On Wednesday 15th May, a damp and rather chilly day, Martin Sell led a party of 17 for a walk through a mixture of woodland and heathland at Bucklebury Common. There were patches of Bluebells, still at their best even at this late date, clumps of forget-me-nots, and a rather fine expanse of Wood-sorrel. A mixture of Gorse and Heather dominated the open spaces on the Common. Bird life was sparse, but a Raven was spotted being mobbed by a couple of Crows, and at the start, an elusive Garden Warbler was singing from a hidden perch. Climbing Corydalis was not yet in flower, and a few garden “throw-outs”, including Lily-of-the-valley and yellow Azaleas, were found, as well as a fine tree of what was probably Bird Cherry, usually found in the North. The walk was followed by lunch at the Bladebone pub in Chapel Row.
Report by Martin Sell
