Plenty of events coming up next week, for details please see the Events page on this website.

Tuesday 8 August:  Botanical Survey, St Leonard’s churchyard, Streatham, London Borough of Lambeth, 6 – c.7.15 pm.

Report: Although five people had booked, only one turned up at the churchyard, perhaps the others had been discouraged by the wet, grey and cold weather throughout the day.  However, we had a useful time recording plants on the site which members of the South London Botanical Institute have been monitoring since March 2008.  104  species were recorded, bringing the total number recorded from the site to 290.

Wednesday 9 August:  Tales of Flora: Folklore of Wild Plants, walk, Whitstable, Kent, 2.00- c.3.30 pm.

Report:  c. 15 people gathered in the picnic area near the entrance to the Castle to examine and discuss some of the ‘ordinary’ plants growing on an urban site which appeared to contain little of interest.  The leader stressed that people tended to utilise ordinary ‘everyday’ plants for medicine, foraged food, etc., rather than search for rarities.  Such plants included elder (Sambucus nigra) ivy (Hedera helix) and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica), all of which were greatly valued.

‘Very well received, as usual.’

Thursday 10 August:  Wild Flower Walk, Woodfield Pavilion, Tooting Common, London Borough of Lambeth, 11 a.m. and continuing for c. 75 minutes.

Report:  7 people enjoyed a stroll around Triangle Field, adjacent to the Pavilion, mainly examing the trees and shrubs which grow there.  A further walk, the seventh in the series, will be held on Thursday 21 September.

Thursday 10 August: Exploring local Flora, walk, Wimbledon Park, London Borough of Merton, 6.30 – c.7.15 p.m.

Report:  17 participants enjoyed 75 minutes discussing some of the plants found in one small corner of the Park.

Saturday 12 August:  Walk & Talk, Tooting Common, London Borough of Wandsworth, 10.30 – c.11.30 a.m.

Report:  c.17 people turned up to spend a happy hour wandering around part of the Common, including one  of the acid grassland areas which Enable, who manage the Common, are very keen on maintaining.  Plants discussed included yellow rattle (Rhinanthus major) and honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), the latter which is native to North America might be a survivor from 1893, when a wide variety, of not necessarily appropriate, trees were planted in the area

‘It was amazing to learn more about the plants on Tooting Common, and I would highly recommend joining one of Roy’s walks in the future if you can!’

Saturday 12 August:  Tree Walk with the Fungus Club, Balham and Tooting Common, London Borough of Wandsworth, 2 – c.3.30 p.m.

Report:  All of the 20 people who had booked turned up at Balham station and progressed to Tooting Common, examining some of the trees, notably manna ash (Fraxinus ornus) on the way.  A number of trees, including hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and several willows (Salix spp.), were discussed on the Common.  Inevitably given the group’s interests, fungi which had emerged as a result of the recent damp weather provided distraction.  Among the fungi seen were a bolete (Boletus sp.) and a brittlegill (Russula sp.) both associated with oak (Quercus robur), and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), on dead rown (Sorbus aucuparia).

‘Thanks for hosting such an excellent walk.’

Sunday 13 August:  The Lure and Lore of Wild Flowers,  Prestwood Nature Reserve, Buckinghamshire, two walks, one starting at 11.30 a.m. and the other at 2.30 p.m. and both continuing for c. 75 minutes.

Report:  In all 21 people turned up to explore this little-known, but flower-packed, Nature Reserve, where we discussed many of the plants, including wild carrot (Daucus carota) and both bryonies: black bryony (Tamus communis) and the unrelated white bryony (Bryonia dioica).  Despite both sessions overrunning people appeared to enjoy them, and several participants contributed useful memories.  Thanks to Marieke Bosman for her efficient organising of the event.

‘Many thanks for a very interesting and informative walk.’

‘We hope you will come again next year.’

Images:  upper, Wimbledon Park; lower, Prestwood Nature Reserve, @ Marieke Bosman; both August 2023.

Edited 15 January 2024.