Tom the Botanist

Upright Hedge-parsley above the Severn – Common Valerian – Bristle club-rush, creaky knees – Silver-washed Fritillary – Common Fleabane – Saw-wort, Wyre – Round-leaved Fluellen, Kemerton – Happy Sammy – Tall Melilot ID – Purple loosestrife – Blue Fleabane – Clustered Bellflower – Square-stalked St. John’s-wort – Bell Heather & Bracken

North Worcestershire is a tinderbox.

That’s a bit dramatic, but living on the sandlands, it has become incredibly xeric over the past couple of hot, dry weeks (c. 27-32 degrees Celcius, with no rain). Flowers are still to be found, but they take a little more seeking out than they would otherwise.

The cooler climes of the oak-bracken-bramble woods in north-west Worcestershire (Ribbesford, Wyre Forest) still have a reasonable amount of interest along the damper rides, such as Common Valerian Valeriana officinalis, Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica, Hemp Agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum and Saw-wort Serratula tinctoria. Even Bristle Club-rush Isolepis setacea can be seen in damp pockets, visible only to those who crouch down low enough.

On Saturday the 18th, we headed south with the Worcestershire Flora Group to Kemerton Lake Nature Reserve, where we were pleasantly surprised by how many plants were still in flower. I was especially pleased to see Clustered Bellflower Campanula glomerata, a first for me.

Week 28 – 6th – 12th July

Week 29 – 13th – 19th July