We walked along the High Bank path, observing the different grasses and flowers.
Near the gate we looked at the beautiful creamy spires of Weld,
a plant which few had seen before.
We remarked on the enormous changes which have happened in the past month. With all the trees in full leaf, the woodland section is now quite dark and due to the lack of light, very little is flowering.
There was some discussion of Rosaceae. We had a good look not only at the flower of the Dogrose (Rosa canina) but also of the Bramble, comparing their shape, colours and stamens.
The first Common Spotted Orchids were blooming and the Common Twayblade was well advanced. Some of the young people took the magnifying glass to examine them closely and see the intricacies of their patterns.
We were able to fill in new sightings in our treespotting guide. The Guelder Rose was in flower.
Date: 10 June 2017 Time: 12-1
Attendance: 12 (including 2 children)
What we observed and talked about —
Bee: Bombus lucorum
Birds: Willow Warbler
Butterflies: Speckled Wood, Wood White
Dragonflies: Common Blue Damselfly
Flowers: Black Medick, Bramble, Broad-leaved Dock, Bush Vetch, Common Bird's-foot -trefoil, Common Knapweed, Common Milkwort, Common Spotted Orchid, Common Twayblade, Creeping Buttercup, Dog-rose, Gorse, Germander Speedwell, Lady's Smock,Meadowsweet, Oxeye Daisy, Perforate Saint John's Wort, Red Clover, Silverweed, Tormentil, Tutsan, Weld, White Clover, Wild Strawberry
Grasses: Cock's Foot, Quaking Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass,Yorkshire Fog
Insects: Treehopper (cuckoo spit)
Moths: Brimstone Moth, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Clouded Silver, Herb-robert, Lunar Thorn, Peppered Moth, Yellow-barred Brindle
Trees: Alder, Beech, Blackthorn, Guelder Rose, Holly, Willow
Other plants: Black Sedge, Hart's-tongue Fern, Horsetail
