Ragged Robin (Silene flos-cuculi) along Gatwick Stream
(Photo by Brian Pitkin)
This was no turf war (see what I did there?), but instead a meeting of two friendly botanical recording societies - Surrey and Sussex. Gatwick falls slap-bang in the no-man's-land of two differnet types of county border; modern county Sussex, vice-county Surrey (VC17). More details on county boundaries and biological recording can be found here: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/vicecounties.php
The Gatwick Stream flood attenuation (adjacent to Thames Water Sewage Treatment Works) is a section of re-aligned river and excavated flood plain, created for the retention of huge amounts of water (around 186,000 m3 apparently) in major flood events. The site was artificially seeded 3 years ago and is being managed as an area for wildflowers and wetland plants.
Gatwick Airport's biodiversity sites
Watch out you Sussex lot, Arthur has a stick and knows how to use it
The re-aligned section of the Gatwick Stream, June 2015
Having so many eagle-eyed botanists on site meant the gang was able to pick out even the tiniest specimens, resulting in a brilliantly comprehensive species list to add to our growing database at Gatwick!
Last year's ecology placement student Elliott rejoined us for the day; always rewarding to see the return of a familiar face! Today he was learning about using a loupe hand lens, what features should be examined more closely between similar species... and, bless him, HYBRIDS!
A sudden scramble over the fence by Caroline and her crew; they must have spotted something pretty interesting here...
Finally, a few non-plants from the day:
Riparian vegetation grows well on the silt bars. Linda photographs in-channel vegetation
Pond Water-crowfoot (Ranunculus peltatus)
An important thing to note is that this area was artificially seeded and planted; many of these species might not have been found here naturally, and several sub-species from the continent have been accidentally introduced into the mix. While continuing to settle, it is still a very interesting site with winter waters eroding banks edges and rich silt deposits allowing new life to colonise.
The following are a selection of excellent photographs taken on the day by Jon Wilson and Linda Pitkin...
Narrow-fruited Watercress (Nasturtium microphyllum) (stamens dehiscing outwardly)
Photo by Jon Wilson
Grass Vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia)
Photo by Jon Wilson
Smooth Tare (Vicia tetrasperma)
Photo by Jon Wilson
Ragged Robin (Silene flos-cuculi)
Photo by Linda Pitkin
Fodder Burnet (Sanguisorba minor ssp. balearicum)
Photo by Jon Wilson
Fodder Vetch (Vicia villosa?)
Photo by Linda Pitkin
Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga)
Photo by Jon Wilson
Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium dubium)
Photo by Jon Wilson
...Docks can do what?!
Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis).
A relatively rare find and useful indicator of ancient hedgerows
Finally, a few non-plants from the day:
Small Heath butterfly (Coenonympha pamphilus)
Striped Oak Bug (Rhabdomiris striatellus)
Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius) cuckoo-spit on Fodder Burnet
Furrow Orb-weaver (Larinioides cornutus) - a common spider usually found near water
Thank you to all of you who attended, it was a real privilege to spend the day with such a collective of knowledgeable folk. We hope to see you again sometime!
Final species list:
Agrostis stolonifera
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Creeping Bent
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Ajuga reptans
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Bugle
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Alnus glutinosa
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Alder
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Alopecurus geniculatus
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Marsh Foxtail
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Anthoxanthum odoratum
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Sweet Vernal-grass
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Anthriscus sylvestris
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Cow Parsley
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Arctium minus
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Lesser Burdock
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Bellis perennis
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Daisy
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Bromus hordeaceus
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Soft-brome
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Callitriche stagnalis
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Common Water-starwort
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Carex flacca
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Glaucous Sedge
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Centaurea nigra
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Common Knapweed
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Cerastium fontanum
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Common Mouse-ear
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Cerastium glomeratum
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Sticky Mouse-ear
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Cirsium arvense
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Creeping Thistle
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Cirsium vulgare
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Spear Thistle
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Crataegus monogyna
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Hawthorn
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Cynosurus cristatus
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Crested Dog's-tail
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Dactylis glomerata
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Cock's-foot
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Digitalis purpurea
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Foxglove
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Digitalis purpurea
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Foxglove
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Epilobium parviflorum
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Hoary Willowherb
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Epilobium tetragonum
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Square-stalked Willowherb
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Festuca rubra
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Red Fescue
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Galium aparine
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Cleavers
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Geranium dissectum
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Cut-leaved Crane's-bill
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Glechoma hederacea
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Ground-ivy
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Glyceria declinata
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Small Sweet-grass
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Glyceria fluitans
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Floating Sweet-grass
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Heracleum sphondylium
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Hogweed
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Holcus lanatus
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Yorkshire-fog
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Hyacinthoides non-scripta
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Bluebell
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Juncus bufonius
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Toad Rush
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Juncus conglomeratus
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Compact Rush
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Juncus effusus
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Soft-rush
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Juncus inflexus
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Hard Rush
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Lathyrus nissolia
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Grass Vetchling
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Lathyrus pratensis
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Meadow Vetchling
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Leucanthemum vulgare
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Oxeye Daisy
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Lolium multiflorum
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Italian Rye-grass
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Lotus corniculatus
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Common Bird's-foot-trefoil
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Medicago arabica
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Spotted Medick
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Moehringia trinervia
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Three-nerved Sandwort
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Myosotis arvensis
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Field Forget-me-not
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Odontites vernus
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Red Bartsia
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Plantago lanceolata
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Ribwort Plantain
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Plantago major
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Greater Plantain
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Poa annua
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Annual Meadow-grass
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Poa trivialis
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Rough Meadow-grass
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Polygonum aviculare agg.
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Knotgrass
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Populus tremula
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Aspen
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Prunella vulgaris
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Selfheal
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Prunus spinosa
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Blackthorn
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Pteridium aquilinum
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Bracken
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Quercus robur
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Pedunculate Oak
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Ranunculus acris
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Meadow Buttercup
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Ranunculus repens
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Creeping Buttercup
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Rhododendron ponticum
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Rhododendron
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Rorippa palustris
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Marsh Yellow-cress
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Rubus fruticosus agg.
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Bramble
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Rumex acetosa
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Common Sorrel
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Rumex conglomeratus
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Clustered Dock
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Rumex crispus
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Curled Dock
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Rumex obtusifolius
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Broad-leaved Dock
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Rumex sanguineus
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Wood Dock
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Rumex x pratensis
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R. crispus x obtusifolius
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Sagina procumbens
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Procumbent Pearlwort
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Schedonorus arundinaceus
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Tall Fescue
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Scrophularia nodosa
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Common Figwort
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Senecio jacobaea
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Common Ragwort
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Silene dioica
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Red Campion
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Solanum dulcamara
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Bittersweet
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Sonchus asper
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Prickly Sow-thistle
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Sorbus torminalis
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Wild Service-tree
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Stellaria graminea
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Lesser Stitchwort
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Stellaria holostea
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Greater Stitchwort
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Tamus communis
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Black Bryony
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Trifolium dubium
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Lesser Trefoil
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Trifolium pratense
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Red Clover
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Trifolium repens
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White Clover
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Typha latifolia
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Bulrush
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Veronica chamaedrys
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Germander Speedwell
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Veronica serpyllifolia
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Thyme-leaved Speedwell
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Vicia hirsuta
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Hairy Tare
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Vicia sativa subsp. nigra
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Narrow-leaved Vetch
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Vicia sativa subsp. sativa
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Common Vetch
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Vicia tetrasperma
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Smooth Tare
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Vicia villosa
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Fodder Vetch
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