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Moor Copse – 30 April 2017

Michael Keith-Lucas led a well-attended walk at the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust’s Moor Copse reserve near Tidmarsh on the cloudy morning of Sunday 30 April. The first part of the walk was along the banks of the River Pang and through the damp woodland of Hogmoor Copse, which is regularly flooded by the alkaline waters of the Pang. Along the river bank, sightings included Hemlock Water-dropwort, Comfrey, abundant Large Bittercress, white-flowered Dewberry, Red Currant and Hop. Goldilocks Buttercup, Solomon’s-seal and the leaves of Common Spotted-orchid were found along Vinula Ride. After crossing the bridge over Pang, the route led through Park Wood, which lies on a drier gravel terrace. Amongst the sea of Bluebells were the white flowers of Greater Stitchwort and Yellow Archangel. Wood Speedwell, Wood Spurge, Bush Vetch and Three-nerved Sandwort were also seen. In a corner of the wood was a fine display of Early-purple Orchids, with a few pink and white specimens mixed amongst the commoner purple flower spikes. A black and yellow Wasp Beetle was spotted in the vegetation beside the path.

The walk continued across 5-Acre Field, where Bulbous Buttercup and Crosswort were in flower, and into Moor Copse.  Wood Anemone, Yellow Pimpernel and more Early-purple Orchids were seen here. The route then led out onto meadows. The scratchy song of Whitethroats was heard. Cowslips were flowering on the drier ridges and the leaves of Pepper Saxifrage were identified. Jointed Rush, Water Avens, Cuckooflower, Great Burnet and Marsh Marigold were found in the wetter parts of the meadows. The return route led past the ruins of Sparkmoor Cottage, where flowering Star-of-Bethlehem was found. Finally, there was a mass of white-flowered Ramsons on the banks of the Pang near the car park.


Pictures by Rob Stallard

Scientific name English name Comments
Ficaria verna Lesser Celandine Diploid fertile subspecies
Alliaria petiolata Garlic Mustard
Aegopodium podagraria Ground-elder Not yet in flower
Acer campestris Field Maple
Ulmus glabra Wych Elm
Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted Hair-grass Not yet in flower
Euphorbia amygdaloides Wood Spurge
Ribes rubrum Red Currant
Arum maculatum Lords-and-Ladies
Oenanthe crocata Hemlock Water-dropwort Not yet in flower
Symphytum officinale Common Comfrey
Rubus caesius Dewberry
Glechoma hederacea Ground-ivy
Lamium album White Dead-nettle
Cornus sanguinea Dogwood
Veronica hederifolia Ivy-leaved Speedwell
Euonymus europaeus Spindle
Iris pseudacorus Yellow Iris Not yet in flower
Angelica sylvestris Wild Angelica Not yet in flower
Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup
Humulus lupulus Hop
Corylus avellana Hazel
Ajuga reptans Bugle
Cardamine amara Large Bittercress
Silene dioica Red Campion
Vicia sepium Bush Vetch
Geranium robertianum Herb-Robert
Veronica montana Wood Speedwell
Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet Not yet in flower
Plantago major Greater Plantain
Mercurialis perennis Dog’s Mercury
Viola riviniana Common Dog-violet
Hyacinthoidess non-scripta Bluebell
Stellaria holostea Greater Stitchwort
Cardamine pratensis Cuckooflower
Ranunculus auricomus Goldilocks Buttercup
Primula vulgaris Primrose
Polygonatum multiflorum Solomon’s-seal
Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common Spotted-orchid Not yet in flower
Neottia ovata Common Twayblade Not yet in flower
Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell
Moehringia trinervia Three-nerved Sandwort
Malus sylvestris Crab Apple
Dryopteris dilatata Broad Buckler-fern
Lamiastrum galeobdolon Yellow Archangel
Carex strigosa Thin-spiked Wood-sedge
Fraxinus excelsior Ash Diseased
Alnus glutinosa Alder
Orchis mascula Early-purple Orchid SU636739
Circaea lutetiana Enchanter’s-nightshade Not yet in flower
Picea abies Norway Spruce
Oxalis acetosella Wood-sorrel Not in flower
Prunus avium Wild Cherry
Digitalis purpurea Foxglove Not yet in flower
Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear
Silene x hampeana Hybrid between Red and White Campion
Potentilla anserina Silverweed Not yet in flower
Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling
Cruciata laevipes Crosswort
Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone
Lysimachia nemorum Yellow Pimpernel Not yet in flower
Ilex aquifolium Holly
Silaum silaus Pepper-saxifrage Not yet in flower
Primula veris Cowslip
Sanguisorba officinalis Great Burnet Not yet in flower
Juncus articulatus Jointed Rush
Geum rivale Water Avens SU638734
Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel
Caltha palustris Marsh Marigold
Cirsium palustre Marsh Thistle Leaf rosette
Ornithogalum umbellatum Star-of-Bethlehem SU638735
Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup
Allium ursinum Ramsons
Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley

List by Renée Grayer