Borders Group

Covers: Welsh borders: Herefordshire, Radnorshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire

Accounts of previous meetings

Meetings 2011-12

Our meetings are to help beginners learn their mosses and liverworts, rather than high-powered recording sessions.  All are on Sundays, and start at 10.30 a.m.  Please bring sandwiches.

You may wish to bring with you a copy of the British Bryological Society’s Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland: a Field-guide (2010), files for which are also on-line at http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/ (or click on the book cover of the Field-guide on the left-hand side of the BBS web-site’s home page at http://britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/ and follow the links). 

You are very welcome to suggest venues for future outdoor meetings; please include grid references and details for parking.

October 16th
Meet by the western end of the bridge at Glasbury, south Radnorshire (SO 178393).  If the River Wye is not in spate we will record along the river’s western bank to the northern limit of the hectad, before turning our attention to the village’s bryoflora.  If time permits later in the day, we may drive on to Boughrood churchyard at SO 128393. 

November 13th
In company with the North Wales Lower Plant Group and Montgomeryshire Field Society, we will explore Dolforwyn Wood, near Abermule, 5 miles north-east of Newtown, Montgomeryshire (Powys).  Turn off the A483 just north of Abermule at SO 163954.  Pass a turn to the right up to the Hall, and then bear right at a junction in the lane.  Before the lane climbs through woodland, take a track to the right into a car park at SO 159956.  In the afternoon we may explore the nearby canal and banks of the River Severn.

January 15th
Flushes on the south side of Stapeley Hill (SO 309984) in west Shropshire merit our attention, with some exposed acidic bedrock nearby.  Park beside the lane on the corner at SO 315980. 

February 12th
Jonathan Sleath will lead us to explore Shucknall Hill in Herefordshire.  The hill is a small inlier of Silurian Aymestry Limestone.  We will examine abandoned, overgrown quarries on the south side of the hill, and then the churchyard at Westhide, before returning through Westhide Wood, passing an old pool, and back over Shucknall Hill. Turn off the A4103 at the roadside fountain known as Shucknall Spout, and park in a disused quarry at SO 587426.  Alternatively, park by the spout.

March 11th
At this joint meeting with the Worcestershire Bryophyte Group at Northwick Lido, Worcester (SO 837578) we will explore amenity grassland, riverbank, unimproved wet grassland and marsh, with an adjacent SSSI wetland.  Drive down to the end of Old Northwick Lane, Bevere, Worcester, and park at the end of an unsurfaced track down to the River Severn.     

Mark Lawley

Cambridge Group

Accounts of previous meetings

CAMBRIDGE BRYOLOGICAL EXCURSIONS 2011

Following completion of a 10-year survey of ‘old’ Cambridgeshire (v.-c. 29) during 2000-2009, the emphasis of the excursions in 2010-2011 is on Huntingdonshire (v.-c. 31). There are two away days, one to an exceptionally distant location, Wisley Garden in Surrey.

Excursions will not be cancelled because of rain, only in the event of snow or frost. Beginners are welcome at all meetings. Bring a hand lens (×10 or ×20), and some tins or paper packets for collecting material into. If you require transport, please contact Mark Hill or Tom Charman.

All our meetings begin at 11am.

Sunday 20 November 2011 – Cambridge City, the Backs, leader Jon Shanklin, who writes thus.  The meeting point is Garret Hostel Lane bridge TL445585 - As you know parking in the city is generally difficult, but there might be some spaces in Adams Road, otherwise it’s a 3 km walk from the Madingley Road P&R or 800 m from Drummer Street.  Or you can park at Mark Hill’s house 11 Chaucer Rd, then a 1 km walk.  We have a range of habitats to explore – there are at least six accessible churches in the monad, and I have permission to visit St John’s and Trinity.  Clare have confirmed that we are welcome to have a hunt round.  Provided we don't have more than ten I suggest we start with Clare, cross to their Memorial Court and the University Library, Trinity Fellows Garden, through the Backs to St Mary the Less (which I gather has a rare moss and is a City Wildlife Site on this account), St Bene’ts and finally St Johns.  Distance is around 4km.  Somewhere along the way we can have lunch, though not in a college.  If numbers are too high we might need to split, in which case a churches party and a colleges party is probably the simplest.
There are also the River, ditches, Backs and University Library grounds.  Numbers need to be limited for the colleges, so if the event is too popular we will have to split into sub-groups.  For a diary of events so far and location map see
http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/met/jds/cnhs/The%20Backs.htm

