Peter Hilton 20112
Welcome to Bristol Botany supplementary to the website of the Bristol Naturalists Society www.bristolnats.org.uk where full details about membership, contacts, general meetings, and meetings of others sections: Ornithology, Geology, Invertebrates and Mammals can be found
Officers of the botanical section:
Nick Hudson(President) e-mail
Peter Hilton (Secretary) e-mail
JUNE
DUNDRY HILL Thursday 14th June
6.00pm
Leaders Margaret Webster and Helena Crouch
Park beside Dundry Down; grid ref : ST556636. The walk will begin by following the path over Dundry Down from where there are spectacular views over Bristol and beyond. Here we should see Crosswort (Cruciata laevipes) and perhaps Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia). We will pass through species-rich calcareous grassland, with Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria) and Thyme (Thymus polytrichus). Lanes and old walls add further interest to what should be a delightful evening’s walk. Stout shoes or boots would be sensible but the terrain is not difficult.
Meeting time: 6 pm
WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES OF THE DOWNS Sunday 24th June
Leader: Tony Smith
Come and explore this predominantly limestone grassland for flowering plants and grasses. Beginners will be welcome and help given for grass identification by use of models. A hand lens would be useful. Finish time: 4.30 pm approx
Meet by the water tower on the Downs(Grid Ref: ST571750) at 2 pm.
This will be a walk with frequent stops when interesting flowering plants are seen.
WAVERING DOWN Saturday 30th June
Leader: David Hill
This site is a delightful area with the most wonderful views and very interesting flora and general ecology. The south facing slopes of the Mendip carboniferous limestone are of great conservation value and importance but, because the area is enjoyed by people with quite different interests, management needs careful handling. We should see many calcareous grass land plants in flower with Honewort, Somerset Hairgrass, White Horehound and interesting butterflies. When we've seen what we can find, let's volunteer ideas and pool our knowledge of the sites history, its ecology and what we can offer for its management into the future.
Meet just off A38 in a car park at ST422560 at 10.30 am. This is at the top of the
hill before the A38 goes down to the Levels
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL BOTANIC GARDEN
LOCAL RARE PLANT EVENT 2 – 5 JUNE 2012
The University of Bristol Botanic Garden will be holding a special event about Local Rare Plants throughout the public holiday weekend from Saturday 2 to Tuesday 5 June 2012.
This event will feature the first public exhibition of a collection of original paintings and drawings by six local botanic artists commissioned to record the rare and endangered plants of the Avon Gorge and south west England.
There will also be special guided tours each day of the plant conservation area within the Botanic Garden to help visitors identify the rare plants and the different habitats where they grow.
The artists will also give short talks on techniques used in the accurate depiction of different aspects of the rare plants.
During each afternoon a different expert guest speaker will illustrate some aspects of the evolution of some of the rare plants or the action being taken to conserve and display them at the Botanic Garden. The artists will also give short talks on techniques used in the accurate depiction of different aspects of the rare plants.
The event coincides with and celebrates the 150th anniversary of the formation of the Bristol Naturalists and with the City Council’s proposed ‘Jubilee Downs Day’ event at Sea Walls.
The Botanic Garden will be open each day from 10 am to 5 pm. Light refreshment will be available and there will be some rare native plants for sale. This is a public event open to everyone and no advance booking is necessary for talks or tours. All talks and tours are free but there is a small charge for the very informative 60 page full colour catalogue about the pictures and plants featured in the exhibition."
Would BNS members please park on Saville Road and walk down Hollybush Lane to the Botanic Garden rear entrance, as there will be no parking available near the main entrance at Churchill Hall or little on Stoke Park Road.
There are special guided tours at 11 am and 2 pm each day. The artists will give short talks at 12 noon and 4pm each day on techniques used. During each afternoon at 3 pm there are talks by different experts Download the Programme
Within Bristol Botany are subsections : Lichens, Bryophytes(Liverworts and Mosses), Fungi and Trees
BOTANICAL RECORDING
Members are asked to send records annually to Pam Millman. Records are required not only for scarce and rare plants but also for common plants.
Recording is based on kilometre squares identified by a four figure grid reference for example ST5072. These are easily picked out on any Ordinance Survey map. Later these records can be entered onto the national BSBI data base using the programme called Mapmate. This means that not only do you contribute your records for the BNS but also add to those input by people all over the country.
When we systematically survey one of these kilometre squares we usually fill in a record card printed with all wild plants expected in the region. This just involves marking with a line the names of everything you see. This may seem too much for some and as an alternative we have a simple sheet on which you can note your species seen.
As members of the BNS we have a responsibility to maintain a record of the wildlife of the region and we should like to ask you to consider working on a selected Kilometre square. The amount of time you are prepared to give is entirely up to you; even compiling a short list when you are out walking would be useful. You just need to know in which Km square you are in! We will certainly offer help over any plants you cannot identify.
Download your recording form here
Records could be e-mailed to pammillman2@yahoo.co.ukuk
