21 members met at Swyncombe Church in glorious spring weather on Saturday 7 March for an introduction to mosses and liverworts led by Sean O’Leary. The churchyard was carpeted with snowdrops and yellow aconites; bees and a Peacock and a Brimstone butterfly were seen and a calling Tawny Owl was heard. The first destination was the beautiful Ridgeway path through the north-facing wooded slopes of Swyncombe Hill with a rich ground flora characteristic of chalky woodland. Notable species included the liverwort Nowellia curvifolia found by Sue White and the moss Herzogiella seligeri, both species growing as usual on rotten logs. The uncommon epiphyte Orthotrichum striatum was found by David Morris. The aim of the walk was not really to look for rarities, however, and much time was spent looking at the commoner species, noting the differences in structure between the basic classes of moss, the differences between mosses and liverworts and the exquisite beauty of the tiny reproductive structures of these beautiful plants.

While the more intrepid walkers pressed on round the circular walk, the more enthusiastic bryologists returned down the slope to search in Swyncombe Churchyard, another good mossy habitat. Here the uncommon Leucodon sciuroides was found on limestone gravestones – a habitat it consistently favours in this area instead of its more natural habitat of old trees. The walkers enjoyed the stunning views from the circular path around the parkland of Swyncombe House. The row of tall lime trees at the top of the park had glossy red buds, Primroses were in flower in the woods and a Kestrel flew down as the group walked back towards the churchyard. Finally, walkers were fortified with a slice of Louise O’Leary’s delicious muesli crunch to round off the day.

Report by Sean O’Leary