant of grassland and woodland few records in the last ten habitats and is most frequent in western and northern years and these are from Britain. In Dorset it is a plant of clay soils and is tolerant a very few sites. There are Bryan Edwards of mildly acid to slightly basic conditions and mostly post-1987 records from 72 found in the northern and western vales and around tetrads in the Flora. A survey of old sites is needed to the fringes of the Poole Basin heaths. It occurs in open assess the current status of this species in the county. 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.

Bryan Edwards

8 9 Dorset Heath 2017 Dorset Heath 2017 Field meeting reports 2016 Compiled by John Newbould

21st April, 2016. High Wood, National Trust, A clearing to the north-west will later be dominated by Bracken Kingston Lacey Estate. Pteridium aquilinum, but whilst light is available Bluebells provide Leader and report John Newbould colour. There are smaller patches of Dog’s-mercury Mercuralis High Wood is located north-east of Badbury Rings on King perennis, Pignut Conopodium majus, Bugle Ajuga repens and Down ST9603 and ST9703. There were just two of us in the occasionally Wood False-brome Brachypodium sylvaticum. In the party on what was a cool day on the exposed down with a shrub layer, Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa and Red Current R. strong north-easterly wind, but inside the wood the temperature rubrum, Dog-rose Rosa canina and Field Rose R. arvensis were was comfortable. We crossed Badbury Rings hill fort; where seen. it was disappointing to see the extent of scrub growth on In the eastern section of the wood there is an extensive Hazel the ramparts, which will be removed later in the season. We coppice, with active management in one place, mixed with good entered the wood in the south-east corner. The western side standard Oaks and heavily carpeted with Bluebell. of the wood is Pedunculte Oak Quercus robur, Ash Fraxinus excelsior Field Maple Acer campestre woodland, with a good Greater Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling and a single Jay cover of Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta and the potential for was seen, but generally the birds seen were common woodland saproxylic insects, with substantial felled oak left to rot. The east birds such as Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Wren, Nuthatch and Great Tit. side of the wood is a large area of mainly Hazel Corylus avellana Just one butterfly, an Orange-tip, was seen and whilst a number coppice mixed with canopy trees of Ash and Oak. of bees were around, we had nobody to sample them. We were however, treated to Skylark over the grass downland, whilst we Along the south-eastern margin is an occasional Wayfaring Tree ate our lunch. Viburnum lanata, Spindle Euonymus europaeus, Dogwood Cornus sanguinea and Blackthorn Prunus spinosa. Traveller’s-joy Clematis 2nd May 2016. Green-winged Orchids at vitalba and Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum is found climbing Westhay Farm. trees, whilst, at one place, we noticed an Ivy Hedera helix which Leader and report John Newbould had been sawn through with a 150mm diameter trunk. The herb Around 20 people booked for this annual survey, but only layer had Wood-sedge Carex sylvatica, large patches of Wood 12 turned up as the heavy rain that had been forecast Anemone Anemone nemorosa, whilst Bluebells were abundant. materialised. The two main fields at Westhay Farm had there Laurence Taylor by a pond at High Wood. Green-winged Orchids at Westhay Farm. John Newbould John Newbould

8 9 Dorset Heath 2017 Dorset Heath 2017 usual populations of around 100,000 flowering spikes, but the field’. Although similar damp pasture, there were drier patches two adjacent fields under Stonebarrow Hill had much smaller and more managed grassland which yielded a different suite of numbers than in recent years. species.

Volunteers this year extended the search to fields adjacent to With the late spring we exercised our skills at vegetative Westhay Water finding good numbers in a large field to the east identification and many species were not showing at all. The of Monument Copse with smaller numbers in an adjacent field habitats though were promising and we all felt a return later in and in another field to the east of Ridge Water. the year would be well worthwhile.

One small field just to the north-east of St Gabriel’s cottages 14th May 2016. Cerne Abbas. had 20 spikes, but also Common Twayblade Neottia [Listera] Leader and Report John Newbould. ovata, Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula and, later in the Giant Hill during mid-May is a field naturalist’s mecca, with many season, Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii. Bitter-vetch butterfly enthusiasts coming to pay their respects to His Grace Lathyrus linifolius was found on the west margin of St Gabriel’s the Duke of Burgundy. The west-facing calcareous hill is rich Wood. Bracken Pteridium aquilinum is lightly spread across the in many calcareous plants, especially the butterfly’s main food field together with Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Pignut plant, Cowslip Primula veris. The leader had attempted to see Conopodium majus. the butterfly in 2015, but was thwarted by adverse weather but nevertheless succeeded in undertaking a botanical survey 9th May 2016. Moors Valley Country Park. in ST6601 and ST6602, so the need for botanical information Leader and report Robin Walls was not too pressing. Following the eastern footpath under the The country park straddles River Crane or Moors River, which is Giant we recorded plenty of Tor-grass Brachypodium rupestre the border between the Watsonian vice-counties of Dorset and and Sweet Vernal-grass Anthoxantum odoratum, intermingled South Hampshire, although it is now entirely in the administrative with Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus, Salad Burnet county of Dorset. The object of the day was not so much square Poterium sanguisorba and Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula. bashing, but to help the staff with an up-to-date species list of Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca was also plentiful together with various management compartments and provide some teaching scattered patches of Spring Sedge C. caryophyllea. Common for the East Dorset rangers. We had a dozen people evenly Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium had the rare gall mixed between DFG members, rangers and MVCP volunteers Dasineura helianthemi at only the third place I have seen this in on a day that threatened rain but only managed very light drizzle Dorset. Quaking-grass Briza media, Dwarf Thistle Cirsium acaule occasionally. were amongst the herbs in the dominant NVC CG4 grassland. Sara Tschersich had selected the compartments of most interest There were small patches of the much scarcer NVC type CG7 because they needed help with adjusting the management plans grassland with Common Thyme Thymus polytrichus, Mouse-ear- to suit the flora. We began with some introductory remarks hawkweed Pilosella officinarum and Sheep’s-fescue Festuca ovina. about plant identification over a welcome cup of coffee and Amongst all this calcareous grassland there were butterflies discussion on how to structure the day. We spent the rest of including Dingy and Grizzled Skipper, but ‘His Grace’ was missing. the morning in the south of the park in a series of meadows We resorted to a new strategy – looking for the big telephoto dominated by Purple Moor-grass Molinia caerulea and Soft Rush lenses. That worked and we were rewarded by seeing a few by Juncus effusus. I led a group focusing on help with identification, whilst Tom and Jean Smith gallantly ventured further afield and Early Purple Orchids and Cowslips at Cerne Abbas. worked things out for themselves. John Newbould