Saturday 3 December 2011 - Hinchinbrooke followed by Cow Lane Gravel Pits (near Huntingdon); leader Mick Burton, who writes thus.  Start at Hinchingbrooke CP. Go past the main car park to the centre at the bottom, where we can park around TL221716 for free (I might need to collect some tickets from the cafe). This part will cover TL2271 and TL2171 (in adjacent tetrads). The woodland is mainly deciduous, but some Taxus baccata and maybe Pinus sylvestris, and is in two separate compartments. There is a murky pond in the east woodland, a deepish ditch along the south and some wetland, including a large lake and a wet meadow to the south of the woodland. The area has public access with dogs and bikers.
After lunch (there are some picnic tables) go to the other side of Godmanchester and down Cow Lane (I am not sure whether it is better to go round Huntingdon and through Godmanchester or go around via the A14). The access is TL256706 and is close to a junction of the A14. Parking is at the end of Cow Lane at TL264715. The route covers 4 monads (again, each in different tetrads): TL2671, TL2571, TL2572, TL2672. It is a disused gravel pit site with public access, but lots of private fishing areas. The route includes:
-          A damp foreshore at the start with a mixture of vascular plants (a lot of Crassula helmsii, I am afraid) and bryophytes.
-          A tree lined track leading to another lake with access to the foreshore. This is sandy and gravelly at the shore and the grass beyond the shoreline has been grazed.
-          Along the Ouse Way past another shore access. There is a stream alongside this with some water plants.
-          An avenue of Tilia x europaea running alongside the stream, with some epiphytes.
-          A grazed wet meadow bordering the Great Ouse. This includes a weir, but access to it does not look safe (I will bring a grapnel, though).

Sunday 18 December 2011 - An under-recorded tetrad or two in the fens or perhaps – really festive!
[Mark is in N Wales for New Year, perhaps perhaps Ashwell and west Bedfordshire on the Thursday]
Sunday 15 January 2012  Fleam Dyke – date may be altered if permissions tricky
Saturday 28 January 2012  Joint meeting with Norfolk and Suffolk group on Stow Estate, with a range of wet woods, mixed woods, arable margins, walls, churchyard and a cafe too.  We're going to meet in the overflow car park at the Rare Breeds Centre at 10.30am.  Note the time!  Leader Chris Roberts, home phone is 01263 732772, mobile 0788 791 4047.
Sunday 12 February 2012  Orton Pit, Peterborough, famous for its great-crested newts and stoneworts.  Meet at 11:00 at the junction of ‘Natures Way’ (road coming S off the Fletton Parkway) and Hargate Way (road going E from Natures Way, heading into Hampton).  There isn’t anywhere official to park so people will need to find somewhere in Hampton, but there are plenty of opportunities in all the side streets, so it shouldn’t be a problem.  Do not leave valuables in the car.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=peterborough&hl=en&ll=52.539053,-0.277641&spn=0.007126,0.022745&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=14.201477,46.582031&vpsrc=6&hnear=Peterborough,+United+Kingdom&t=m&z=16
Saturday 25 February 2012  Great Fen and Woodwalton Fen (further details will follow)
Sunday 11 March 2012  Chalkney Wood.  Meet at the southern car park TL872271 (NOT the northern one) at 11 a.m.  Ken Adams, who hopes to be with us, writes: “If you go into the top car park, there are several north flowing bogs on the north eastern side (see Oliver’s map in his big Woodlands Book) and in one of these we had Conocephalum growing all over the flat surface of the bog with Fissidens adianthoides”.  Ken also comments that the wood needs a re-survey for recently-arrived epiphytes.
Saturday 24 March 2012 [not yet selected]

