Saturday 23 April: 'Woodland Flora in Spring'. An introduction to woodland flora for beginners, at the RSPB’s Chapel Wood reserve. Contact the leader for further details. Leader: Mary Breeds (mobile: 07835097780, landline: 01271 817349, mary_breeds@hotmail.com).
Saturday 30 April: Halsdon Devon Wildlife Trust reserve. A joint meeting with the Devon Bryophyte Group. Meet at the Ash Well car park (SS 55471307). N. B.: although there may be enough parking space at Ash Well (the reserve warden says that it can cope with the cars of the 10-15 people who normally attend work parties), it is not a large car park and the second one (in an old quarry at SS 55951170, at the southern end of the reserve) is smaller, and is also a respectable walk from Ash Well. This being so, it is strongly recommended that participants share cars if at all possible; in addition, for those who don't mind a thirty-minute walk at each end of the day it could be a good idea to park in Dolton and walk to Ash Well from there (Dolton is not greatly endowed with car parks, but it should be possible to fit a few cars into odd spaces). Yet another option might be for two or more car loads to meet up at the Meeth Quarry reserve car park (SS 53990848) and car share from there. Leader: Mark Pool (01803 316154, mark.pool@care4free.net).
Sunday 22 May: Start Point. Meet at the car park above the lighthouse, SX820375 (TQ7 2ET). The walk will take us towards the lighthouse, then southwest to the coast near Ravens Cove and on to Great Mattiscombe Sands before returning up the valley to the car park. Plants we may encounter include Asplenium obovatum, Moenchia erecta, Lotus angustissimus and Vicia lutea. There is a charge for parking. Leader: Roger Smith (01626 368577, r.smith192@btinternet.com).
Saturday 4 June: Watersmeet and the East Lyn Valley (SS740477, postcode EX35 6LE for satnav). Because of car parking costs, meet at Combe Park, Hillsford Bridge, just off the A39 south of Watersmeet. The National Trust car parking there is by donation (Watersmeet car park charges are high). This wooded river complex has river walks and some easily accessible rock outcrops and tremendous views. Flowering plants: Alchemilla, the Stone Bramble Rubus saxatilis, endemic Sorbus, Melittis melissophyllum, Euphorbia hyberna, Ulmus, Meconopsis cambrica and Melampyrum pratense subsp. pratense var. hians, the golden yellow form of Cow-wheat. There are also many ferns, lichens and mosses. Leader: David Cann (07583 078880, canndavid@hotmail.com).
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June (note the start and end times): Braunton Burrows. A joint meeting with the BSBI. Braunton Burrows is an International Biosphere Reserve, designated for its rich diversity and abundance of its rare flora. It is one of the largest and most impressive sand dune eco systems in the UK. There are several significant species that haven’t been seen for many years such as the fen orchid (Liparis loeselli), Chaffweed (Centunculus minima) and Shore Dock (Rumex rupestris) and there are also new species still being discovered as the dynamics of the habitats are constantly changing. Therefore the aims of this field meeting will be to search the various dune habitats for long lost species (a list will be provided) and also to perhaps record previously unknown species. There will also be opportunity to see some of the notable species of the site such as sea stock (Matthiola sinuata), Round-headed Club-rush (Scirpoides holoschoenus) and Sand Toadflax (Linaria arenaria). We will explore a different area of the Burrows each day. The meeting starts at 10.00 am each day and will finish by 17.30. The weekend will include a talk and get together at Braunton Countryside Centre on the Saturday evening. Leader: Mary Breeds (mobile: 07835097780, landline: 01271 817349, mary_breeds@hotmail.com).
Sunday 26 June: Slapton Ley. Meet at 11.00a.m. at the Field Centre - Slapton, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 2QP, SX823449, and walk from there to return by 4.00p.m. Participants should a packed lunch as per usual. Leader: Jeremy Ison (landline: 01392 272600, mobile: 07970 309205, jeremy_ison@blueyonder.co.uk)
Sunday 10 July: Badgworthy Water valley and Brendon Common. These are both typical Exmoor habitats. Meet at Malmsmead car park (SS791478). Leaders: Mary Breeds (mobile: 07835097780, landline: 01271 817349, mary_breeds@hotmail.com) and Bob Hodgson (01392 491948, rhodgson@tinyworld.co.uk).
Saturday 16 July: Langaford Farm. Langaford Farm, near Moretonhamstead, is run by a charitable trust that aims to preserve the wildlife found on the farm. Contact the leader for further details. Leader: Alison Watt (01822 612304, am.watt@btinternet.com)
Saturday 30 July: Bovey Valley Woodlands: Meet at the car park at the east end of Trendlebere Down (SX784793). A circular walk through mixed woodland and moor edge where we should see the less common of our two Lady's-mantle species, Alchemilla xanthochlora, Mycelis muralis , and Acaena novae-zelandiae which has now spread well beyond its original site on Old Manaton Road. Leader: Roger Smith (01626 368577, r.smith192@btinternet.com).
Saturday 13 August: Prewley Moor. Examining wet flushes and upland grassland on the dolerite, which is more base rich than most of Dartmoor. Meet at SX548910 at top of road to Prewley waterworks. Leader: Bob Hodgson (01392 491948, rhodgson@tinyworld.co.uk).
Sunday 28 August: Axmouth-Lyme Regis Undercliffs. A fungal foray in this NNR and a joint meeting with the Devon Fungus Group. Meet at Whitlands (SY306912). Leader: David Allen (01404 861394)
Saturday 10 September: Haytor to Brimley. An event in cooperation with the ‘Moor than meets the eye’ Landscape Partnership and Natural England. The main aim of this event is to introduce the general public to the flora of various habitats on Dartmoor. Section members are very welcome to attend and their help showing plants to non-botanists will be greatly appreciated. Parking in car park on Haytor Down SX770 776 - please share transport. Leader: Albert Knott (Natural England) 07704704065. Contact: Tim Purches (01752 795256, tim.purches@gmail.com) for further information.
Saturday 24 September: Ringmore and the coast. Meet at the car park on the edge of Ringmore (SX650456). A walk from Ringmore to the coast to explore the coves to the west. Polygonum oxyspermum, Euphorbia paralias, Salsola kali and other sandy coast drift-line species are possible. Leader: Roger Smith (01626 368577, r.smith192@btinternet.com).
Saturday 1 October: Tavy Cleave. A joint meeting with the British Pteridological Society to serach for Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis) and other pteridophytes. Meet at car park at Lane End (SX537823). Leader: Ian Bennallick (01726 890384 or 07714 738189, ianbennallick@btinternet.com).
Saturday 4 February 2017: Botany Section AGM - Newton St Cyres Village Hall (SX879979). Newton St Cyres is on the A377, about half way between Exeter and Crediton. There is a small car park outside the village hall. (Addition space to park can be found on the lane outside or on side roads in the village). The hall will be open from 10:30 a.m. The AGM will be followed by an informal walk to look at lichens and bryophytes in the vicinity, and a short slide-show. (Contact Secretary Tim Purches - 01752 795256, tim.purches@gmail.com - for further information.)
