Wild Flowers and Grasses Walk 2018 - Friends of Bourne Woods

Around 20 people joined Dr Richard Jefferson for the wild flower and grasses walk he led for the Friends of Bourne Wood. It was a lovely sunny evening, and we had a gentle stroll looking at least 40 species of plant, grass, shrub and tree.

group looking at grasses in bourne wood — Around 20 people joined Dr Richard Jefferson for the wild flower and grasses walk he led for the Friends of Bourne Wood.

We started with some common shrubs such as Elder and Hazel, and then discussed Herb Robert and the origination of its common name (from an Abbot!). Richard described the difference between a Dog Rose and a Field Rose, and we looked at white clover and its cousin, red clover which is preferred by bees.

wild grasses — The long, dense flower spikes of Timothy grass are cylindrical in shape and sit atop a tall, slender stem. Its leaves are grey-green and flat.

Looking at grasses we saw the perennial rye-grass which is used commonly in agricultural grasslands and sports fields, false oat grass, and tufted hair grass along with Yorkshire Fog. We then looked at the Wild Service tree (the symbol of the Friends of Bourne Wood), which is normally found on woodland edges, and the Wych Elm which is more resistant to Dutch Elm Disease.

wild flowers — Meadow Vetchling is a scrambling plant with long stems that end with a group of yellow, pea-like flowers. The flowers are followed by shiny, black seed pods that look like peapods. Its leaves comprise a single pair of leaflets that have tendrils.

We admired the beauty of the sprawling Wood Vetch, and the common spotted orchid, and looked at the unusual sight in the wood of Vipers Bugloss (not a woodland plant). We found corn mint which is now a rare plant (although it seems common in the wood), and marsh bedstraw.

Thanks go to Richard for an enjoyable and informative walk.

Photographs Steve Goddard

Helping to promote and look after Bourne Woods