On a hot sunny day Renée Grayer led a group of 22 on a walk to Fobney Island Meadows. Only the rarer plants are mentioned, the full species list is attached. We walked from Circuit Lane in Southcote, under the railway and over Holy Brook, where we saw Arrowhead, and then through the water meadows, where on our return we saw Bifid Hemp-nettle, to the River Kennet to access the Fobney Island western meadows from which the public is normally excluded.
“In November 2012, work on the Fobney Island Wetland Nature Reserve Project was completed alongside the River Kennet on the edge of Reading in Berkshire. An area of low value rough grassland is now a new 5 hectare wetland nature reserve with riverine and floodplain habitats, pathways for public access and wildlife viewing hides. The land has been lowered to create wetland ponds and meadows that, at times of high river flow, will be in connection with the River Kennet to the south of the island. This has improved the site for birds, bats, fish, reptiles and amphibians; as well as creating a natural flood storage area. During the spring of 2012, new scrub planting, grass and wildflower seeding was completed. “
This year the meadows were much drier than normal so although the flora was rich and lush there did not seem to be much evidence of fauna. We were joined at Fobney Island by Renton Righelato who guided us around the wildlife sensitive areas. Rarer plants seen at Fobney Island were Sneezewort, Nodding Bur-marigold, Trifid Bur-marigold, Flowering-rush, Great Burnet, Pink Water-speedwell and Hybrid Water-speedwell. With a large web, nestling in some grass stems, was a Wasp Spider.
| Unusual species printed in bold | ||
| Scientific name | English name | Location |
| Plant species: | ||
| Achillea millefolium | Yarrow | Water meadows |
| Achillea ptarmica | Sneezewort | Fobney Island |
| Alisma plantago-aquatica | Water-plantain | Fobney Island |
| Angelica sylvestris | Wild Angelica | Water meadows |
| Arctium minus | Lesser Burdock | Water meadows |
| Artemisia vulgaris | Mugwort | Water meadows |
| Bidens cernua | Nodding Bur-marigold | Fobney Island |
| Bidens tripartita | Trifid Bur-marigold | Fobney Island |
| Butomus umbellatus | Flowering-rush | Fobney Island |
| Carduus crispus | Welted Thistle | Water meadows |
| Centaurea nigra | Common Knapweed | Fobney Island |
| Daucus carota | Wild Carrot | Fobney Island |
| Dipsacus fullonum | Teasel | Fobney Island |
| Epilobium hirsutum | Great Willowherb | Meadows and Fobney |
| Eupatorium cannabinum | Hemp-agrimony | Meadows and Fobney |
| Filipendula ulmaria | Meadowsweet | Meadows and Fobney |
| Galeopsis bifida | Bifid Hemp-nettle | Water meadows |
| Gnaphalium uliginosum | Marsh Cudweed | Fobney Island |
| Heracleum sphondylium | Hogweed | Water meadows |
| Hypericum tetrapterum | Square-stalked St John’s-wort | Meadows and Fobney |
| Impatiens capensis | Orange Balsam | Water meadows |
| Impatiens glandulifera | Indian Balsam | Water meadows |
| Lotus pedunculatus | Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil | Fobney Island |
| Lycopus europaeus | Gipsywort | Meadows and Fobney |
| Lysimachia vulgaris | Yellow Loosestrife | Water meadows |
| Lythrum salicaria | Purple-loosestrife | Meadows and Fobney |
| Malva sylvestris | Common Mallow | Water meadows |
| Melilotus alba | White Melilot | Fobney Island |
| Melilotus altissima | Tall Melilot | Fobney Island |
| Mentha aquatica | Water Mint | Meadows and Fobney |
| Myosotis scorpioides | Water Forget-me-not | Meadows and Fobney |
| Myosoton aquaticum | Water Chickweed | Meadows and Fobney |
| Nasturtium officinale | Water-cress | Water meadows |
| Nuphar lutea | Yellow Water-lily | Water meadows |
| Odontites vernus | Red Bartsia | Fobney Island |
| Oenanthe crocata | Hemlock Water-dropwort | Meadows and Fobney |
| Persicaria lapathifolia | Pale Persicaria | Fobney Island |
| Persicaria maculata | Redshank | Fobney Island |
| Phalaris arundinacea | Reed Canary-grass | Water meadows |
| Picris echioides | Bristly Oxtongue | Fobney Island |
| Pulicaria dysenterica | Common Fleabane | Meadows and Fobney |
| Ranunculus sceleratus | Celery-leaved Buttercup | Fobney Island |
| Rhinanthus minor | Yellow-rattle | Fobney Island |
| Rorippa palustris | Marsh Yellow-cress | Fobney Island |
| Rubus fruticosus agg. | Bramble | Water meadows |
| Rumex hydrolapathus | Water Dock | Fobney Island |
| Rumex maritimus | Golden Dock | Fobney Island |
| Sagittaria sagittifolia | Arrowhead | Meadows and Fobney |
| Sanguisorba officinalis | Great Burnet | Fobney Island |
| Scrophularia auriculata | Water Figwort | Water meadows |
| Senecio erucifolius | Hoary Ragwort | Fobney Island |
| Sonchus arvensis | Perennial Sow-thistle | Fobney Island |
| Sparganium emersum | Unbranched Bur-reed | Meadows and Fobney |
| Sparganium erectum | Branched Bur-reed | Meadows and Fobney |
| Stachys palustris | Marsh Woundwort | Meadows and Fobney |
| Symphytum x uplandicum | Russian Comfrey | Meadows and Fobney |
| Tripleurospermum inodorum | Scentless Mayweed | Fobney Island |
| Typha latifolia | Bulrush | Meadows and Fobney |
| Veronica beccabunga | Brooklime | Fobney Island |
| Veronica catenata | Pink Water-speedwell | Fobney Island |
| Veronica x lackschewitzii | Hybrid Water-speedwell | Fobney Island |
| Vicia cracca | Tufted Vetch | Fobney Island |
| Birds | ||
| Ardea cinerea | Grey Heron | Fobney Island |
| Falco tinnunculus | Common Kestrel | Meadows and Fobney |
| Dragonflies | ||
| Aeshna grandis | Brown Hawker | Meadows and Fobney |
| Calopteris splendens | Banded Demoiselle | Water Meadows |
| Butterflies | ||
| Aglais io | Peacock | Fobney Island |
| Gonepteryx rhamni | Brimstone | Fobney Island |
| Thymelicus lineola | Essex Skipper | Fobney Island |
| Spiders | ||
| Argiope bruennichi | Wasp Spider | Fobney Island |