Meetings Programme 2018

Meetings are from 11.00 a.m. to approximately 4.00 p.m., unless otherwise stated.  NON-MEMBERS WELCOME.  Bring packed lunch and appropriate footwear.  Please contact the leader if you wish to attend – meeting details can sometimes change at short notice and if the weather forecast looks poor the meeting may have to be cancelled.  You should also check with the leader if you wish to bring your dog.

Saturday 14^th April: Grenofen and Double Waters. A joint meeting with the Devon Bryophyte Group to look at mosses and liverworts. Meet at the Bedford Bridge car park (entrance at SX504702). The area has a lot of good records already, but there are always likely to be more! Apart from anything else, "square-bashers" can have fun as there are at least four tetrads involved, extending into three hectads! Good walking boots are recommended; Wellies shouldn't be needed unless you want to check out the aquatics. Contact Mark Pool (01803 316154, mark.pool@care4free.net) for further details.  

Saturday 26^th May: West Devon Commons. A meeting to look for Viola canina, V. lactea and perhaps Carex montana and Platanthera bifolia. Meet at the north end of Plaster Down, SX5146.7295. Leader: Roger Smith (01626 368577, r.smith192@btinternet.com).

Saturday 9^th June at 10am: "The Elephant's Graveyard", Axmouth-Lyme Regis Undercliffs NNR. NOTE EARLIER START TIME. With David Allen & Donald Campbell in search of Purple Gromwell (Lithospermum purpureocaeruleum) and a count of Nottingham Catchfly (Silene nutans) in this little explored part of the Reserve.  Meet at Stepps Lane (SY 266903) Axmouth at 10am. Boots essential; expect a tough expedition! For further information contact David (01404 861394; email leo@leoallen.plus.com)

Saturday 23^rd June: Shillingford Organics, The Barton, Shillingford Abbot, EX2 9QQ. Shillingford Organics is a 350 acre organic farm just outside Exeter.(SX9088)  It has been in organic production since 2002 growing fruit, veg and arable crops.  We have permission to take a walk over the farm which will be partly cultivated with various crops as well as grazed and set aside with green manures.  There is parking and facilities at the farm and a contribution of £3 is suggested for this.  It is also possible to park in Alphington (just before you go over the A30 Bridge) and then take a 20 minute walk along the road.  All very flexible -  there will be a short 10 minute chat from the owner and Sharon Bickley who has knowledge of the farm layout can direct to the accessible fields for perhaps some interesting arable weeds!  Leader: Sharon Bickley (sharonbickley@yahoo.co.uk)

Friday 29^th June – Sunday 1^st July: BSBI meeting at Hartland Peninsula. This is not formally one of our meetings, but many members will be interested in attending.  Further details will be on the BSBI website in due course.

Sunday 8^th July: A lovely site with a mosaic of culm, woodland & freshwater habitats near South Molton. Leader: Mary Breeds (mobile: 07835097780, landline: 01271 817349, mary_breeds@hotmail.com), who you can contact for further details.

Saturday 14^th July: County Gate, Exmoor. Meet at County Gate car park SS793486 to explore the area to the west. A joint meeting with Exmoor Natural History Society. Leader: Bob Hodgson (01392 491948, rhodgson@tinyworld.co.uk).

Sunday 15^th July: Quoditch. Note earlier meeting time. A chance to visit a private nature reserve, which has a good area of culm grassland and wet woodland. Meet at 10:45 at Halwill Junction by the shops (SX44399994) to arrange car sharing. There is car parking by the playing green at SX44449991 and behind the shops at SX44379997. The reserve is not huge so there may be time to look at Halwill Junction DWT reserve afterwards.  Leader: Bob Hodgson (01392 491948, rhodgson@tinyworld.co.uk).

Saturday 1^st to Monday 3^rd September: Wild flower Society AGM Weekend. Section members are invited to join the walks on Sunday and Monday and help show our local flora to the visiting botanists. Contact Section Secretary Tim Purches for further information (01752 795256, tim.purches@gmail.com)

Saturday 8^th September. Meet at 9.30 for 10am start. NOTE EARLIER START TIME. A whistle-stop tour of east Dartmoor looking for Lanceolate Spleenwort (Asplenium obovatum), Narrow Buckler Fern (Dryopteris carthusiana) and its hybrid D. x deweveri, Fir Clubmoss (Huperzia selago), Stag's-horn Clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum) and Beech Fern (Phegopteris connectilis), as well as other commoner ferns. A trip to see Parsley Fern (Cryptogramma crispa) at Whiteworks near Princetown is also planned. Meet in car park northwest of Halsanger Cross by cattle grid at SX7518.7327. The itinerary has to be flexible and may be limited by bad weather. Leaders Roger Smith (01626 368577, r.smith192@btinternet.com) and Ian Bennallick. A joint meeting with Botanical Cornwall and the British Pteridological Society.

Saturday 2^nd February 2019: Botany Section AGM. Halberton Village Hall, near Tiverton (ST007129). There is a car park behind the hall, and should that be full there is another car park just outside the village on the north side of the Grand Western Canal (ST008132), which is about five minutes’ walk away. 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.