Michael Keith-Lucas led a field trip at Greenham Common on the sunny afternoon of Sunday 27th September, starting from the Control Centre car park. Flowers seen on the grassy former runway area included both pink and white specimens of Common Centaury, Kidney Vetch, Fairy Flax, Devil’s-bit Scabious and Dwarf Thistle. Out on the heathland, Dwarf Gorse, purple Bell Heather and pink Ling were all in flower. Michael pointed out a lime-loving Buckthorn bush growing up through the Gorse. One of the target species was Autumn Lady’s-tresses. Large numbers of the spiral grey-green spikes were found, but only a few still showed white flowers. Gypsywort beside one of the small ponds on the gravel had unusual purple leaves. A big patch of Autumn Gentians was an interesting find. Further sightings included Viper’s Bugloss, Musk Mallow and the red fruits of Wild Strawberry. A number of different species of fungi were seen. There were quite a few mushrooms, thought to be Horse Mushrooms, several varieties of wax cap, various puffballs and a number of ink-cap species. A Stonechat perched on a Hawthorn bush and several flocks of Linnets were seen.
The walk continued across the Common and steeply down a path through the woods to a good-sized pond. Around the marshy edges of the pond were Marsh Pennywort, Bog Pimpernel and Brooklime. The surface of the pond was covered in the three-leaved spikes of Bogbean and a single plant, out in deeper water, had pink fringed flowers. Leaves of Marsh Cinquefoil were a surprising and unusual discovery. On the bank of the pond were the purple flowers of a Calamint, thought to be perhaps a garden escape. There were large numbers of pond snails in the water. Jerry Welsh headed off further down the hillside, to find Royal Fern and Wood Horsetail. The return walk to the start went past a herd of cows with a number of young calves and a rather aggressive young male.
Pictures by Rob Stallard
| RDNHS trip to Greenham Common 27.09.15 led by Michael Keith-Lucas | ||
| Plant List: | ||
| Scientific name | English name | Remarks |
| Polygala serpyllifolia | Heath Milkwort | |
| Centaurium erythraea | Centaury | |
| Erigeron acer | Blue Fleabane | |
| Daucus carota | Wild Carrot | |
| Linum catharticum | Fairy Flax | |
| Potentilla erecta | Tormentil | |
| Ulex europaeus | Gorse | |
| Ulex minor | Dwarf Gorse | |
| Hypericum perforatum | Perforate St John’s-wort | |
| Erica cinerea | Bell Heather | |
| Succisa pratensis | Devil’s-bit Scabious | |
| Leontodon autumnalis | Autumn Hawkbit | |
| Hypochaeris radicata | Cat’s-ear | |
| Calluna vulgaris | Heather | |
| Rumex acetosella | Sheep’s Sorrel | |
| Fragaria vesca | Wild strawberry | |
| Anthyllis vulneraria | Kidney Vetch | |
| Lotus corniculatus | Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil | |
| Trifolium pratense | Red Clover | |
| Spiranthes spiralis | Autumn Lady’s-tresses | |
| Veronica officinalis | Heath Speedwell | |
| Euphrasia spec. | Eyebright | |
| Glyceria fluitans | Floating Sweet-grass | |
| Persicaria amphibia | Amphibious Bistort | |
| Salix repens | Creeping Willow | |
| Eleocharis palustris | Common Spike-rush | |
| Juncus inflexus | Hard Rush | |
| Juncus effusus | Soft-rush | |
| Juncus bulbosus | Bulbous Rush | |
| Anagallis arvensis | Scarlet Pimpernel | |
| Lycopus europaeus | Gypsywort | |
| Agrimonia eupatoria | Agrimony | |
| Prunus spinosa | Blackthorn | |
| Rhamnus catharticus | Buckthorn | |
| Cirsium acaule | Dwarf Thistle | |
| Sorbus intermedia | Swedish Whitebeam | |
| Melilotus alba | White Melilot | |
| Gentianella amarella | Autumn Gentian | |
| Pilosella officinarum | Mouse-ear Hawkweed | not flowering |
| Torilis japonica | Upright Hedge-parsley | |
| Cytisus scoparius | Broom | |
| Echium vulgare | Viper’s-bugloss | |
| Achillea millefolium | Yarrow | |
| Salix caprea | Goat Willow | |
| Salix cinerea | Grey Willow | |
| Juncus tenuis | Slender Rush | |
| Malva moschata | Musk Mallow | |
| Bog: | ||
| Hydrocotyle vulgaris | Marsh Pennywort | |
| Pedicularis sylvatica | Lousewort | |
| Cirsium palustre | Marsh Thistle | |
| Ranunculus flammula | Lesser Spearwort | |
| Mentha aquatica | Water Mint | |
| Menyanthes trifoliata | Bogbean | |
| Iris pseudacorus | Yellow Iris | not flowering |
| Lythrum salicaria | Purple-loosestrife | in fruit |
| Juncus acutiflorus | Sharp-flowered Rush | |
| Clinopodium spec. | Calamint | |
| Potentilla palustris | Marsh Cinquefoil | not flowering |
| Veronica beccabunga | Brooklime | |
| Eleogiton fluitans | Floating Club-rush | |
List by Renée Grayer