Seven members met in the car park at Northwich on a cloudy but dry day. Just outside the car park we firstly found Grass Vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia) and then Hoary Ragwort (Senecio erucifolius) with Common Ragwort nearby to compare the differences. We then walked along the path between Ashton Flash and Neumann’s Flash to a bird hide from where we watched the pair of Black Winged Stilts with their one remaining youngster. This was the first time that this bird had had a chick in Cheshire and only the third time in the UK. Continuing along the path we found Dame’s Violet (Hesperis matronalis), Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca), the remains from last year of Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and a large patch of Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) in Ashton’s Flash. We passed a number of Swedish Whitebeam (Sorbus intermedia) trees before we reached a second bird hide overlooking Neumann’s Flash where we found Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) with Meadowsweet (Filipendula vulgaris) nearby, both not yet in flower.

Continuing our circuit of Neumann’s Flash we passed numerous Orchids which were identified, with difficulty, as mainly Northern Marsh (Dactylorhiza purpurella) and Southern Marsh (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) Orchids. Reaching Haydn’s Pool bird hide we stopped for ten minutes to watch the Black Swans with their two young and other birds including Little Grebe and Ringed plover.

After leaving Haydn’s Pool we walked along Witton brook towards the Anderton Boat lift. We passed numerous plants of Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), Tansy (Tancetum vulgare), Marsh and Hedge Woundworts (Stachys palustris/Stachys sylvatica), Prickly Sow-thistle (Sonchus asper), Black and Hoary Mustard (Brassica nigra & Hirschfeldia incana), Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), Creepng Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans), White Bryony (Bryonia dioica), Fodder Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis ssp. muricata), but our star find was a solitary plant of Maiden Pink (Dianthus deltoids).

Where Witton Brook flows into the River Weaver we saw Floating Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) which is a mat forming pest which would choke a river if not kept in check. As we walked along the Weaver we passed Imperforate St John’s Wort (Hypericum maculatum) and Creeping Yellowcress (Rorippa sylvestris) until we reached the Anderton Boat Lift with its visitor centre. We stopped for lunch near the visitor centre and then spent ten minutes inside before setting out again on the return leg of our walk.

A couple of ponds produced Amphibious Bistort (Persicaria amphibian), Gipsywort (Lyccopus europaeus), Water Forgetmenot (Myosotis scorpioides), White Water Lily (Nymphaea alba), and Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) then along the path we were finding Common Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), Cowslips (Primula veris), and the star of the area, Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). The Cowslips were in seed and it would be another month before the Fleabane and Pennyroyal would be in flower.

We entered an area where the park rangers had cut down all the scrub to let the plants grow on the lime rich subsoil and we first found Vipers Bugloss (Echium vulgare). Searching the rest of the area was slow as most of our group were busy eating the wild Raspberries (Rubus idaeus) but we found two poor specimens of Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea).

Leaving this area we entered the hay meadows and then continued along the path towards Marbury lane. There were not many new plants along this path but we did find Lucerne (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa), Marsh Willowherb (Epilobium palustre), Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga), and Black Bryony (Tamus communis).

Reaching Marbury lane we cut through a wood and then walked along Witton Brook back to our car park.