[28 Mar-4 April  BBS spring field meeting in Cumbria]

Mark Hill, 11 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EB. Tel: 01223 571574.  Email: moh@ceh.ac.uk

Tom Charman, 29 Woodpecker Way, Great Cambourne, Cambridgeshire CB23 6GZ. Tel: 01954-710554 (home) 07753-276504 (mobile).  Email: Tom.Charman@naturalengland.org.uk

Many thanks to Chris Preston, who has taken a break from organizing the excursions.

Cotswold and Chilterns Group

All meetings start at 10.30 a.m. No further information available.

CONTACTS:
Seàn O'Leary, J.J. Thompson Physical Lab, PO Box 220, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 2AF.
Jeff Bates, Department of Biology, Imperial College at Silwood Park, Ascot, Berks SL5 7PY.

Devon Group

We are an informal group aimed at anyone interested in Devon’s mosses and/or liverworts; all are welcome (regardless of level of expertise) and there is no fee. We hold approximately six field meetings each year, normally on Saturdays. All meetings start at 11 a. m. and participants are recommended to bring packed lunches. The next few meetings are detailed below; further information will follow later. Alternatively, please contact Nigel Pinhorn (devonnaturewalks@btinternet.com) or Tim Purches (tnpurches@hotmail.co.uk) for more details.

Sat. 29 October: Berry Head. Limestone grassland, clifftops and scrub. Typical limestone species (many small and inconspicuous, so magnifiers particularly important); likelihood of seeing the nationally rare Cheilothela chloropus for anyone interested. Meet at Berry Head car park (SX 940562, reached via Berry Head Road). Walking boots recommended; warm clothing advisable as much of the site is very exposed to the wind.

Sat. 10 December: Little Haldon. Heathland, scrub woodland, roadsides etc. Wide variety of species likely; particularly good for epiphytes on willows and similar (Orthotrichum spp., Ulota spp., Cryphaea, possible Cololejeunea minutissima). Walking boots and warm clothing advised; much of Little Haldon is very exposed. If weather particularly bad, the Great Haldon plantations are not far off and would make a useful sheltered alternative; decision on the day at the rendezvous (National Trust car park at SX 918764, accessed from B.3192 road).

Sat. 18 February 2012: Ashclyst Forest.  Mixed woodland on Culm Measures rock. Good variety of species: epiphytes, damp ground with some Sphagna, heathland, tracksides, rotting wood, etc. The B. B. S. spent a day at Ashclyst in 1997 but there seems to have been little, if any, detailed work done here since then. It will be of interest to tetrad recorders as the forest straddles four separate 100-km. squares! Nowellia, Leucodon sciuroides and Plagiothecium curvifolium were the highlights of the B. B. S. and earlier visits, but there will doubtless be far more than that to find. Meet at the National Trust car park at SY 001995 (just east of the north-south road); walking boots recommended. 

Sat. 28 April 2012: Shipley Bridge and the Aune (or Avon) valley. Another superb site, with a wide variety of habitats and species; at the last count the tetrad including Shipley Bridge had 179 bryophytes recorded. The bedrock is granite, but ruined buildings and a waterworks road provide some calcicoles; a variety of tree species also result in a good spread of epiphytes. Lepidozia cupressina and Mylia taylorii have both been found nearby, the latter in its only known South Devon site. Meet at the Shipley Bridge car park (SX 68046209); walking boots or Wellingtons recommended.

Dublin Group

The BBS Dublin group meetings are aimed at encouraging beginners to learn bryophytes and identification skills.  All are welcome, no matter what level of ability.  If you would like to join any of these meetings, or would like to be on the mailing list for the group, then please e-mail Joanne Denyer (joanne@denyerecology.com) or telephone 00353 (0) 862379153 for further information. 

