Leader: Mary Dean
After a long, dry and warm spell, twenty-four members
braved the drop in temperature and strong north-westerly winds to meet at Hall
Road to explore the botanical interest along the manmade shingle and the stabilised
dunes between Hall Road and Hightown.
Close to the car park we saw Cochlearia danica (Danish
Scurvy-grass), Armoracia rusticana (Horse Radish) and Beta vulgaris
ssp. maritima (Sea Beet) and discussed the merits, or otherwise,
of Sea Beet as a vegetable, recommended by one member as an alternative to spinach.
On the brick shingle two large plants of Crambe maritima (Sea-kale) looked
magnificent in full flower.
Other plants seen on shingle or the flattened dunes
included Honckenya peploides (Sea Sandwort), Lotus corniculatus (Bird’s-foot
Trefoil), Medicago lupulina (Black Medick), Trifolium dubium (Lesser
Trefoil), Silene vulgaris (Bladder Campion), S. latifolia (White
Campion), Vicia hirsuta (Hairy Tare), V. sativa (Common Vetch)
and both pink- and white-flowered Rosa rugosa (Japanese Rose). A large shrub of flowering
Lycium barbarum (Duke of Argyll’s Teaplant) provided a temporary and
welcome windbreak. Further on we found a solitary Smyrnium olusatrum
(Alexanders), a plant several people had not seen at this site on previous visits,
and a large patch of Cymbalaria muralis (Ivy-leaved Toadflax).
Turning inland for an early lunch break in the shelter
of the pumping station wall, we saw Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Crane’s-bill).
After lunch we saw G. dissectum (Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill), followed by
Hypochaeris radicata (Common Cat’s-ear) which we compared to and separated
from Leontodon hispidus (Rough Hawkbit).
Continuing up the coast the plants included Reseda
lutea (Wild Mignonette), Avenula pratensis (Meadow Oat-grass) looking
particularly splendid, Rosa spinosissima (Burnet Rose), Glaucium flavum
(Yellow Horned-poppy), Euphorbia paralias (Sea Spurge), Crithmum
maritimum (Rock Samphire), Parietaria judaica (Pellitory-of-the-wall)
and Eryngium maritimum (Sea Holly), although not all were yet in flower.
Turning back and following a more inland route we came
across a damper area with Thalictrum flavum (Common Meadow Rue) and Angelica
sylvestris (Wild Angelica). On the drier areas were Asparagus officinalis
(Garden Asparagus), Geranium pyrenaicum (Hedgerow Crane’s-bill) and attractive
annual dune grasses Phleum arenarium (Sand Cat’s-tail) and Vulpia
fasciculata (Dune Fescue).
Speeding up to get back before the rain a few naturalised
species were found: a lovely show of Euphorbia cyparissias
(Cypress Spurge), Polygonatum multiflorum (Solomon’s-seal), Spiraea
sp. (Bridewort), Ribes rubrum (Red Currant), Papaver pseudoorientale
(Oriental Poppy) and Syringa vulgaris (Lilac).
Just before returning to the car park we found several
flowering plants of the rare endemic Coincya monensis ssp. monensis
(Isle of Man Cabbage).
The field trip finished just in time for the eleven
members who stayed to the end to remain dry. Fifteen minutes later it was raining
heavily. My thanks for everyone for helping out with finding
plants of interest, identification and tips for identifying the difficult ones.
Mary Dean
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Sanderling |
Drinker
Moth |
Ivy-leaved
Toadflax |
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Perennial
Cornflower |
Meadow
Oat Grass |
Burnet-rose |
Wall
Brown |
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Shelduck |
Yellow
Horned-poppy |
Rock
Samphire |
Sea
Holly |
Common
Meadow-rue |
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Common
Meadow-rue |
Sand
Cat's-tail |
Wild
Mignonette |
Garden
Solomon's-seal |
Drinker
Moth |
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Isle
of Man cabbage |