The day was baking hot with full sun and the temperature in the upper 20’s Centigrade when Graham Saunders led a walk at Cottington’s Hill, near Kingsclere. 8 members strode out purposefully to the sound of Skylarks and Yellowhammers but soon slowed to a dawdle, entranced by the delights of Stingless Nettles (narrow leaves – but don’t try touching them unless certain of identification!), the unusual Dwarf Spurge and several fine stands of Knapweed Broomrape. The old fortification bank on the top of Cottington’s Hill was observed. The elderly, but dwarf specimens of Hawthorn, Buckthorn and Dogwood were still in rude health and seemed no bigger than on our previous visit, 5 years ago. After the steep descent, there was an even steeper rise up the escarpment through an attractive wild flower meadow with Common Spotted-orchids fading, but Pyramidal Orchids in full flower. It has been a very late season. The panoramic views were magnificent!
Report by Graham Saunders
Pictures by Ian Duddle
| Cottington’s Hill 13 July 2013 | |
| Grasses | |
| Anthoxanthum odoratum | Sweet Vernal-grass |
| Phleum bertolonii | Smaller Cat’s-tail |
| General | |
| Ajuga reptans | Bugle |
| Anagallis arvensis | Scarlet Pimpernel |
| Bryonia dioica | White Bryony |
| Campanula rotundifolia | Harebell |
| Carduus crispus | Welted Thistle |
| Carex flacca | Glaucous Sedge |
| Centaurea scabiosa | Greater Knapweed |
| Cirsium acaule | Dwarf Thistle |
| Cirsium arvense | Creeping Thistle |
| Cirsium palustre | Marsh Thistle |
| Cirsium vulgare | Spear Thistle |
| Clematis vitalba | Traveller’s-joy |
| Clinopodium vulgare | Wild Basil |
| Dactylorhiza fuchsii | Common Spotted-orchid |
| Daucus carota | Wild Carrot |
| Dryopteris filix-mas | Male-fern |
| Euphorbia exigua | Dwarf Spurge |
| Euphrasia nemorosa | Common Eyebright |
| Fumaria officinalis | Common Fumitory |
| Galium mollugo | Hedge-bedstraw |
| Galium verum | Lady’s Bedstraw |
| Geranium molle | Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill |
| Geranium pyrenaicum | Hedgerow Crane’s-bill |
| Geranium robertianum | Herb-Robert |
| Hypericum hirsutum | Hairy St John’s-wort |
| Hypericum perforatum | Perforate St John’s-wort |
| Hypochaeris radicata | Cat’s-ear |
| Knautia arvensis | Field Scabious |
| Lathyrus pratensis | Meadow Vetchling |
| Linum catharticum | Fairy Flax |
| Lotus corniculatus | Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil |
| Luzula campestris | Field Wood-rush |
| Matricaria discoidea | Pineappleweed |
| Mercurialis perennis | Dog’s Mercury |
| Odontites vernus | Red Bartsia |
| Orobanche elatior | Knapweed Broomrape |
| Papaver dubium | Long-headed Poppy |
| Papaver rhoeas | Common Poppy |
| Primula veris | Cowslip |
| Prunella vulgaris | Selfheal |
| Ranunculus acris | Meadow Buttercup |
| Ranunculus repens | Creeping Buttercup |
| Reseda lutea | Wild Mignonette |
| Rumex acetosa | Common Sorrel |
| Scrophularia nodosa | Common Figwort |
| Sherardia arvensisa | Field Madder |
| Silene dioica | Red Campion |
| Silene latifolia | White Campion |
| Silene x hampeana | Hybrid Campion |
| Sisymbrium officinale | Hedge Mustard |
| Tamus communis | Black Bryony |
| Thymus polytrichus | Wild Thyme |
| Tripleurospermum inodorum | Scentless Mayweed |
| Vicia cracca | Tufted Vetch |
| Viola arvensis | Field Pansy |
| Trees and shrubs | |
| Cornus sanguinea | Dogwood |
| Crataegus monogyna | Hawthorn |
| Ligustrum vulgare | Wild Privet |
| Prunus spinosa | Blackthorn |
| Rhamnus cathartica | Buckthorn |
| Rosa canina | Dog-rose |
| Rubus caesius | Dewberry |
| Rubus fruticosus | Bramble |
| Taxus baccata | Yew |
| Viburnum lantana | Wayfaring-tree |
Linnet
Skylark
Yellowhammer
Funnel spider
Marbled White
Meadow Brown
Ringlet
Skipper
Small Tortoiseshell
Cinnabar Moth
Badger sett
List by Jerry Welsh