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Farley Hill – 20th October 2010

Searching for Blue Fleabane at Bramshill
Searching for Blue Fleabane at Bramshill

Nine members met at what had been the Coach and Horses pub on a brilliantly sunny morning after the first serious frost of the autumn.  The route followed an apparently little-used path through The Leas, down to the Old Mill, over the Blackwater, then meandered in Bramshill Plantation, emerged at Well House Farm and returned to Farley Hill via Jouldings Farm.

Over 30 species of plants were found in bloom and a very wide variety of fungi.  Spectacular shows of holly, guelder rose and spindle fruit indicated the advance of autumn.  Few birds were seen, prominently buzzards at the start of the walk.  Recently disturbed land in Bramshill Plantation provided a good display of Blue Fleabane and there were good specimens of an unidentified Hawkweed beside the path approaching Well House Farm.  Nourishment was provided by blackberries, not yet claimed by the devil, and sloes, sweetness taking over from tartness as the season progresses.

Serious nourishment was obtained, in very pleasant surroundings in the Magpie and Parrot at Shinfield.

Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd’s Purse
Centaurea nigra Lesser Knapweed
Centaurium erythraea Centaury
Daucus carota Will Carrot
Erigeron acer Blue Fleabane
Impatiens glandulifera Himalayan Balsam
Lamium album White Deadnettle
Lamium amplexicaule Henbit Deadnettle
Leontodon autumnalis Autumn Hawkbit
Leontodon hispidus Rough Hawkbit
Persicaria Persicaria
Ranunculus flammula Lesser Spearwort
Ranunculus repens Buttercup
Tragopogon Goatsbeard
Trifolium pratense Red Clover
Trifolium repens White Clover
Tripleurospermum inodorum Mayweed
Armillaria sp.
Clitocybe hydrogramma
Clitopilus prunulus The Miller
Collybia dryophila
Coprinus comatus Shaggy Inkcap
Coprinus micaceus
Fistulina hepatica Beefsteak Fungus
Hypholoma fasciculare
Lepiota mastoidea Parasol
Lycoperdon perlatum
Mycaena inclinata
Nycaeba risea
Russula sp.
Tricholoma fulvium
Tubaria furacia
Wasps on Ivy
Buzzards
Blue Fleabane
Blue Fleabane
Autumn Hawkbit
Autumn Hawkbit

Text by Chris Bucke; Photos by Ricki Bull