26th April 2008.

Leader Pat Lockwood.

A warm but overcast morning saw sixteen members gather for the first field trip of the present season. Down by the Alyn the day got off to a great start with the group finding Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage, Chrysosplenium alternifolium amongst the Ramsoms, Allium ursinum and Dog’s Mercury, Mercurialis perennis. A Kingfisher on the river provided a great highlight.

A gentle uphill stroll towards the lunch site gave a nice selection of plants that included Bitter Vetchling, Lathyrus linifolius, Goldilocks, Ranunculus auricomus and Greater Stitchwort, Stellaria holostea. Lunch was taken amongst drifts of English Bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scriptus Wood Anemone, Anemone nemorosa and Wood Sorrel, Oxalis acetosella.

On the Plas Maen path Marsh Valerian, Valeriana dioica, Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris and Lesser Pond Sedge, Carex acutiformis were seen along with two Horsetails, Equisetium palustre and telmateia. On the roadside near Cymau we found Rough Chervil Chaerophyllum temulum, Navelwort, Umbilicus rupestris and Early Purple Orchids, Orchis mascula, just coming into flower. Four plants of Cornsalad, Valerianella locusta were possibly the highlight of this site. No less than eight Veronicas were found through the day. All in all, a very good start to the season.

Many thanks to Pat Lockwood for taking on the role of leader for this outing.

Peter Tipping.