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

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The group assembling by the pond at Ashmore. John Newbould

the western hedge. Michael Edwards recorded the sloe shieldbug with the County boundary i.e. Wiltshire Coppice and Hookley Dolycoris baccarum and the dock shieldbug Coreus marginatus, He Coppice, which Dorset Explorer shows as ancient woodland. also recorded the hoverfly Brachyopa scutellaris, whose larvae Most of Hookley Coppice is now parkland, but is, nevertheless, are usually found in sap runs close to the ground in deciduous a National BAP priority habitat. Leaving the village on a public trees (Stubbs & Falk 2012) and also the fly Eupeodes corollae. footpath, Common Whitlowgrass Erophila verna was seen at The brassy mining bee also known as the green furrow bee the base of a wall. The meadows adjacent to the path were Lasioglossum morio and the orange-tailed mining bee also known used for grazing horses and there was little of botanical interest. as the early mining bee Andrena haemorrhoa were also recorded Historically, the area (a scheduled monument) consisted of in the field. medieval fields which were used for cultivation.

Two fungal galls were noted during the trip. Microbotrum The Dorset-Wiltshire County boundary in 1km square lychnidis-dioica forms a smut on the stamen of Red Campion ST9117 runs from the eastern corner of Melbury Down in a Silene dioica and a blotch gall Puccinea primulae was very scarce southerly direction crossing a minor road leading to Woodley on Primrose. Down. Within the survey area, the northern portion of the boundary is effectively a narrow copse (to big to be classed 14th May 2016. Ashmore. as a hedgerow), with Field Maple Acer campestre, Ash Fraxinus Leaders Andrew Branson and Robin Walls excelsior, Blackthorn Prunus spinosa, Hazel Corylus avellana etc. Report John Newbould and on the eastern field margin a ruderal community with Great The meeting was organised to record for the forth-coming BSBI Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum. We turned south-east towards 2020 Atlas. Around 12 members assembled by the village pond Wiltshire Coppice where a narrow strip of NVC W8 woodland where we split into three groups of four. I was with Tom and has some large Ash, Pedunculate Oak Quercus robur, Spindle Jean Smith and Laurence Taylor. The party assembled around the Euonymus europaeus, Hazel, Dogwood Cornus sanguinea and large shallow village pond. The margins had Common Spike-rush Field Maple. Here there were some interesting herbs, including a Eleocharis palustris. We asked for the squares ST9116, ST9117 large area of Ransoms Allium ursinum, Dog’s-mercury Mercuralis ST9216 and ST9217, with ST9117 and ST9217 containing the perennis, and Enchanter’s Nightshade Circaea lutetiana, together County Boundary as a forthcoming meeting for the County with a few spikes of Toothwort Lathraea squamaria, Town-hall- Boundary Group was scheduled for the area. clock Adoxa moschatellina, Wood Spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides, The two squares with the most species ST9216 (115 records) Yellow-archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon and a few spikes of and ST9217 (91 records) contained the woodland associated Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula.

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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 Toothwort at Wiltshire Coppice, near Ashmore. rare these days), Skylark, Yellowhammer and Kestrel were useful John Newbould records. National Trust land, as this will be dealt with in 2017. However, 9th June 2016. Fontmell Early Gentian count. we did search the flowers of Nottingham Catchfly Silene nutans Leader and Report Amber Rosenthal for the larvae of the White Spot moth Hadena albimacula. The For the third year running, members of the Dorset Flora Group moth lays its eggs in the flower heads of the host plant and the helped with this year’s survey of Early Gentian Gentianella anglica larvae gradually eat down the stem. I was delighted to see the on this Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve. With only four of us we larvae for the first time having spent hours searching in the past had our work cut out, zig-zagging across the long, and very steep only to find the eaten down flower stems. slopes to give full coverage of the main areas for this endemic Nationally Scarce species. Pleasingly, the distribution of gentians Pevsner (1972) describes a considerable ‘ “Celtic” field system was maintained across the site, though it was another low year covering about 850 acres in Chaldon Herring, West Lulworth, in terms of numbers. However, the sun shone, the birds sang and and Winfrith Newburgh. At The Warren and Newlands Warren we were rewarded for our efforts by multiple sightings of vibrant “celtic fields” are continuous for 500 acres, with a large number Adonis Blue butterflies visiting the masses of Horse-shoe Vetch of complete fields over the bottoms and sides’. With the stretch Hippocrepis comosa carpeting the slopes this spring. 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, 11th June 2016. Ringstead to Lulworth. it is impossible to graze with domestic animals and the little Leader Laurence Taylor grazing undertaken is by Rabbits. I last surveyed the area 15 Report John Newbould years ago in 2001, describing the area as calcareous grassland This was an ambitious project, due to the undulating terrain, to NVC CG4 (Tor-grass Brachypodium rupestre), with islands of record six 1km squares along the South West Coast Path from NVC CG7 Common Thyme Thymus polytrichus, Mouse-eared- Ringstead to Lulworth, all of which are designated as SSSIs; a hawkweed Pilosella officinarum and Sheep’s-fescue Festuca ovina Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and part of the Start Point and Gorse Ulex europaeus/Bramble Rubus fruticosus scrub NVC to Studland Coastal World Heritage Site. On the day, we only W23. Little has changed. Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria is quite achieved four squares, but during the summer, the task was rare. There were a few Bee Orchids Ophrys apifera, Portland completed. We parked in the National Trust Ringstead car park Spurge Euphorbia portlandica, Nottingham Catchfly, plenty of making straight to White Nothe Cottages, without recording the Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa and with it Adonis Blue