Saturday 26th February: – Joint BBS/Dublin Naturalist Field Club (DNFC) meeting led by Joanne Denyer.  Location: Lullybeg wetlands (Bord na Mona site), County Kildare.  Meet: 11.00 am outside the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore (please note that this is an initial meeting place only.  The visitor centre will be closed and we will be moving cars on from this location).  Please contact Joanne Denyer for directions.  Bring: Lunch, wellies and suitable clothing. (If there has been recent rain then the site could be very wet and wellies will be essential.)
[This meeting is part of a project to record under-recorded hectads in County Kildare.  If you are interested in helping with this project then please contact Joanne Denyer.]
Saturday 19th - Sunday 20th March: - A joint weekend bryophyte meeting with the Dublin Naturalists’ Field Club, Galway Naturalists’ Field Club and the BBS Dublin Branch, (celebrating DNFC’s 125th Anniversary).  The Connemara National Park, Letterfrack, County Galway will be the venue for a weekend in the bryophyte-rich vegetation of the west of Ireland. Members should organise their own accommodation.  Meet each day at 10:30 a.m. inside the park. The entrance to the Park is signposted on the southern side of the N59 Clifden - Westport Road just on the western side of Letterfrack.

Essex Group

All meetings start at 11am, bring good footwear and packed lunch for all meetings.

Sat October 8th 2011. Gunpowder Park South Salix swamp. Park in Hawes Lane , Sewardstone at TQ3839,9887 for 11.00am. Packed lunch. Leader: Ken Adams.

Sat 10th December 2011. Great Monk Wood, Epping Forest. Meet in Broadstrood car park at TQ4287,9861 at 11.00am. Leader Ken Adams.

Sat 17th December 2011. Hadleigh Great Wood & Belfairs. Meet at Warren Road entrance TQ821, 874 at 11.00am. Leader Tim Pyner.

Sat 21 January 2012. Debden Slade & Loughton Brook, Epping Forest. Meet in Earl’s Path car park at TQ4176,9705 at 11.00. Leader Ken Adams.

Sat 25 February 2012. Wall Wood & Hatfield Forest, meet at the southern end of the Forest, parking on the bend just south of Emblem’s Coppice TL5288,1873 at 11.00am. Leader: Ken Adams 020 8508 7863.

Sat 31st  March 2012. Liston/Foxearth Old Gravel Pits. Meet at the junction of the road and entrance track at TL840,458 at 11.00am. Leader Ken Adams. 

Please email Sally Gadsdon (srgadsdon@yahoo.com) for further details.

Covers:Gloucestershire

CONTACT:
Peter Martin, 60 West Street, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8DR. E-mail : petergmartin@waitrose.com

Leicestershire

No meetings planned at present

Norfolk and Suffolk Group

Meetings 2011-12

Beginners are always very welcome - the only equipment needed is a handlens (x10 or x20) and some paper packets (old envelopes are fine) for collecting specimens.  Meetings begin at 10.30am and will only be cancelled if there is snow or hard frost.  The Norfolk and Suffolk Bryological Group is an informal interest group with no formal status or legal identity.  All attendees at the events set out in the annual programme participate in those events entirely at their own risk and no responsibility for any injury loss or damage shall lie against the organisers of the events.  The distribution of the programme of events is not intended to and does not form any contract or any other legal relationship between the organisers and the participants.

Sunday 2 October 2011 – Gawdy Hall Big Wood SSSI, Harleston.  Ancient woodland coppice with standards.  Turn off the minor road at TM 251 845, i.e. east of the road for Lodge Farm.  Drive through the wood and park in the farm car park by the old stable block, avoiding blocking the garage doors.

Sunday 16 October 2011 – Rose Carr, The Nursery and Primrose Grove, Ringland.  Some wet alder carr and mixed woodland.  Turn off Ringland Lane at TG 134 143 on track and public footpath to Low Farm.  Park in verge by Primrose Grove, not obstructing the track.

