21st April 2007                       Dibbinsdale                  Leader: Keith Watson

We met at Bromborough Rake Station on a cool morning, through it gradually got hotter during the day. Due to Merseyrail delays some members were late, but eventually a party of ten walked down the path into the woods. There were masses of Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa), Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), and Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis). A good spot along the path towards Dibbinsdale Road contained Sanicle (Sanicula europaea), Barren Strawberry (Potentilla sterilis), Bugle (Ajuga reptans) and Primrose (Primula vulgaris). Marsh-marigold (Caltha palustris) and Pink Purslane (Claytonia sibirica) were in flower by the river.

We then crossed the bridge, to Bodens Hey meadow. There was nothing much in flower yet in the grassland but the trees were interesting with fruits on the Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra). We also saw Norway Maple (Acer platanoides). Then, across the bridges, back into the woods where Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina) was found in a damp spot by the Dibbin. After lunch amongst the tall Hornbeams (Carpinus betulus), we walked through the tunnel under the railway to Brotherton Park. Gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa), Black Currant (Ribes nigrum) and Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), with an egg-laying, female Orange Tip butterfly were seen
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The path along the bottom of the cliff towards St Patricks well has many ferns, such as Lady-fern (Athyrium felix-femina), Broad Buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilitata), Soft Shield-fern (Polystichum setiferum) and Hard-fern (Blechnum spicant). Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage grows on the tufa outcrops, and there is abundant Great Wood-rush (Luzula sylvatica).

At St. Patrick’s well there were Ramsons (Allium ursinum), Three-nerved Sandwort (Moehringia trinervia), Hairy Wood-rush (Luzula pilosa), as well as the garden escapes Kerria (Kerria japonica) and Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera var. pissardii).

Holly Blue butterflies were flying, high in the trees in the sun at Woodslee, as we started our way back down through the woods, through the tunnel again and back to the station.