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

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 Early Gentian and the seed pods of Horseshoe Vetch, and Yellowhammer on Gorse. In addition to the Adonis Blue, in near Swyre Head. John Newbould the field below the Beacon we recorded Small Blue, Lulworth Skipper and Small Heath. carrying sand-eels but we added little new to our lists. Interestingly, Scratchy Bottom (a dry valley) is not part of the The Warren is fenced to keep cattle away from the cliff edge, SSSI, with a grassland of a golden hue dominated by Meadow leaving a wide strip for the very many walkers, but on the cliffs, Oat-grass Helictotrichon pratense (NVC CG6). With the time floral diversity has decreased. Phillip reported nesting Fulmar approaching 4.30pm, the small party retired to our waiting car (amber listed here but Endangered in Europe), Skylark and by Lulworth Church for the drive back to Ringstead. We were Meadow Pipit in the fields, with Rock Pipit on the coast path. We resolved to complete the survey and so Rex Bale and Colin found the RDB1 weevil Mononychus punctumalbum on Stinking Marsh joined Laurence Taylor and me on the next meeting. Iris Iris foetidissima three times during the day. A really nice find was Early Gentian Gentianella anglica to the west of Swyre Head. 14 July 2016. Lulworth. Nearby a small area of Red Valerian Centranthus ruber had my Leader and report John Newbould first Meadow Brown of the season. There were many Large Once again parking by Lulworth Church, we surveyed the Skipper, a few Painted Ladies, Grizzled Skipper, Adonis Blue and square from the public footpath running past Hanbury Farm, Small Heath. walking towards Durdle Dor, then followed the Coast Path Off the Durdle Dor beach, Phillip recorded Common Tern walking east towards Lulworth.

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Surveying the meadows at Tadnoll. Slightly faded MarshCinquefoil at Tadnoll. Amber Rosenthal Amber Rosenthal

The list produced around 100 species of mainly calcareous dusk the previous evening. She also found two examples of flowering plants and some hedgerow trees including a number the Pointed Snail determined by the National recorder Adrian of bushes of Barberry Berberis vulgaris, which has largely been Norris. This is a small snail of coastal grassland with around 1,600 eliminated from hedgerows as it acts as a vector for the toxic records on the NBN gateway. Floristically, Stair Hole was past its fungus Claviceps purpurea on grasses. Whilst the northern slopes best, but there was one scraggy example of Golden Samphire are often quite rank, it is the southern slopes above the coastal Inula crithmoides. path to Durdle Dor, which has the finer grasses and is most 25th June 2016. Tadnoll Meadows. herb rich. The path was humming with people, and as I had Leader and Report Amber Rosenthal the clipboard I was repeatedly asked about Pyramidal Orchids Eight of us met on a not quite sunny, but not as wet as it had Anacamptis pyramidalis. It was a great place to promote wild forecast, Saturday to explore and record the flora of Tadnoll flowers! Plants not previously recorded included: Squinancywort Meadows. These wet meadows are a part of the wider Tadnoll & Asperula cyanchica, Harebell Campanula rotundifolia, Nodding Winfrith Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve and contain a number of Thistle Carduus nutans, Cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis, species of interest including Marsh Cinquefoil Comarum palustre which is nationally becoming a pest in chalk grassland, and Great Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis. especially on rocks. Most unusually on a grass cliff top, there was Yellow-horned Poppy Glaucium flavum, but also Shaggy As part of the visit, Bryan Edwards kindly demonstrated the mouse-ear-hawkweed Pilosella peleteriana (also present on principles of carrying out National Vegetation Classification the White Nothe path). Bowen (2000) describes this plant (NVC) quadrats (with an explanation of what this is for the as found between Gad Cliff and White Nothe on the coastal uninitiated). He then re-surveyed quadrats in the same habitats chalk. Gromwell Lithospermum officinale was scarce and with he had in 1995. Overall this revealed little change in the species Ploughman’s-spikenard Inula conyzae and Portland Spurge composition in these areas, although there was a noticeable Euphorbia portlandica. increase in how rushy the overall meadows are now following several years of wet summers. Yellowhammer was seen along the northern hedgerows, with young, as well as Skylark. Eleven species of butterfly were Overall 78 species were recorded from the meadows, including recorded including Marbled White and Common Blue. Heath Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza maculata and Southern Marsh-orchid D. praetermissa, Star, Flea, Carnation, Common Finally, on 1st September, I took my granddaughter, Ruth, and Bottle Sedge Carex echinata, C. pulicaris, C. panicea, C. nigra to Lulworth to record the least interesting square, Dungy and C. rostrata, Purple and Yellow Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria, Head SY8179 and Stair Hole, where she had the time of Lysimachia vulgaris and Marsh Valerian Valeriana dioica. These not her life catching Dark Bush-crickets with a lepidoptera net. A only updated DWT’s record list but have also gone into Living holidaymaker told me that there were hundreds here after Record to add to the BSBI 2020 data for this area.

