This month the Kilmersdon Gardeners were inspired by Helena Crouch to take an interest in the plants found in the range of wild local habitats. Helena has a long involvement with the Cam Valley Wildlife Group leading Botany Walks in the summer between April and September.

The group has mapped the flora of the Cam and Wellow Valleys in kilometre squares. Unsurprisingly nettles are found in every square along with some other familiar species like hogweed, creeping buttercup, ground ivy, coltsfoot and ash trees. There are other plants like Bath Asparagus that are special to the area and have a more limited distribution.

The valleys have four areas of established woodland: Greyfield Wood, Chewton Wood, Cleves Wood and Ammerdown. These woods allow some access or have public footpaths from which bluebells can be enjoyed in the spring. 75% of all bluebells occur in Britain. The woodlands include indicators of ancient woodland like Solomon’s Seal and Herb Paris. There are also several species of orchids.

There is a range of grassland habitats with common species including Birds Foot Trefoil, Cowslips, Milkwort, many species of orchids and Yellow Rattle a parasitic plant that is beneficial to grassland. There are quite a number of post-industrial sites in the area. Plants like Blue Fleabane colonise disused railway tracks and spoil tips, such as New Rock Batch, have been colonised by the rare Bythian Vetch and a variety of ferns like Wall Rue, Maidenhair and Black Spleenwort. Arable farmland creates more open habitats that have displays of Poppies, Spurges and Chamomile. Seeds are cleaner today so there are fewer wild flowers or weeds in crops that in the past.

There are not many aquatic habitats in the area with steep sided stony stream beds, there are few ponds and waterways. Unfortunately, invasive species like New Zealand Pygmyweed can come in on new plants and choke ponds. Himalayan Balsam has spread widely through damp areas in the last twenty years. Buddleia Davidi, ‘the butterfly tree,’ is also an introduced species that has gone wild and is common in drier areas, something of a ‘Marmite’ species.

Wednesday, 9th February is the AGM with a Gardening Quiz at Kilmersdon Village Hall starting at 7 pm. Trisha Jordan