Saturday 29 October 2011 – NNNS Beginners’ meeting led by Robin Stevenson. Come and find out why Mosses are Divine, in a full day meeting in the 'Holy Land' of Walsingham. The emphasis of the meeting will be on churchyards and urban habitats. Meet at Little Walsingham parish church (TF9350.3649). It is probably best to park elsewhere in the village, and walk down - there is lots of parking available and signposted.  

Saturday 12 November 2011 – Great Yarmouth North Denes SSSI – dunes and acid grassland.  Possibly St Nicholas’ Churchyard in the afternoon.  Meet on North Drive (the sea front), just north of Barnard Avenue at TG 531 094 for the dunes.

Sunday 27 November 2011 – Drayton Drewray, open access land.  Mixed wet/dry woodland, and some alder carr.  Park in free public car park to south of Haveringland Road at TG 182 176 and we will walk down.

Saturday 10 December 2011 – Fulmodeston Severals.  Commercial woodland but with old species-rich ditches and verges, and mature trees.  Turn off B1110 at TG 008 288, also entrance for Hoecroft Plants, drive along track and park on the verge in the woods.

Sunday 8 January 2012 –Woodbastwick fens and marshes – part of the Bure Marshes NNR.  Visiting wet woodland, scrub and possibly fen, depending on conditions.  Meet in yard at TG 333 161 – turn west at north end of Ferry Rd.

Saturday 28 January 2012 – Joint meeting with Cambridge Bryologists at Stow Hall.  Park in overflow car park at Rare Breeds Centre TF 627 055.  Mixed woods, wet woods, arable margins, garden walls, orchards, churchyard and even a café.

Sunday 19 February 2012 – Bluestone Plantation, Cawston.  Wet woodland.  Park on roadside at TG 132 265 opposite the track into the wood.

Sunday 4 March 2012 – Sculthorpe Moor Community Nature Reserve, owned by the Hawk and Owl Trust.  Wet woodland.  Meet on car park by the Visitor Centre at TF 900 305.  Reserve has been considerably enlarged since our previous visit in 2004.  Held over from 2011.

Saturday 17 March 2012 – Woodrising Woods and Hazel Hurn, Woodrising.  Mixed wood, wet wood, plantation and good rides. Turn off Woodrising Road at TL 986 027 at double metal gates (which will be open on the day) – this is north of West Lodge which is marked on the map.  Go along the track and park on the grassy verge on the right just before Hazel Hurn.

British Bryological Society Recorders:
Robin Stevenson, 111 Wootton Road, King’s Lynn PE30 4DJ.  01553 766788.  crs111@talktalk.net
Mary Ghullam, 5 Beech Drive, North Walsham NR28 0BZ.  01692 402013.  mylia@tiscali.co.uk
Richard Fisk, 35 Fair Close, Beccles, Suffolk NR35 9QR.  01502 714968.  richardjfisk@waitrose.com

Programme:  Chris Roberts, 21 The Street, Burgh-next-Aylsham NR11 6TP.  01263 732772   chrisroberts_500@hotmail.com
 

Northumberland and Cumbria Group

Covers Northumberland (VCs 67 & 68) and Cumbria (VCs 69 &70)
Beginners are very welcome on these meetings and more experienced bryologists will help with ID tips. Additional meetings in Cumbria for the 2011-12 season may be added later.

Meetings 2011-2012

November 6th 2011, 10:30am
Tillmouth, north-west of Coldstream.
Meet at east side of Twizell bridge at NT885433. Hectad NT84 is relatively under-recorded and we will aim to thoroughly record the English side of tetrad NT84R for the new national atlas. This square includes the meeting point of the rivers Till and Tweed. The main habitats are likely to be riverside woodland and arable land.

February 25th 2012, 10:30am
Newcastle Town Moor and Gosforth.
Meet outside Ilford Road metro station at NZ249673. This meeting will contribute to a new bryophyte survey of Northumberland. Unlike traditional dot map recording schemes, this survey will be based on recording the relative abundance of each bryophyte species in a random sample of monads in the county. We will record in monad NZ2467 which mainly includes urban residential areas and parks. Hectad NZ26 is also relatively under-recorded, so the records will also be useful for the new national atlas.