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25th August 2016. Winfrith Heath. then a perplexing hybrid was happened upon, with Ted taking Leader Laurence Taylor a specimen home for further consideration (we all quickly Report John Newbould. learnt that roses can be tricky and especially the very variable This survey was arranged to repeat a survey undertaken in hybrids). On the reserve itself it wasn’t long before we found 2012 of Marsh Gentian Gentiana pneumonanthe, now classified one of our target species – the Small-flowered Sweet-briar Rosa as IUCN Near Threatened (Stroh et al. 2014) in England, and micrantha, a (relatively) unadulterated Dog Rose Rosa canina, also the status of Pillwort Pilularia globulifera, now classed as and a further hybrid – this time more readily discernible as R. IUCN Vulnerable, in a large pond on the northern section of this canina x micrantha = R. toddia) It took some bashing to create a DWT reserve. With rain threatened, we only managed to survey route through an exclosure erected to protect the roses to find the heath north of Tadnoll Lane. We had our list of records from specimens of the main target of the day – the Nationally Rare 2012, with grid references and it was pleasing to report that Small-leaved Sweet-briar Rosa agrestis, but at least five specimens Marsh Gentian was present in similar numbers and similar places were found and everyone was able to see the key characteristics to our 2012 survey. Marsh Gentian seems to favour slightly of this rose – fruity smelling sub-foliar glandular hairs, glandular drier ground where Bell Heather Erica cinerea and Deergrass hairs on pedicel and truncate shaped leaf bases. The search was Trichophorum germanicum, together with occasional Meadow then broadened across the site which revealed mostly more R. Thistle Cirsium dissectum, Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis toddia but also another unconfirmed hybrid. The overall search, was found. however, was somewhat hampered by the on and off heavy drizzle, so we called it a day at lunchtime and headed home in Laurence Taylor considered that since he last recorded the the confidence that we were all right to be hesitant about roses, Pillwort some of the mud has become invaded with Common but at least now had some idea of what to look for. Spike-rush Eleocharis palustris. There was still a good population. Returning to the cars, we saw Marsh Ragwort Senecio aquaticus 24th September 2016. and Bird’s-foot Ornithopus perpusillus in short acid grassland. National Trust Turnworth Leader and Report John Newbould Elsewhere, the fungal gall Coleosporum tussilaginis was noted on an eyebright. The conjugate host for this fungus is Scot’s We had an interesting four hours at Turnworth recording 37 Pine, which is still present as saplings across the area. We also species of plant galls whilst walking around 500 yards. Bryan recorded the rare acromyzid fly Liromyza eupatorii as a leaf mine Edwards came along to look at fungi and as a result, we explored on Hemp-agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum. some interesting aspects of Hazel Corylus avellana ecology.

10th September 2016. At Turnworth, some of the Hazel leaves had blotch mines and, Sovell Down DWT Reserve. more rarely, line mines. These are caused by micro-moths and Leaders Ted Pratt and Amber Rosenthal are relatively easy to identify (see photos below). Note that Report Amber Rosenthal each of these micro-moths have another species from the same genera on Hazel. Nine of us braved the distinctly uncharitable weather (at least it was warm) to get top tips from Ted Pratt about how to Only two butterflies were seen during the day – Speckled Wood sort out our roses. No sooner had we set off up the track and Green-veined White. We recorded two bugs: the Hairy

Phyllonrycter corylii on Hazel. Stigmella floslactella on Hazel. John Newbould John Newbould

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

Shieldbug Dolycorus baccarum and the psillid Valenzuela flavidus References on Spindle Euonymus europaeus. Adrian took the nationally Asher, J., Warren, M., Fox, R., Harding, P., Jeffcoat, G., and Jeffcoat notable beetle Sepedophilus constans, which only has 43 records S. (2001) The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. on the NBN gateway, but he has also recorded it at Hambledon OUP, Oxford. Hill in both instances on dead wood fungi. His haul included Bowen, H.J.M. (2000) The Flora of Dorset. Pices Publications, many staphylinid beetles rarely tackled by coleopterists. We also Newbury. recorded Rosel’s Bush-cricket, Dark Bush-cricket and Speckled Cope, T. and Gray, A. (2009) Grasses of the British Isles: BSBI Bush-cricket. Handbook 13. BSBI, Bristol. Graham, G.G. and Primavesi (1993)Roses of Great Britain and During the day, 37 species of plant galls were identified. Just Ireland BSBI Handbook 7. BSBI, London concentrating on Hazel, we recorded two species (see photos Newman, J and Pevsner N (1972) The Buildings of England, above). Both Una and I commented that we had never seen the Dorset. Penguin, London. Phyllocoptruta coryli gall. In fact there are just three records on Rodwell, J.S. (1991-2000) British Plant Communities Vols 1-5, CUP, the NBN gateway from Gloucester and Lorn Natural History Cambridge. Society. So it is well worth looking out for. Streeter, D., Hart-Davies, C.Hardcastle, A., Cole, F & Harper, L. Another gall, which is rarely reported, is Dasineura (Contarinia) (2009) Collins Flower Guide. Harper Collins, London. helianthemi. We have been recording this gall here for about Stroh, P.A., Leach, S.J., August, T.A., Walker K.J., Pearman, D.A., five years on Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium Rumsey, F.J., Harrower, C.A. Fay, M.F., Martin, J.P., Pankhurst, on the chalk grassland, but it is rarely reported nationally. We T., Preston, C.D., Taylor, I (2014) A Vascular Plants Red List for also saw the gall on Bindon Hill, Lulworth, last year and at England. BSBI, Bristol. Cerne Abbas in 2016. We saw galls caused by psyllids: on oak Stubbs, A.E. and Falk, S.J, (2012) British Hoverflies2nd edn. BENHS Trioza remota and T. rhamni on buckthorn. One young oak had Reading. around 13 different galls, roughly a quarter of the total seen on oaks. The cherry gall, Cynips quercusfolii – a large round gall of John A. Newbould, 3 Brookmead Close, Sutton Poyntz, 25mm on a leaf – is rarely seen. Another smaller gall on a leaf Weymouth DT3 6RS 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.

