Seven Sisters Country Park

Field meeting reports
Picture of Spergularia rubra (Sand Spurrey)
Spergularia rubra (Sand Spurrey). Photo: Brad Scott

Meeting date: 24 August 2016

(Leader: Helen Proctor)

The risk assessment for this meeting included the unusual instruction of the need for sun hats and sun cream. The meeting started with seven, increased later to eleven and later still to twelve members.  We stopped frequently to inspect the vast quantities of Ruppia. All of it proved to be R. cirrhosa (Spiral Tasselweed), although no spiral fruiting stems could be found. One plant of Rumex pulcher (Fiddle Dock), with very distinct, fiddle-shaped leaves was found.

Picture of Rumex pulcher (Fiddle Dock)
Rumex pulcher (Fiddle Dock). Photo: Brad Scott

There was so much of interest that the botanically low speed of 0.8 miles per hour was recorded. In the area behind the shingle bank Jacqueline refound Carex distans (Distant Sedge). Spergularia marina (Lesser Sea-spurrey) and S. media (Greater Sea-spurrey) conveniently grew side by side for ease of comparison. One plant of Spergularia rubra (Sand Spurrey) was another SPA refind. A reconnoitre on the previous day had established that Teucrium chamaedrys (Wall Germander) and Spiranthes spiralis (Autumn Lady’s Tresses) were not visible.  One member ventured as far as a pillbox to see Centaurea calcitrapa (Red Star-thistle). Six SPA species were refound and four further records were added from three tetrads.