May 13th 2012, 9:30am
Cairn Hill near The Cheviot.
Meeting place to be confirmed closer to the time of the meeting. This meeting aims to fill in some gaps for the new national atlas in hectad NT81, which is relatively under-recorded. We will concentrate on the English side of tetrad NT81Z, which reaches over 750m at its highest point. There should be a diverse range of upland species as well as (hopefully) some uncommon montane species. There will be a long walk (up) to get into this square so it will be a long strenuous day.
Please note the early start time for this meeting!

Contacts:
For meetings in Northumberland, contact John O’Reilly john@ptyxis.com.
For meetings in Cumbria, contact Diane Dobson ddobson@openspace.gb.com

North West Group (British Bryological Society and North Western Naturalists' Union)

NWNU BRYOPHYTE AND LICHENS SECTION

Section Secretary Secratary: Des Callaghan, 51 Bishopdale Drive, Rainhill, Prescot, Merseyside L35 4QQ

des.callaghan@ecostudy.co.uk

Oxford Mossing Group

This is a free service provided by Shotover Wildlife. The Oxford Mossing Group provides ongoing field and microscope sessions after the Mosses and Liverworts Identification Courses as a way of supporting learners with bryophyte identification, both in microscope keying and building field skills. Click here for details.

The Oxford Mossing Group season runs from October to March and sessions start with a morning field visit (in and around Oxfordshire), usually followed by a microscope session in the afternoon near the field site. High power and dissecting microscopes are available for use.

Contact Jacqueline Wright (jawright@shotover-wildlife.org.uk) for further details

Southern Group

Covers: Hampshire, Berkshire, Sussex, Surrey and South London.

SOUTHERN GROUP
This is now co-ordinated by June Chatfield Tel: 01420 82214, 44 Ashdell Road, Alton, Hants GU34 2TA

All meetings start at 10.30 am and last until 3-4 pm.

Saturday 3 December 2011          Graafham Common, West Sussex led by Bruce Middleton
There will be a variety of habitats to look at including alder carr, heathland and conifer woodland on the Wealden greensand. During a recent visit to this site Dicranum spurium and Riccia hueleriana were found.
Meet 10.30 at the National Trust car park for Lavington Common (SU/949188). From here we will car share because of limited parking and will drive to the edge of Graffham Common.
 Contact details: Bruce Middleton 01730 716366 (home) 01730 817945 (work).

Sunday 15th January 2012   Northern Wey at Holybourne and Froyle, Hants led by June Chatfield
Through the kindness of Dr Trevor and Janet Weston we are visiting the grounds of Neatham Mill with willow carr, river Wey and streams and afterwards other sites in Holycourne village, probably the churchyard as far as the light holds out.
Meet at 10.30 at end of Neatham Mill Lane off High Street Holybourne, then by foot under the subway to Neatham Mill. Road access via A31 from Farnham or Winchester to the  Holybourne roundabout then take the exit to Alton, past the Bordon road on the left and then take the first right by Eggars School into Holybourne village, past the White Hart pub on the right and look for Neatham Mill Lane on the right. Park at the end. Public transport to Alton station and it is walkable, or if you would like a lift, ring the leader, June Chatfield 01420 82214.

Sunday 12 February 2012   Near Selborne, Hants led by Fred Rumsey & June Chatfield
This meeting will be to Long Copse (Norton Farm) and Milking Hanger (Wick Hill Farm), steep wooded slopes of the Upper Greensand escarpment with stream below that are part of the chain of east Hampshire Hangers. It was here that Francis Rose found Brachydontium trichoides, a small acrocarp growing on the malmstone rock in the 1980s. Its habitat Long Copse is part of a Higher Level Farm Stewardship scheme. Both farmers welcome our survey.
Meet at 10.30 in the farmyard to Norton Farm (now industrial units) on the Selborne Road (B3006) between Alton and Selborne (SU/738350). We then cross the road and take the footpath along the top of the hollow lane (eastwards), then across fields to access Long Copse  (SU/ 747353) from the top; a narrow diagonal path leads down into the wood with Milking Hanger on the opposite side of the stream.
Contact details: June Chatfield Tel: 01420 82214