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May 28th grandiflora, and also a surprise – the rarely encountered Dusky St. Catherine’s Hill, Christchurch 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 Nine people in warm and bright weather attended the morning found a small tree of Black Cherry Prunus serotina, no doubt walk. The group studied the mostly alien flora of Marsh Lane bird sown, among the Gorse Ulex europaea. After admiring the en route to the heathland and pine woods on the hill. An early views over the Avon valley and finding the Gorse Shieldbug, we discovery was of Greater Celandine Chelidonium majus in flower reached the main ridge way on top of St Catherine’s Hill. After preceded by Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata and followed by explaining the differences between Scot’s Pine Pinus sylvestris and the invasive Three-cornered Leek Allium triquetrum and Garden Maritime Pine P. pinaster, we made for the areas of bare ground Yellow Archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon ssp. argentatum. The around the reservoirs before returning to the cars via a shorter culinary qualities and importance of Garlic Mustard to the route. There was plenty of flora around the reservoirs including Orange-tip and Green-veined White butterflies was explained. invasive Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo; a colourful patch of At the western end of Marsh Lane before turning into the track Heath Groundsel Senecio sylvaticus and Slender Thistle Carduus leading up St Catherine’s Hill a single plant of Star-of-Bethlehem tenuiflorus growing together and an assortment of clovers and Ornithogalum umbellatum was discovered in the grassy verge. trefoils. The latter included the rather scarce Clustered Clover More aliens followed by the track up the hill including two Trifolium glomeratum and also the Hairy Bird’s-foot-trefoil Lotus large, flowering plants of another invasive, Fringe-cups Tellima subbiflorus. Phil Budd

Greater Celandine at St Catherine’s Hill. Coward’s Marsh, Christchurch A 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

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Walkers at Townsend Reserve, Swanage.

May 29th set off across the New Ground site towards the quarry access. Townsend Reserve, DWT, Swanage The SNCI has at least a dozen Dorset Notable Species but The walk on Townsend Reserve, south of Swanage, was on a the cold spring had held the orchids back. Carolyn Steele took bright, breezy morning. A number of common species were on the role of recorder for the walk. Early finds included Hairy showing well, including Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa, Rock-cress Arabis hirsuta and Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus comosa, with the garden escapee Rosy Garlic Allium roseum bulbosus, Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba and Burnet Rose causing some confusion. Rosa spinosissima, with many Cowslips Primula veris gone to seed. The nature reserve is a lovely site to get slightly lost in, with Six Twayblades Neottia ovata by a grassy bank were pointed out scrubby corners, rock faces and some species-rich short turf. We and the group was then led to see a patch of Star-of-Bethlehem walked through the quarryman’s tunnel, looking at the shelter Ornithogalum umbellatum in flower on the northern edge of in the rock face and soon after made our best record, refinding the reserve. After partly retracing their steps, the group went Early Gentian Gentianella anglica 18 years after the record by to a grassy bank to see a few plants of the Nationally Rare David Pearman. We made a brief visit to a viewpoint overlooking Hairy-fruited Cornsalad Valerianella eriocarpa in a couple of a working quarry to the East; a great contrast to the peace of places where the sward was a little more open; the tiny mauve Kingbarrow. DWT are to be congratulated for their contribution flowers were admired. The next location was Orchid Bastion – to the restoration work on Portland, removing the Cotoneaster while only one Early Spider Orchid Ophrys sphegodes seed pod that blighted so many sites and helping the fine grassland to was still visible, the main highlight was the purple gems of the recover. All walkers were kind enough to contribute to Flora endemic Early Gentian Gentianella anglica coming into flower. Group funds and the walk ended at 1pm in bright sunshine. Returning to the starting point via the western side of Orchid Jon Crewe Bastion, a number of spikes of the Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula were found and the leaves of Common Spotted-orchid Durlston Country Park, DCC, Swanage Dactylorhiza fuchsii were noted. Fourteen people took part in the walk. On the way up to David Leadbetter the car parks from the castle we noted Ivy-leaved Toadflax New Ground and Kingbarrow, Portland, DWT, Cymbalaria muralis and Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens, Portland and by the car park kerbs several species including Knotted This walk aimed to update the species records for the Hedge-parsley Torilis nodosa. In the meadow west of the DWT nature reserve and look at the SNCI (Site of Nature Learning Centre sharp eyes noted two species of orchid near Conservation Interest) grassland on New Ground en-route. the path, Common Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Fourteen people assembled on a cool but pleasant day and we Southern Marsh-orchid D. praetermissa.

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

We then made the short diversion to see Adder’s-tongue Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis, but already flowering were Ophioglossum vulgatum, before visiting the shallow quarry in Tormentil Potentilla erecta and stands of Heath Spotted-orchids the next field. Early Gentians Gentianella anglica were flowering Dactylorhiza maculata and a few Early Marsh-orchids D. incarnata well there; Early Purple Orchids Orchis mascula were still in ssp pulchella). An uncharted route back through the wood flower nearby. In Ox-eye Field we noted many Ox-eye Daisies passed some fine veteran Oaks Quercus robur over extensive Leucanthemum vulgare in bud. Emerging from its south end, Wild patches of Wood Melick Melica uniflora, with Opposite-leaved Clary Salvia verbenaca was in full bloom by the gate. Returning Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium along the stream. towards the car parks, we visited one of the colonies of Sainfoin A short walk along the road reached the base of Stonehill Onobrychis viciifolia. Finally, while passing through a gateway, we Down where the small former chalk pit had golden sheets of saw the first flowers of Yellow Vetchling Lathyrus aphaca. Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa (together with the odd Edward Pratt Adonis Blue), and Bulbous Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus, with occasional spikes of Hairy Rock-cress Arabis hirsuta in a sparse May 30th turf of Meadow Oat-grass Avenula pratensis, Sheep’s-fescue Kilwood and Stonehill Down, DWT Festuca ovina and Quaking-grass Briza media. Jim White 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 May 31st hispidus and Downy Oat-grass Avenula pratensis, along with Slepe Heath, NT Goat’s-beard Tragopogon pratensis, that had already ‘gone to bed’ David Brown was joined by Edward Pratt for this walk, and eight by the time we returned just after noon! members of the public. Some of the participants were regulars Some woodland flowers were still in evidence and a surprise, on DFG walks, but for a number it was their first experience of among the Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Greater both the site and of a Wild Flower Walk. The walk took in the Stitchwort Stellaria holostea, were several clumps of Star-of- western half of the main body of heathland, currently under Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum. The attractive damp field restoration following 40 years of conifer plantation. We looked at had Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis among the Jointed Rush the typical dry heathland heathers, gorses and grasses, as well as Juncus articulatus and shorter patches grey with Carnation Sedge some of the commonest lichens and mosses. We then looked at Carex panicea and Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum (leaves how botanic diversity is generally greatest where there is some only). Other leaves included Betony Betonica officinalis and disturbance and open ground. Highlight among the trackway

