Hurston Warren

Field meeting reports

Meeting date: 18 August 2002

(Leader: Bruce Middleton)

The botanical exuberance of the 12 members was necessarily contained by the courtesy due to golfers but we were soon safely embedded in the bog at Hurston Warren, free to enjoy the extensive colony of Vaccinium oxyccos (Cranberry) and bootfuls of foetid water. In the forefront of all this was Frances, venturing where even Alan feared to tread, in search of Eriophorum vaginatum (Hare’s-tail Cottongrass) among the plentiful E. latifolia; we did eventually find this scarce Sussex plant in one small stand, past its best but with tattered woolly heads proudly erect.

We were accompanied by John and Kate Glazier who live on the golf course. They invited us to picnic in their idyllic garden and plied us generously with home-made elderflower cordial and beer. Rod gave a masterclass on the Sphagnum species which he had collected during the morning, after which we headed for the Glazier’s bog, but were detained by their sandy field where we discovered quantities of Potentilla argentea (Hoary Cinquefoil) and Trifolium arvense (Hare’s-foot Clover). The bog itself was also interesting (notably Carex paniculata  and C curta)…. and splendidly moist!

The rest of the afternoon was spent in Monkmead Woods. Here Bruce showed us Viola palustris (Marsh Violet), a large amount of Scirpus sylvaticus (Wood Clubrush) and a bog rather different from the previous two and notable for Potamogeton polygonifolius (Bog Pondweed) and Eleocharis multicaulis (Many-stalked Spike-rush).

This account is an inadequate summary of a very rich day in the field: once again members were indebted to Bruce for his organisation and leadership.