Species found during season 2001, in book order (click margin button to go to plant page) :

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Common name Scientific name Location Notes Reference






Ash Fraxinus excelsior Common, especially in far meadow Leaves divided into separate leaflets p.36/4
Bartsia, Red Odontites verna Occasional in meadows Found in autumn in near meadow p.212/6
Beech Fagus sylvatica Woodland Tree with smooth grey bark p.32/3
Birch, Siver Betula pendula Waste ground and scrub Familiar tree, with white bark p.30/6
Bittercress, Hairy Cardamine hirsuta 'Weed' on hard ground Rosette of leaves, pods pointing upwards p.94/1
Bittersweet Solanum dulcamara One cluster, far end of playground DANGER! Berries very poisonous! p.206/1
Bramble Rubus fruticosus (agg.) Meadow fringes Scrambling shrub with dark fruit p.108/5
Broom Cytisus scoparius Some in woods beyond car park Distinctive leaves and seed pods p.120/2
Buttercup, Creeping Ranunculus repens Common 'weed' Lower plant, broader leaves, darker flower p.68/5
Buttercup, Meadow Ranunculus acris Grassland plant Taller plant, cut leaves, paler flower p.68/3
Catsear, Common Hypochaeris radicata Occasional in meadows Hairy leaves - flowers similar to Dandelion p.254/4
Celandine, Lesser Ranunculus ficaria Dark woods, by stream Very early flowering, but distinctive leaves p.68/8
Chestnut, Horse Aesculus hippocastanum Overhanging car park area Distinctive leaves - and conkers! p.36/1
Chickweed, Common Stellaria media A 'weed' around the lawns Leaves more visible than flowers p.54/2
Cleavers, Common Galium aparine Common 'weed' 'Stickiness' produced by hooked hairs p.186/8
Clover, Red Trifolium pratense Occasional in meadow Whitish crescent on leaves, pink flowers p.130/1
Clover, White Trifolium repens Common in meadow Small, rounded leaflets, white flowers p.130/3
Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara Occasional on grassland Early flowering followed by big leaves p.240/5
Comfrey, Common Symphytum officinale One only (?) in meadow Large, hairy plant with bell-like flowers p.188/1
Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris (agg.) Margin of far meadow Short-lived flowers: look for leaves p.156/1
Cuckoo Flower Cardamine pratensis Common on meadow White or pink flowers, April/May p.90/1
Daisy Bellis perennis Common on lawns & short grass One of the easiest plants to recognise p.232/1
Dandelion Taraxacum (sect) vulgaria Very common and familiar 'weed' Look for rosettes of leaves on short grass p.254/1
Dock, Broad-Leaved Rumex obtusifolius Very common on grassy areas Reddish flowerhead and 'oblong' leaves p.44/3
Dock, Curled Rumex crispus Fairly common on grassy areas Greenish flowerhead and crinkly leaves p.44/3a
Elder Sambucus nigra Margins of grassland Clusters of creamy flowers, black berries p.222/5a
Elm, Wych Ulmus glabra Best one is in gatehouse garden Look for the leaf shape p.34/1
Enchanter's Nightshade Circaea lutetiana A few on meadow margins (hunt!) Leaves turning reddish, pink flowers p.148/6
Figwort, Common Scrophularia nodosa One plant, far end of playground Inconspicuous plant, a favourite of wasps p.208/5
Fir, Douglas Pseudotsuga menziesii Occasional in woodland One of our few evergreens p.24/1a
Forgetmenot, Field Myosotis arvensis Occasional in grassland Tiny blue flowers - don't step on it! p.190/4
Garlic, Keeled Allium carinatum Quite a find! By driveway beyond car park p.264/5
Ground Elder Aegopodium podagraria Common in far meadow Patch-forming - gardeners hate it! p.158/4
Groundsel Senecio vulgaris Very common 'weed' Quite easy to find, here and there p.242/6
Hawkweed, Few-Leaved Hieracium murorum (agg.) Occasional in car park area Grows tall, often solitary p.256/1
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Meadow fringes Thorny shrub with dark red berries p.114/4
Hazel Corylus avellana Far meadow There may only be one, so get hunting! p.32/2
Helleborine, Broad-Leaved Epipactis helleborine A bit of a rarity One or two in shady spots p.284/3
Herb Bennet Geum urbanum Occasional, e.g. in far meadow Distinctive hairy 'burr' fruit p.110/6
Herb Robert Geranium robertianum In shade, by stream Leaves turning reddish, pink flowers p.134/6
Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium In dip beyond playground Stout, hairy and can grow tall p.160/1
Holly Ilex aquifolium Around fringes and in wooded area Familiar, dark green, spiny leaves p.36/2