18 19 Dorset Heath 2017 Dorset Heath 2017 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 Participants at Lorton Meadows. treasured by early alchemists for the purity of the dew collected in its leaves. their importance in early farming and took in the abundance of Yellow-rattle Rhinanthus minor, Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium, We then headed to the River Hooke and its associated rush Common Spotted-Orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Early Purple pasture, and finally the hay meadows, where we reflected as to Orchids Orchis mascula. Emily Newton Walkers at Kingcombe Meadows. 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

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Corfe Common, NT Rollington Hill, Corfe Castle The grey, windy and cold evening was singularly unlike June, Twenty of us gathered for this walk, including two members of but nine of us braved the chill to explore this superb site on the Isle of Purbeck branch of Dorset Wildlife Trust, with whom Wealden Clay. The usual Heath Spotted-orchids Dactylorhiza it was a joint walk, six people who had booked and 12 who had maculata were barely out but several fine stands of Early not booked! The shallow car park was already more than half full, Marsh-orchids D. incarnata compensated. The very herb-rich turf so some parked back in Castle View car park. included Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius, Heath Bedstraw Galium As we walked up the gently sloping bridleway the first saxatile, Heath-grass Danthonia decumbens and Adder’s-tongue downland flower seen was Common Rock-rose Helianthemum Fern Ophioglossum vulgatum, with many colourful patches of nummularium. This was followed by the mauve form of Common Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica and Heath Milkwort Polygala Milkwort Polygala vulgaris, by Fairy Flax Linum catharticum, and serpylifolia and drifts of Bluebells Hyacinthoides non-scripta. Most then by Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa. A little further up of the Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum was not yet open, but there was a splendid plant of Mignonette Resedea lutea. Nearing Bogbean Menyanthes trifoliata was still in flower in one of the the top we began to see Bee Orchids Ophrys apifera, and finally mires, with leaves of Bog Asphodel Narthecium ossifragum and one ‘Wasp Orchid’ form, which sadly had just been broken off. Marsh Lousewort P. palustris visible. At the top, near the radio mast, walkers were given a choice of The turf is famous for Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile and returning the same way, or walking back along the top of the sedges are well represented with large stands of Tawny Carex down and descending the 300+ steps to the road. Most chose hostiana and Carnation Sedge C. panicea among others, and we the latter. On the way down the steps we saw Mouse-ear- also saw one of the less common grasses – Mat Grass Nardus hawkweed Pilosella officinarum. stricta. Edward Pratt The Common has been grazed for many centuries, which with the line of tumuli along the crest, the fans of hollow-ways where June 3rd Purbeck marble was carted to Corfe for working before going on to adorn mediaeval cathedrals, and the views of the castle, all Hod Hill, NT, near Stourpaine added to a great sense of history. Nine of us gathered to explore this ancient site with its Jim White impressive Iron Age hill fort and Roman garrison earthworks. From the top, with its excellent views along the Stour valley, it June 2nd was easy to appreciate its strategic significance. Sadly, the cloudy weather and the generally cold spring meant that the wildlife Corfe Mullen Meadows, DWT was not yet in full swing. However, we saw a good range of chalk Most interesting plants seen were: Green-winged Orchid grassland plants including Common Gromwell Lithospermum Anacamptis morio (gone over but still remnants!), Common officinale, Dropwort Filipendula vulgaris, Fairy Flax Linum Spotted-orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Southern Marsh Orchid catharticum, Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba and Wild Thyme D. praetermissa. These were all found in the one small field we Thymus polytrichus. Both Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa walked around. and Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria were much in evidence, as Katie Wilkinson 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. Chesil Beach, near Abbotsbury Thankful for the bright and sunny conditions the group of nine The yellow theme continued with the song of the Yellowhammer set off from Abbotsbury Beach car park towards the north-west accompanying us around the ramparts of the hill fort. We had end of the Fleet lagoon, trudging along the shingle at the back good views of the primrose-yellow males. Whitethroats and of the landward-facing slope of Chesil Beach. Our efforts to see Corn Buntings were also seen and heard. Several larval webs of the coastal and shingle specialities were soon rewarded. On the Small Eggar moths were found with active caterpillars. We also landward-facing slope of the shingle beach we found a splendid had views of a pair of Green Hairstreaks, female Adonis Blue and patch of the Nationally Scarce Sea Pea Lathyrus japonicus in a solitary rather worn Dingy Skipper. flower, plus several plants of Sea Kale Crambe maritima, frequent We managed to track down three orchids: Common Spotted- Sea Campion Silene uniflora and occasional Sea Beet Beta vulgaris orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii were frequent and just coming into ssp. maritima. At the base of the beach near the large reedbed flower, Twayblade Neottia ovata was found sheltering amongst patches of the Nationally Scarce Divided Sedge Carex divisa some scrub and a single Chalk Fragrant-orchid Gymnadenia were in fine condition, displaying the characteristic bristle-like conopsea in bud was discovered by a sharp-eyed member of the bract over-topping the inflorescence. Smaller coastal species group. An enjoyable walk was had by all. included Danish Scurvy-grass Cochlearia danica in fruit, Buck’s- Andrew Branson horn Plantain Plantago coronopus, Sea Mouse-ear Cerastium diffusum and the neat little Sea Fern-grass Catapodium marinum. June 5th Closer to the Fleet and the weathered concrete blocks of the Dragon’s Teeth WWII defences a narrow band of saltmarsh Powerstock Common, DWT vegetation contained Sea Purslane Atriplex portulacoides , Sea A dull but humid morning did not offer great promise for Arrow-grass Triglochin maritima, Sea Plantain Plantago maritima butterflies that were to be one of the attractions of this walk, and a couple of plants of Sea Aster Aster tripolium. There were arranged by the Kingcombe Centre. Still, 18 had booked to see also a few bushes of the Nationally Scarce Shrubby Seablite them – and of course the fine flora. Just a couple of rather well- Suaeda vera, which becomes more frequent alongside the Fleet behaved Marsh Fritillaries were on the wing in a paddock of very lagoon. rich turf. Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis, Betony Betonica Our final Nationally Scarce plant of the day was the impressively officinalis and Dyer’s Greenweed Genista tinctoria were some tall Babington’s Leek Allium ampeloprasum var. babingtonii, a few of the plants yet to flower, while Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius, plants of which were coming into flower at the back of the Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica, Meadow Thistle Cirsium dissectum, beach near the belt of mature Tamarisks Tamarix gallica, close to Tawny Sedge Carex hostiana and large stands of Heath Spotted- the car park. Near here we saw Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa in orchids Dactylorhiza maculata were among the flowers open flower and a patch of the introduced Duke of Argyll’s Teaplant here. Lycium barbarum. Bonus sightings during the walk were Painted The huge former railway cutting has more calcareous soils, with Lady butterflies and a fine view of a large dragonfly that rested Common Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularium, Dwarf Thistle conveniently close. The consensus was that it was a Golden- Cirsium acaule, Downy Oat-grass Avenula pubescens and Salad ringed Dragonfly. Burnet Poterium sanguisorba among many typical plants. Our Jonathan Cox 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

