For 2024, I decided to continue "square bashing" - finding all the wild plant species I can in two "tetrads", which are 2km squares on the ordnance survey map. My squares are:
- TQ42V, which contains Framfield, Hempstead and part of the Manor Park Estate, Uckfield
- TQ52A, which contains Tickerage.
I did my surveys on 26 runs, covering 119 km (74 miles). It is a fun and fairly productive way of maintaining my fitness and exploring the lanes and footpaths running through villages, farmland and woodland.
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| 1st Jan - Wendy with Petasites fragrans (Winter Heliotrope) |
I compared the species I found to the BSBI lists for the tetrads so I could see if/when they had been recorded and verified previously. Below, I will mention some of those that were not listed and those that had an old listing (1966). I think this represents a range of recording from 1966 to 1999. Either way, it is at least a quarter of a century since the species has been recorded in the tetrad.
The Uck's floodplain and old horse rescue (TQ42V)
When I head out, I often take the Weald Way across the floodplain and the old horse rescue. As you might expect, the floodplain gave me plenty of moisture-loving species such including:
- Carex leporina (Oval Sedge) - not listed
- Juncus articulatus (Jointed Rush) - 1966 listing
- Gnaphalium uliginosum (Marsh cudweed) - not listed
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| 11 May - Barbarea vulgaris (Winter-cress) |
Moving from the floodplain through the upper fields I found:
- Barbarea vulgaris (Winter-cress) - 1966 listing
- Jacobaea erucifolium (Hoary Ragwort ) - 1966 listing
- Linaria vulgaris (Common Toadflax) - not listed
The Railway (TQ42V)
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| 22 June - Reseda luteola (Weld) |
An alternative route out takes me over the level crossing gives me unusual finds, perhaps due to the limestone trackbed. This year has been no exception, giving me:
- Reseda luteola (Weld) - 1966 listing
Hempsted Wood (TQ42V)
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| 21 July - Dryopteris affinis agg. (Scaly Male Fern) |
I can then run through a wonderful bluebell wood, where I spotted a Male fern that looked a bit "off". Closer inspection gave me:
- Dryopteris affinis agg. (Scaly Male Fern) - not listed
Hammonds Green (TQ42V)
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| 3 Feb - Asplenium adiantum-nigrum (Black Spleenwort) |
Veering South towards Framfield, takes me through a shady, sunken lane. Here I found various ferns including:
- Asplenium adiantum-nigrum (Black Spleenwort) - not listed
Framfield village (TQ42V)
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| 27 July Rorippa palustris (Marsh Yellow-cress) |
This is a pretty village, but I spurned the charms of the wisteria and hollyhock filled gardens in favour of the drain outside the pub, a path behind the houses and a traffic island, which gave me the following treasures:
- Rorippa palustris (Marsh Yellow-cress) - not listed
- Viola reichenbachiana (Early dog violet) - not listed
- Torilis nodosa (Knotted Hedge-Parsley) - not listed
Gatehouse Green Farm (TQ42V)
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| 29 June - Jacobaea aquatica (Marsh Ragwort) |
North of the village, we have Conybury Wood and Gatehouse Farm. Below the wood there is an area of marshy pasture. As I came out of the wood, I noticed a splash of yellow in an area of rushes. It looked brighter, less upright and "looser" than normal Ragwort. It was:
- Jacobaea aquatica (Marsh Ragwort) - not listed
Scantling Farm and surroundings (TQ52A)
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| 29 June - Lepidium coronopus (Swinecress) |
I remember Scantlings Farm for a buttercup field providing pasture for two lovely horses. In the lanes nearby there were many flowers and field entrances, particularly to one Potato field, were a happy hunting ground.
- Lolium multiflorum (Italian Rye Grass) - 1966 listing
- Arctium lappa (Greater Burdock) - not listed
- Lepidium coronopus (Swinecress) - 1966 listing
Tickerage and surroundings (TQ52A)
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| 22 June - Umbilicus rupestris (Navelwort) |
At the heart of this area is a bluebell wood, and Tickerage Mill where I chatted with a lovely lady about the film star who once lived there. In nearby lanes where I found:
- Umbilicus rupestris (Navelwort) - not listed
- Odontites vernus (Red Bartsia) - not listed
- Succisa pratensis (Devil's-bit scabious) - 1966 listing
Finally
For the two tetrads, I recorded:
- TQ42V, 248 species including 19 not previously listed and 7 with a 1966 listing
- TQ52A, 203 including 18 not previously listed and 7 with a 1966 listing.
I've found that botanising on the run is a great way of finding plants but the disadvantage is that I can't take my books with me. This means that I am relying more on photos and memorising key differences between similar plants. Lessons learnt for next year are:
- mostly, the species are inconspicuous or similar to a commoner species so I need to:
- look carefully
- pay close attention to familiar plants that look a bit "off"
- to double-check each entry prior to upload as sometimes my species selection has not been as intended. I do check them but changes don't always stick
- learn more about identification of:
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