Steyning

Field meeting reports

Meeting date: 12 July 2014

(Leader: Bob Platt)

Bob’s first problem was to get the party to the site. First there were the afficionados of aliens, like Mike, who came upon Oxalis dillenii (Sussex Yellow-sorrel) growing by the pavement with the two more usual members of the genus. And then there was Richard with his spectacular display of grapnelmanship which culminated in tossing both ends of the apparatus into a chalky pool with something like a look of triumph on his face.  But at length the nine-strong team were surveying the north bank of the WW1 rifle range, where grazing is gradually restoring fine turf with the consequent increase of species such as Asperula cynanchica (Squinancywort) and Scabiosa columbaria (Small Scabious).  After lunch Mike wandered off to look for the sizeable number of woodland species missing from the tetrad list while the rest worked on the south bank, recording slightly fewer species but again finding evidence that the grazing regime was winning.  And so on to a third area of the Steyning Downland Scheme – a steady climb on a hot day which required Bob’s powers of persuasion.  The Combe had grown up since the last SBRS survey five years ago and is being managed as a patchwork of scrub and open turf.  Progressing up the slope nearly 100 species were crossed off until, with a certain amount of relief, permission was given to sit and admire the view, as well as an extensive mat of Succisa pratensis (Devil’s-bit Scabious) and some Rumex acetosella (Sheep’s Sorrel) spotted by Helen.