22 23 Dorset Heath 2017 Dorset Heath 2017 Field meetings and workshops 2017

Recording day for the BSBI 2020 Atlas will be made closer to the time. The survey is likely to be run Saturday 29th April over one or two full days (attending both days not necessary) France Down, near Blandford and will require a reasonable level of fitness, but with the reward Led by Andrew Branson and Robin Walls of spending the day at this fabulous site and contributing to our We will meet at 10am at pull off along Bushes Road between knowledge of this endemic species. Stourpaine and Pimperne, at ST879095. The north of Dorset For more information see www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/ is still comparatively under-recorded, with most records being fontmelldownnaturereserve.html or to register your interest rather old. This meeting will be a chance to fill in some gaps in please contact Amber on 01305 217984; the chalk hills and woods north of Blandford. If enough people email: [email protected]. attend we will split into groups in order to cover as many squares as possible. Bring a packed lunch and wear sturdy boots Workshop on coastal grassland. as it may well be muddy under foot. Purbeck Wares Saturday 17th June Spyway Contact for booking: Andrew Branson, Led by Robin Walls. email: [email protected]; tel: 01747 838223. To register an interest please email: michelle.brown1@ Recording day for the BSBI 2020 Atlas nationaltrust.org.uk. Saturday 20th May Haydon & Askerswell Ibberton area, near Okeford Fitzpaine Sunday 18th June Led by Andrew Branson and Robin Walls Led by Robin Walls We will meet at 10am in the centre of Ibberton. Parking is very Meeting place to be confirmed. 10am–4pm. In 2017 Dorset limited, so please try to share cars. Park at the road junction at Flora Group are assisting the Dorset AONB Project on the ST788078. We may be able to use the pub car park and will South Dorset Ridgeway, recording the flora on some of the Sites advise on the day. The north of Dorset is still comparatively of Special Scientific Interest along the ridge. 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 Please book through DERC ([email protected]) as a contact county. If enough people attend we will split into groups in order phone number for attendees may be needed in case of bad to cover as many squares as possible. Bring a packed lunch and weather or car sharing when parking is limited. wear sturdy boots as it may well be muddy under foot. Pitcombe Down Contact for booking: Andrew Branson, Tuesday 20th June email: [email protected]; tel: 01747 838223. Led by Robin Walls Meet on the Green at SY 5872 8910. 10am–4pm. In 2017 Wild Flower Week 27th May – 4th June Dorset Flora Group are assisting the Dorset AONB Project on A full week of wildflower walks around Dorset for everyone. the South Dorset Ridgeway, recording the flora on some of the Leaflets will be available at libraries, tourism information centres, Sites of Special Scientific Interest along the ridge. National Trust outlets, and interpretation centres throughout the county. To see the full leaflet, go to the Dorset Environmental Please book through DERC ([email protected]) as a contact Records Centre website (www.derc.org.uk) and follow the links phone number for attendees may be needed in case of bad to local groups. weather or car sharing when parking is limited. Early Gentian count Haydon & Askerswell Date to be finalised (first two weeks in June) Sunday 7th July Dorset Wildlife Trust Fontmell Down Led by Robin Walls Led by Amber Rosenthal This is the second meeting to record this area. Meeting place Dorset Wildlife Trust and the National Trust are working to be confirmed. 10am–4pm. In 2017 Dorset Flora Group together to count the gentian population over the wider area are assisting the Dorset AONB Project on the South Dorset of the Downs this year. Please contact either Gemma (National Ridgeway, recording the flora on some of the Sites of Special Trust - see page 25) for Clubmans and Melbury or Amber Scientific Interest along the ridge. (Dorset Wildlife Trust) for Fontmell Down, or both if you want Please book through DERC ([email protected]) as a contact to see all the sites. Meet at ST884176; 10.00am – 4.30pm. This is phone number for attendees may be needed in case of bad a repeat survey of the Early Gentians at this site, to be scheduled weather or car sharing when parking is limited. around peak flowering and suitable weather. Final arrangements

