Two events coming up:

Wednesday 9 July:  Home to Many, wild flowers in Battersea Rise Cemetery, London Borough of Wandsworth, starting at 11 a.m. and continuing for c.75 minutes.

Report: 12 people turned up on a sultry morning for this challenging event.  Not only had the weather been dry, but most of the Cemetery had been recently mown, consequently wild flowers were sparse, and some of the species which we usually enjoy – such as grass vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia) and star of Persia (Allium cristophii) – could not be found.  None the less we were able to discuss a number of wild flowers, including  bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris radicata) and trees, including tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima).

‘Thank you, that was fascinating.’

Saturday 13 July:  Ecology Walk, Lloyd Park, Croydon, jointly led with Jane McLauchlin, starting at 2 p.m., and continuing for c. 2 hours.

Report:  Nine people joined the leaders for a gentle stroll two-and-a-half hour stroll around the Park, enjoying some of the plants (and other organisms) found there.  We discussed various galls on oak (Quercus robur), examined a variety of grasses, found pyramidal orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis) and fruiting grass vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia), and sampled cherry plums (Prunus cerasifera).  Once again we are greatly indebted to Jane for sharing her extraordinary knowledge of Croydon and its flora and fauna.  Thank you!

Images:  upper, Druce’s crane’s-bill (Geranium x oxonianum), naturalised in an unmown area in Battersea Rise Cemetery; lower, examining trees in Lloyd Park, July 2025.