Members enjoyed fine views over the Enborne and Kennet valleys from Cottington’s Hill, near Kingsclere on Saturday 5th September. The walk, led by Graham Saunders, started across recently-harvested corn fields which had an interesting collection of arable weeds. White Dead-nettle flowers on the sheltered side of a wood had attracted several different types of bumble-bee. The leaves of Hound’s-tongue were identified in ground which had been disturbed by rabbits. The woodland on the northern slope of the hill was remarkable for the apparent old age of the Buckthorn, Spindle, Blackthorn and Wayfaring-trees, all of which were covered with colourful berries. Small Scabious was found next to the path through the wood. The return journey up a steep field yielded Autumn Gentian just coming into flower and Clustered Bellflower. A Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaffs and a mixed flock of Long-tailed and Great Tits were seen on the climb back up the hill.
Plants
Traveller’s-joy Clematis vitalba
Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas
A Goosefoot Chenopodium sp
Common Orache Atriplex patula
White Campion Silene latifolia
Knotgrass Polygonum aviculare
Black-bindweed Fallopia convolvulus
Field Pansy Viola arvensis
Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium officinale
Shepherd’s-purse Capsella bursa-pastoris
Wild Mignonette Reseda lutea
Cowslip Primula veris
Scarlet Pimpernel Anagallis arvensis
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna
Dewberry Rubus caesius
Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria
Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Dogwood Cornus sanguinea
Spindle Euonymus europaeus
Petty Spurge Euphorbia peplus
Dog’s Mercury Mercurialis perennis
Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica
Fairy Flax Linum catharticum
Dove’s-foot Cranesbill Geranium molle
Fool’s Parsley Aethusa cynapium
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium
Autumn Gentian Gentianella amarella
Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis
Field Forget-me-not Myosotis arvensis
Hound’s-tongue Cynoglossum officinale
Red Dead-nettle Lamium purpureum
White Dead-nettle Lamium album
Wild Basil Clinopodium vulgare
Basil Thyme Clinopodium acinos
Selfheal Prunella vulgaris
Hoary Plantain Plantago media
Ash Fraxinus excelsior
Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris
Common Field Speedwell Veronica persica
Common Eyebright Euphrasia nemorosa
Red Bartsia Odontites vernus
Knapweed Broomrape Orobanche elatior
Harebell Campanula rotundifolia
Clustered Bellflower Campanula glomerata
Hedge Bedstraw Gallium mollugo
Lady’s Bedstraw Gallium verum
Field Madder Sherardia arvensis
Wayfaring-tree Viburnum lantana
Small Scabious Scabiosa columbaria
Field Scabious Knautia arvensis
Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea
Mugwort Artemesia vulgaris
Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare
Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre
Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense
Dwarf Thistle Cirsium acaule
Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra
Lesser Burdock Arctium minus
Nipplewort Lapsana communis
Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis
Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper
Insects
Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria
Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi
7-Spot Ladybird
Bombus hortorum
Bombus pascorum
Mammals
Field vole
Birds
Green Woodpecker
Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit