Wilmington

Field meeting reports

Meeting date: 17 June 2000

(Leader: Paul Harmes)

The weather on June 17th could not have been more perfect for a walk on the Downs: a cloudless sky, little wind, and good visibility in all directions. First stop on the narrow path to the top was at an ash tree where Rod Stern pointed out the only site in Britain for the rare moss Rhyncostegium rotundifolium. Up on the north slopes there were the familiar downland flowers, with several orchids – including Common Spotted, Fragrant, Pyramidal and a few Bee, but no Frog. After lunch and with permission of the owners we explored part of Wootton Manor Estate. The soil was very thin here, but after much searching Tony Spiers found a patch of countless minute seedlings of Gentianella campestris (Field Gentian).