{"id":1401,"date":"2011-06-30T13:23:16","date_gmt":"2011-06-30T18:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rdnhs.org.uk\/blog\/?p=1401"},"modified":"2011-06-30T13:27:09","modified_gmt":"2011-06-30T18:27:09","slug":"winterbourne-21-june-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rdnhs.org.uk\/blog\/winterbourne-21-june-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"Winterbourne – 21 June 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eleven members and friends met at Snelsmore Common with the intention of walking to an area of land between Winterbourne and Bussock Mayne that had appeared to be a promising site for wildlife when visited in the winter.\u00a0 The walk, led by Chris Bucke, took in varied terrain, first the acid heathland typical of the common, where Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix) <\/em>was reaching its best and precocious specimens of Bell Heather (Erica cinerea) <\/em>and heather (Calluna vulgaris)<\/em> were showing colour.\u00a0 A boletus species was noted, encouraged into growth by the recent moist weather.\u00a0 By the roadside approaching Winterbourne Holt a large colony of Leopard\u2019s Bane (Doronicum pardalianches)<\/em> was at the end of its flowering season. Nearby were the handsome seed heads of another garden escape, Honeybells (Nectaroscordium siculum)<\/em> and many plants of Stinking Gladdon (Iris foetidissima) <\/em>in full bloom.\u00a0 The track leading to Pebble Lane was bordered by a spectacular display of Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)<\/em> and beside Pebble Lane the unusual combination of Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) <\/em>and Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum) <\/em>grew intertwined.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From Pebble Lane the route took us through a hayfield with many species of grass in full bloom, then over a style into the target area, a very wide headland above a field of barley.\u00a0 In a small distance there was an area of the acid heathland, then a layer of sticky yellow clay and below this gravelly, probably alkaline, soil.\u00a0 Ox-eye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) <\/em>made a splendid show, interspersed with a yellow trefoil (Trifolium dubium<\/em> probably), Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) <\/em>all of which had ray florets, a few specimens of Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), <\/em>a large Bird\u2019s Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus, <\/em>probably the introduced var. sativus<\/em>) and much more.\u00a0 A few specimens of Broomrape (Orobanche minor) <\/em>were noted and the likelihood that the lower levels of our area were alkaline was supported by the appearance of a single specimen of Ploughman\u2019s Spikenard (Inula conyzae).<\/em><\/p>\n

Conditions were not ideal for recording insects but Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites were seen and a Yellow Shell moth.\u00a0 One member anticipated finding Purple Emperors on the walk but he was disappointed, sadly.<\/p>\n

The yard of the apparently derelict Winterbourne Farm provided interest, a large heap of soil having many specimens of Bugloss (Anchusa arvensis) <\/em>and a spectacular <\/em>double-flowered Papaver somniferum.\u00a0 <\/em>Some Mulleins (Verbascum thapsus)<\/em> were infested with caterpillars of the Mullein moth. The stream beside the road through the village of Winterbourne had both Water-cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum)<\/em>\u00a0and Fool’s-water-cress (Apium nodiflorum)<\/em>\u00a0in flower.<\/p>\n

The walk back was enlivened by some dexter cattle, including a charming very young calf.\u00a0 As we neared the car park in the dusk a Woodcock flew overhead. The conclusion of the expedition was that the grassland area was interesting and worthy of more attention but not very <\/span>interesting.<\/p>\n

Report by Chris Bucke<\/em><\/p>\n