In recent years, the National Trust’s Morgaston Woods, near The Vyne in north Hampshire, have been a sea of colour by the middle of April. When Renee Grayer led a walk there on the cool wet afternoon of Saturday 13 April, there were only a few flowers to be seen, although the leaves of many different species promised a good display in the not too distant future. Calling Chiffchaffs indicated that the first of the summer migrant birds had arrived. The walk started from the car park of The Vyne, crossed a field and went into the woods. Primroses and Wood Anemones, some white and some pale pink, brightened up the woodland floor. Beside the path to the hide which overlooks the wetland area were a few Spurge-laurel plants, with inconspicuous trumpet-shaped green flowers. The walk continued through the woods, following the stream up the valley. Leaves of Moschatel, Woodruff, Sanicle, Wood Spurge and Pignut were identified. Hairy Wood-rush was found next to the path, with tiny off-white flowers fanning out in a globe shape from the top of the stem. In one spot, two different speedwells were growing close to one another, with the bright green leaves of Wood Speedwell contrasting with the duller green leaves of Germander Speedwell. A small violet with a dark purple spur was identified as Early Dog-violet. Highlight of the walk was a stretch of path where Hazel branches had been used to weave a low fence. At its base were a number of the bright red cup-shaped fruits of the Scarlet Elfcup fungus. At the highest point of the wood was a dark stand of conifers, with the bright green leaves of Wood-sorrel on the woodland floor below. Nearby, yellow Coltsfoots were growing on a patch of open ground. The last part of the walk followed the path beside the lake. Roots fanning out from the base of a Swamp Cypress had knobbly lumps protruding above the ground. Finally, an unusually low-growing Mistletoe plant in a Prunus tree beside the path gave the opportunity to inspect the greenish-yellow flowers at close quarters.
Pictures by Rob Stallard
RDNHS excursion to Morgaston Wood, 13th April 2013
Plant species observed:
| Adoxa moschatellina | Moschatel, Townhouse clock |
| Anemone nemorosa | Wood anemone |
| Arum italicum | Italian Lords-and-Ladies |
| Arum maculatum | Lords-and-Ladies |
| Conopodium majus (leaves) | Pignut |
| Corylus avellana | Hazel |
| Daphne laureola | Spurge laurel |
| Euphorbia amygdaloides | Wood spurge |
| Galium aparine (leaves) | Cleavers |
| Galium odoratum | Woodruff |
| Geum urbanum | Wood Avens |
| Hyacinthoides non-scripta (leaves) | Bluebell |
| Ilex aquifolium | Holly |
| Lonicera periclymenum (leaves) | Honeysuckle |
| Luzula pilosa | Hairy wood-rush |
| Mercurialis perennis | Dog’s mercury |
| Oenanthe crocata (leaves) | Hemlock Water-dropwort |
| Oxalis acetosella | Wood-sorrel |
| Potentilla sterilis | Barren strawberry |
| Primula vulgaris | Primrose |
| Ranunculus ficaria | Lesser celandine |
| Sanicula europaea (leaves) | Sanicle |
| Stellaria holostea (leaves) | Greater stitchwort |
| Taraxacum officinale | Dandelion |
| Tussilago farfara | Colt’s-foot |
| Veronica chamaedrys (leaves) | Germander speedwell |
| Veronica Montana (leaves) | Wood speedwell |
| Vinca minor | Lesser periwinkle |
| Viola reichenbachiana | Early dog-violet |
| Viscum album | Mistletoe |
| Urtica dioica (leaves) | Common Nettle |
Fungi:
| Sarcoscypha coccinea | Scarlet Elfcup |
Birds:
| Phylloscopus collybita | Chiffchaff |
| Troglodytes troglodytes | Wren |
List prepared by Renée Grayer