Ivy Hedera helix Climbs up trees Glossy leaves p.154/4
Knapweed, Black Centaurea nigra (agg.) Occasional in meadows Given away by last season's dead heads p.248/1
Knotweed, Japanese Reynoutria japonica Big patch in far meadow A dangerously vigorous weed p.42/2
Lady's Mantle Alchemilla vulgaris (agg.) Occasional in meadow Soft, hairy leaves p.106/6
Lime, Common Tilia x vulgaris Classic tree to plant by driveways Pale, floppy leaves with veins p.36/3b
Mouse-Ear, Common Cerastium fontanum Inconspicuous grassland plant Slightly hairy p.54/6
Nettle Urtica dioica Very comon weed Beware: a stinger! p.38/7
Nipplewort Lapsana communis Occasional in driveway area Distinctive branched flower-clusters p.252/7
Oak, Pedunculate Quercus robur Very common tree Distinctive leaf shape - and acorns p.32/6
Orchid, Common Spotted Dactylorhiza fuchsii Occasional in meadows One fine group in far meadow p.278/5
Pearlwort, Procumbent Sagina procumbens Between paving slabs, etc. Tiny, sprawling p.56/4
Plantain, Greater Plantago major Common 'weed' Easily identified by the leaves p.220/1
Plantain, Ribwort Plantago lanceolata Very common 'weed' One of Europe's most common plants p.220/2
Ragwort Senecio jacobaea Grassland plant On short grass, look for leaves only p.242/1
Raspberry Rubus idaeus Far meadow Free-standing shrub with red fruit p.108/6
Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum Around woodland area A survivor of past gardens p.170, 307
Rose, Dog Rosa canina (agg.) Meadow fringes Beware of the thorns! p.108/1
Rowan Sorbus aucuparia In woodland by car park Distinctive leaves and red berries p.114/3a
Self-Heal Prunella vulgaris On short grass by car park 'Oblong' flowerheads, dark purple p.198/1
Shepherd's Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris 'Weed' on hard ground Distinctive triagular seed-pods p.96/2
Sorrel, Common Rumex acetosa Fairly common on grassy areas Reddish flowerhead, leaves clasp the stem p.44/1
Sow-Thistle, Smooth Sonchus oleraceus Occasional, esp. on roadsides Leaves can be spiky or smooth p.252/1
Speedwell, Germander Veronica chamaedrys Occasional on grassland One of the few blue flowers around p.214/3
Speedwell, Wall Veronica arvensis Occasional on lawns or meadow Untidy-looking small, leafy plant p.214/8
Stitchwort, Greater Stellaria holostea South margin of meadow - hunt! Distinctive flower in May/June p.54/1
Stitchwort, Lesser Stellaria graminea Widespread on meadows Delicate white flowers p.54/1b
Strawberry, Wild Fragaria vesca In woodland beyond car park The leaves are most visible p.110/1
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus Very common tree Well known and easy to find p.34/3
Tare, Hairy Vicia hirsuta Nearest end of meadow Small plant with tiny flowers p.122/6
Thistle, Creeping Cirsium arvense Big patch in meadow Small, pale flowers - stem smooth p.246/1
Thistle, Spear Cirsium vulgare Occasional in meadows Bigger, darker flowers - stem spiny p.246/2
Toadflax, Ivy-Leaved Cymbalaria muralis Less common, grows only on walls Nice plant which you'll need to hunt for p.210/7
Trefoil, Birdsfoot Lotus corniculatus Occasional in grassland Plant lies on ground : bright yellow flowers p.128/1
Trefoil, Greater Birdsfoot Lotus uliginosus One patch in meadow Plant grows knee-high : flowers as above p.128/1b
Trefoil Hop Trifolium campestre Possibly a few in meadow Pale yellow, clover-like flowers p.128/8
Trefoil, Lesser Trifolium dubium Common weed on grass throughout Like a tiny clover, but with yellow flowers p.128/6b
Vetch, Bush Vicia sepium Occasional, e.g. far end of car park Egg-shaped leaflets, purplish flowers p.122/3
Vetch, Common Vicia sativa (agg.) Clambering on grasses in meadow Reddish-purple flowers, in pairs p.122/5
Vetchling, Meadow Lathyrus pratensis A good patch in meadow Distinctive leaves and bright yellow flowers p.124/2
Whitebeam, Swedish Sorbus intermedia Border beyond car park Distinctive leaves with white underside p.114/3c
Willow, Goat Salix caprea Northern margin of meadows Willows are hard to identify! p.26/3
Willowherb, Broad-Leaved Epilobium montanum (agg.) 'Weed' on hard ground or meadow Small, pale pink flowers p.150/3
Willowherb, Great Epilobium hirsutum Occasional in meadow More leafy than above, and hairy p.150/2
Willowherb, Rosebay Epilobium angustifolium Grassland plant Very easy to identify p.150/1
Woundwort, Hedge Stachys sylvatica Uncommon in middle meadow Strong smell, beetroot-purple flowers p.202/5