Tuesday 7 Feb, so far so good for Sunday. There has only been slight snow here and it is going. Look out for green sign NORTON FARM on Selborne-Alton road (on left coming from Selborne and on right from Alton) SU/73923 35057 and parking is in flat area immediately on right - farmyard is now industrial. There is a good loo at the back of the public car park behind Selborne Arms for long distance travellers. At the end of the meeting Kate Faulkner has invited us into the farmhouse for tea and cake!

Sunday 4/10 March 2012                               Headley Gravel Pits, North Hants led by Fred Rumsey
This site is a nature reserve of the Hampshire Wildlife Trust who are interested in having bryophyte records It is shallow gravel workings which has developed into an important wildlife site. There is woodland round the edge and a damp open area supporting good populations of green-winged orchids, four species of cudweed, saw-wort and annual knawel so it promises well for bryophytes too. Scrub control by the Trust keeps the land open. There is a public footpath crossing the pits but the rest is restricted access for which we have a permit. SU/512626, 3.5 miles from Newbury. It is west of Headley village off the A339.
Contact details: f.rumsey@nhm.ac.uk

Saturday 14 April 2012                   Devil’s Punchbowl, Hindhead Surrey led by Howard Wallis
With South-east Group
Devil’s Punchbowl and Hindhead Common: woodland with streams, open heath, small bogs. Wellies best, but boots OK. An interesting site which has yielded Anthoceros punctatus, Brachythecium mildeanum, Thuidium delicatulum and up to 8 species of Sphagnum. A rare form of Zygodon conoideus  var.  ligulatus was found by Rod Stern at this location. Its leaves have a rounded tip.
Meet at 10.30 at NT car park at the end of the Hindhead Road from A3 (SU/890357). Contacts Jan Hendey on 01689 82510 or Howard Wallis on 0208 303 3642
 Check out road directions as the former A3 crossing Hindhead at the top of the Punch Bowl has now been closed and is being restored to heathland now that the Hindhead Tunnel is open. (Does Sat. Nav. know about this!) The old A3 is open from the south to the Hindhead cross roads, here go ahead into the no-through-road (old A3) to the National Trust car park for the Devil’s Punch Bowl. The site is on Lower Greensand giving an acid soil and there are several springs and streams at the foot.

Accounts of previous meetings

South East Group

Covers: Kent, East Sussex and East Surrey.

Accounts of previous meetings

Field Meetings 2011-12

Please note that all meetings start at 10.30am. Always bring a packed lunch.

 Sunday 2nd October.  -Cancelled due to indisposition of the leader

Sunday 6th November.  Keston Common.  Woodland and heath with bog on acid gravely/sandy soil. Six Sphagna have been recorded in the bog and recently Pellia neesiana and Straminergon stramineum have been found. Wellies are useful.
Park at TQ 419639 off A233. From Surrey take A232 (Croydon to Orpington) to Keston Mark and turn right at traffic lights on to A233. CP is on right side of road about 0.5 mile on.

Saturday February 18th.    Pickett’s Hole & White Downs.  Woodland dropping down to areas of calcareous grassland. Park at car park at TQ 126501. Need boots.

Sunday March 18th  Tudeley Woods . Mixed deciduous woodland with stream. Park at RSPB car park at TQ617433. Take A21 and turn left into very minor road. about a mile after end of dual carriageway  bypassing Tonbridge.

Saturday April 14th  .Hindhead Common – Devil’s Punchbowl. Woodland with streams, open heath, small bogs. Wellies best, but boots OK. An interesting site which has yielded Anthoceros punctatus, Brachythecium mildeanum , Thuidium delicatulum and up to 8 species of Sphagnum.  Will we be lucky? To find out, park at the NT car park at SU890357 situated at the end of the Hindhead Road from the A3.