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Sedges and rushes workshop oxtongue? Some of the members of the Asteraceae that flower Corfe Common in high summer can be confusing. Here’s a chance to get to grips Saturday 8th July with some common members of this group. For all those doing Corfe Village Hall recording for the Atlas, this will be a good way to brush up on Led by Robin Walls the group. To register an interest please email: michelle.brown1@ Meet at the village hall at Lydinch; there is a car park. 10am-4pm. nationaltrust.org.uk. The day will start with an introductory workshop in the village Chalbury Hill & Bincombe hall, followed by an exploration of Lydlinch Common. Bring Tuesday 11th July lunch. There will be a small fee of £3 to help towards to cost of Led by Robin Walls the hall. Park in Sutton Poyntz and meet at the quarry at SY 6933 8363; Contact for booking: Andrew Branson, 10am–4pm. In 2017 Dorset Flora Group are assisting the Dorset email: [email protected]; tel: 01747 838223. AONB Project on the South Dorset Ridgeway, recording the flora on some of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest along the ridge. Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Please book through DERC ([email protected]) as a contact Society field meeting programme 2017 phone number for attendees may be needed in case of bad Meetings will start at 10.30am unless otherwise indicated. weather or car sharing when parking is limited. Members attending meetings should wear suitable footwear Creech Heath and clothes and bring sufficient food and drinks for a day in Saturday 15th July the field. We require a parent or guardian to accompany young Led by Bryan Edwards people, under the age of 18. Please telephone John Newbould There is limited parking along the road south of the entrance on 01305 837384 before travelling, especially in adverse weather to Blue Pool at SY 9321 8325; 10am–4pm. A joint meet in conditions or email johna72newbould[at]yahoo.co.uk if you collaboration with PondNet. The site is owned by the Amphibian wish to take part. Due to the high price of fuel, leaders may not and Reptile Conservation Trust and should have some interesting attend in adverse weather conditions. flora, including Pillwort and Marsh Gentian. 22nd April Worth Matravers for Seacombe Bottom and Please book through DERC ([email protected]) as a contact Seacombe Cliff where we should find some Early Spider-orchid phone number for attendees may be needed in case of bad Ophrys sphegodes. Meet in the Worth Matravers Car Park weather or car sharing when parking is limited. SY974476 where there is a small charge.

Recording day for the BSBI 2020 Atlas 29th April High Stoy and Telegraph Hill. Meet on the old Nether Compton area road Long Ash Lane ST 60730282 where we will proceed to Saturday 12th August look at the features such as the Cross-in the Hand, Penn Wood Led by Robin Walls and Andrew Branson and Telegraph Hill. This field meeting celebrates places in Hardy’s Park alongside the village green beside the road at ST599172; Tess of the D’Urbervilles and The Woodlanders and also Chapter 10am–4pm. The north of Dorset is still comparatively under- 20 of Oliver Rackham’s New Naturalist Woodlands. We will also recorded, with most records being rather old. This meeting will be investigating parts of the Hillhead parish boundary discussed be a chance to fill in some gaps in this part of the county, near in the Dorset Proceedings 1990 Boundaries and Landscape in its northern border. If enough people attend we may split into Blackmoor: the Tudor manors of Holnest, Hilfield and Hermitage groups in order to cover as many squares as possible. Bring a (Barker, K. and Seaward, D.R., 1990) packed lunch and wear sturdy boots as it may well be muddy 1st May Westhay Farm, Charmouth for Green-winged under foot. Orchid. Guided walks organised by West Dorset National Contact for booking: Andrew Branson, Trust at 10.00am and 2.00pm. from the Stonebarrow shop. email: [email protected]; tel: 01747 838223. Booking essential on 01297 489481. The fields are sensitive and numbers are limited to ten per session. The walks are led by Yellow composite workshop John Newbould Lydlinch Village Hall and Common Saturday 19th August 25th May Hod Hill Meet in the car park on the Stourpaine Led by Robin Walls and Andrew Branson to Child Okeford road at ST 854111. This is a repeat chalk Is it a hawkbit or a hawk’sbeard, or, perhaps, a hawkweed, but grassland survey last undertaken in 2012. The National Trust has then again could it be a cat’s-ear or a sowthistle or even an changed grazier. In addition, Marsh Fritillary numbers crashed last

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year. We have been asked to assess the situation. Beware of ticks 29th July Meet at the West Lulworth Church at 10.00am on this site. 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 26th May Ringstead Join the National Trust Ranger, Michael to survey squares SY8279 –SY8479. Clark, together with our ecologists, who will take you to the chalk grassland at White Nothe; visit one of Dorset’s smallest 5th September Westhay Farm Leaders Gemma Baron churchyards to hear about the cherishing churchyard week and and John Newbould. Meet at 10.00am by the Stonebarrow Burnt Cliff for Nightingale. Walk leaves at 10.00am from the east shop and information centre SY 38349337 for our annual count end of the car park SY 760823. Ringstead is part of the Purbeck of Autumn Lady’s-tresses in the herb-rich meadows around Nature Improvement area and you will hear about how changes Westhay Farm. Joint meeting with West Dorset National Trust in farming will influence a new management plan being prepared. volunteer survey team Booking essential 01297 489481. 16 September Ringmoor and Turnworth Introduction to Week beginning 5th June Fontmell Down. Early recording plant galls. Galls are useful indicators of the presence Gentian survey. Owing to the exposed position and other of many insects which can be difficult to identify, and also many weather factors, it is not possible to give a precise date for this fungi. This is one of Dorset’s best sites to find galls. Meet in the survey. Details on National Trust West Dorset website www. small car park at 10.30am ST 81600857. It would be useful if nationaltrust.org.uk/westdorset or Email Gemma.Baron at people have the Field Studies Council’s British Plant Galls by Nationaltrust.org.uk if you willing to help phone 01297 489481. Margaret Redfern and Peter Shirley. Parking is quite limited and it would be helpful to pre-book Leader John Newbould. 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 Purbeck National Trust 14th July Hardy’s Cottage ‘How wild is our garden?’ A Botanical survey days will be taking place across the estate each garden survey with an opportunity to talk to the public. Leader Thursday. To register an interest please email: michelle.brown1@ John Newbould nationaltrust.org.uk. Michelle provides a plan for the coming months and usually emails the precise meeting place on the day 20th July Mordon Bog. Leader Laurence Taylor. Meet before, when she has checked the weather. Sherford Bridge SY 91959260 Bob Gibbons

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: [email protected]. Dorset plant records should be sent to VC 9 Recorder, Robin Walls, 10 Old Brickfields, Broadmayne, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8UY, email: [email protected]. 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

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