Sutton Manor      5th June 2010       Leader:  John Somerville

Fifteen members met on a hot summers day in the car park at the Smithy Manor pub.  We spent the next hour recording the plants around the edges of the large car park and amassed a surprisingly large list.  The star attraction here must be the three Bee Orchids Ophrys apifera.

Another large list of plants was found near the gate as we entered the Country Park.  Amonst these we found large quantities of Hedgerow Cranesbill  Geranium Pyrenaicum and Grass Vetchling  Lathyrus nissolia.  These two plants were to be found throughout the reserve. Another nice find here was Early Wintercress  Barbarea intermedia.

Moving along the path leading to Dream (20m high statue erected in May 2009)  we took a diversion to a ditch where Barbara had found Blue-eyed Grass  Sisyrinchium bermudiana in previous years.  Barbara found it again but the flowers were not yet open and it looked like a tuft of grass. Time was spent trying to identify the Orchids which were abundant throughout the site.  Thanks to to Tim Rogers who identified Northern Marsh Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid and Early Marsh Orchid.

Now approaching the Dream statue we found Caper Spurge Euphorbia lathyrus and Black Mustard Brassica nigra.  Lunch was taken sitting on the steps surrounding the statue before setting off again towards the north east side of the reserve where we passed some small ponds containing Common Water Crowfoot Ranunculus aquaticus, Fool's Watercress Apium nodiflorum, Ivy-leaved Duckweed Lemna trisulca and Greater Plantain Plantago major. Ten minutes were spent here examining the honey guides on the Common Water Crowfoot to confirm our identification.

At the eastern edge of the site we found Jacob's Ladder Polemonium caeruleum before turning south then west and heading back towards the Dream statue.  The last plant of the day, Field Pansy Viola arvensis, was found by Marion Chappel at the side of the path as we walked back to the car park.

On reaching the car park ten of our members entered the Smithy Manor pub for a well earned drink after a very hot day.

Lunch stop	Dream	Lunch stop

List of recorded plants.

Smooth Sowthistle, Prickly Sowthistle, Herb Robert, Prickly Lettuce, Weld, Nipplewort, Yellow Loosestrife, Teasel,
Lucerne, Hop Trefoil, Lesser Trefoil, Black medick, Burnet Rose, Yellow Iris, Scarlet Pimpernel, Wavy Bittercress,
Alsike Clover, Cow Parsley, Hogweed, Hedge Mustard, Early Wintercress, Black Mustard, Red Clover, White Clover,
Zigzag Clover, Goatsbeard, Red Valerian, Green Alkanet, Daisy, Meadow Cranesbill, Foxglove, Common Vetch, Tare,
Tufted Vetch, Shepherds Purse, Creeping Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Creepng buttercup, Meadow Buttercup,
Celery-leaved Buttercup, Lady's Mantle, Dovesfoot Cranesbill, Cut-leaved Cranesbill, Black Knapweed, Common Sorrel, Pineappleweed, Scentless Mayweed, Aquilegia, Broad-leaved Dock, Curled Dock, Common Sorrel, Tansy, Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Mugwort, Coltsfoot, Meadow Vetchling, Broom, Russian Comfrey, Field Forgetmenot, Wild Carrot,
Hemlock, Red Campion, Hedgerow Cranesbill, Grass Vetchling, Early Marsh Orchid, Northern Marsh Orchid,
Southern Marsh Orchid, Silverweed, Blue-eyed Grass, Caper Spurge, Common Water Crowfoot, Fool's Watercress,
Ivy-leaved Duckweed, Greater Plantain, Yellow Rattle, Creeping Cinquefoil, Smooth Hawksbeard, Ox-eye Daisy,
Field Pansy

Marsh Foxtail, Tall Oat-grass, Soft Brome, Crested Dog's-tail, Tall Fescue, Red Fescue, Rough-stalked Meadow-grass,
Cock's-foot, Yorkshire Fog, Annual Meadow-grass,

Glaucus Sedge, Hairy Sedge, False Fox-sedge

The history of Sutton Manor country park