25thApril 2009
Leaders Peter and Sheila Mason.

Fourteen members met under lowering skies and heavy rain at Shotton station. A short drive took us to Wepre Country Park where we were met by a further three. We began in the now disused garden of the original estate where Cowslip, Primula veris, Sweet Woodruff, Galium odorata.Common Dog Violet, Viola riviniana and Cuckoo Pint, Arum maculatum were in good flower.

From here we went into the woodland area. Two different Ivies, Irish and Persian, Hedera hibernica and Hedera colchica could be seen near enough to compare and contrast. Enchanter’s Nightshade, Circaea lutetiana, Wood Anemone, Anemone nemorosa and Wood Sorrel, Oxalis acetosella were in abundance. For those interested in ferns a varied selection was found growing in close proximity, this being a help to those who wanted to be a little clearer on the differences and particular features which help in identification. Male Fern, Dryopteris filix-mas, Scaly Male, Dryopteris affinis and Lady Fern, Athyrium filix- femina presented a good start into Common Ferns. We also could examine Broad Buckler, Dryopteris dilitata, Hard Shield, Polystichum aculeatum and Hard Fern, Blechnum spicant.

Still in the woods but along the side of the stream we encountered Wild Angelica, Angelica sylvestris, Hemlock Water Dropwort, Oenanthe crocata, Wood Speedwell, Veronica Montana, Wood Avens, Geum urbanum and Fool’s Watercress, Apium nodiflorum. Peter Mason was able to point out the different spikes, fertile and not of Great Horsetail, Equisetium telmateia, but the best plant for rarity had to be the Thimbleberry or Purple Flowered Raspberry, Rubus odorata. Grasses in the woodland included Tufted Hair Grass, Deschamsia cespitosum and perhaps one of the prettiest of woodland grasses Wood Melick, Melica uniflora. Both Wood and Greater Stitchwort were also seen, Stellaria nemorum and Stellaria holostea. Two Luzulas were found in good numbers, Great Wood-Rush, Luzula sylvatica and Hairy Wood-rush, Luzula pilosa.

From the woodland we went into an area of improved grassland which gave up some nice plants, especially in the less densely planted areas. Soft Brome, Bromus hordeaceus, Field Pansy, Viola arvensis and Corn Spurrey, Spurgula arvensis made a pleasant find. Three Speedwells, Germander,Ivy Leaved and Thyme Leaved, Veronicas chamaedris, hederifolia and serpyllifolia complemented the Wood Speedwell we had found earlier.

The birds seemed in very short supply even though the weather improved vastly on the poor start. Butterflies however, after their appalling two previous seasons, rewarded us with good views of Orange Tip, Anthocharis cardamines,Green-veined White, Pieris napi, Speckled Wood, Parage aegeria and Comma, Polygonia c-album.

All in all, a very pleasant day. Many thanks to Peter and Sheila Mason for arranging and leading the day.

Report by Peter Tipping

Pictures by Peter Gateley

Looking at wetland plants	Anemone nemorosa	Melica uniflorax	Tamus communis	Viola riviniana Stellaria holstea Cruciata laevipes