If there are any problems, please phone Jan Hendey on 01689 825102
                                                   or Howard Wallis on 0208 393 3642

South West and Central Scotland Recording Group

We do not have a formal program, but have an email circulation list to let members know when & where we are going to be recording and there is a certain flexibility to enable as many people as possible to join in. At the moment we are focusing on under-recorded hectads for the next edition of the atlas.

The group consists of both BBS members & non-members.

Contacts are D.Chamberlain@rbge.org.uk and E.Kungu@rbge.org.uk

Wessex Bryology Group

Wessex Bryology Group Field Meetings for 2011-12
Here is the programme of meetings for the coming season. We have tried to include a good range of habitats and sites across Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and Hampshire. A key aim of the group is to encourage those who are new to the subject to become more experienced and confident at identifying bryophytes, therefore beginners are most welcome at all our meetings. There is no formal membership or constitution and each person goes out at his/her own risk. The only equipment needed is a hand lens (x10 or x20) and some paper packets for collecting specimens. Many of the sites we plan to visit include wet and muddy areas so boots are advisable. We will usually eat a packed lunch on site. All meetings start at 10.30am and finish between 3pm and 4pm. Unless stated there is no need to book, but in the event of snow/ treacherous driving conditions please call Andrew or Sharon to check the meeting is going ahead.

Contact: Andrew Branson tel: 01747 838223; e-mail andrew(at)britishwildlife.com or Sharon Pilkington tel: 01373 827074 / 07801 627449; e-mail: sharon.pilkington1(at)btinternet.com
October 30th New Forest - Mires around Holmsley Station, South Hampshire. A chance to explore some of the species-rich mires on the Headon Beds in the south of the Forest. There is an old record for the rare moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus from this site. Leader: Neil Sanderson. Meet at Holmsley Lodge car park at SU 222011.

November 19th Holford and Hodders Combe, Quantocks, South Somerset.. An interesting area of the Quantocks, with oak woodland, streams, heath and flushed areas, providing a good range of species in this poorly recorded area. Leader: Andrew Branson. Meet at the car park in Holford at ST 154410.

December 4th Savernake Forest and Marlborough. Ancient woodland, pits, tracks and veteran trees with interesting epiphytes and acid ground-dwellers, including a number of Wiltshire rarities. Meet in the centre of the forest at Eight Walks SU 225668. To get there take the tarmac track  into the forest from the A4 at Forest Hill at SU210683 and drive along Grand Avenue for 2km. The track is suitable for all vehicles. We shall drive on from there to the southern part of the forest. Later, if there is time and daylight, there is the possibility of seeing the rare Grimmia dissimulata in Marlborough town centre. Leader: Sharon Pilkington.

February 19th Blashford Lakes Visitor Centre. Getting to grips with Sphagnum mosses. Joint workshop with Hants Flora Group combining a morning at the centre looking at the basics of identifying Sphag num mosses, followed by a field visit in the afternoon to a nearby site in the New Forest. Restricted to a maximum of 8-10 people. Please book with either Sharon or Andrew. Meet at Hampshire Wildlife Trust Education Centre at Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve at SU 151079.

March 18th Worth Matravers, Dorset. Good site for a range of coastal species including the diminutive Acaulon triquetrum, plus a sheltered valley with interesting epiphytes including Leptodon smithii. Leaders: Bryan Edwards and Andrew Branson. Meet at car park near Renscombe Farm at SY 963774.

April 15th. Priddy Mineries and Stockhill. An interesting complex of woodland, poor fen, mire, lead mine spoil, drystone walls and pools, with a wide range of species and some mine spoil. Local rarities include Ditrichum plumbicola, Cephaloziella stellulifera and Lophozia excisa. Leader: Sharon Pilkington. Meet in the large free car park at Stockhill Plantation near Priddy at ST 549513.

For accounts of previous meetings click here.