This year the Adopt-a-Sector botany scheme focussed its many-eyed acuity on Holme Ground, the area of mixed habitat just above Westhill Farm. Some of the sectors were dominated by bracken, sycamore or birch, and so a rather low diversity was expected. Nevertheless, these are the base-line surveys that are so important for future working and study, and the area is not without its highlights: the Snark Tree, the Lollipop Snark, the acidic habitat around the top, and the rich and tranquil Willow Valley that runs up from Ben’s Bridge.
Eleven sectors were outlined on the basis of habitat and equal area, and allocated to the fine team of surveyors. This year we had 14 surveyors in all, so there was a little doubling up on sectors, but then some like to work in pairs.
Leaving aside the mosses for a moment, 108 different vascular plant species were recorded during the year. When compared to last year’s 194 species from Horspath Common, this emphasises the limited diversity of the area. With the exception of WiIlow Valley, which had a total of 66 plant species, all sectors had a similar diversity (38-52 species).
None of the recorded plants are particularly scarce, but good finds included Common Polypody (Polypody vulgar), Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) and Yew (Taxus baccata).
A ‘first’ for this year was to have one of our ‘adopters’ volunteer to tackle the mosses and liverworts of their sector. Willow Valley was the clear candidate for this treatment and the results were quite remarkable. A total of 40 species of bryophyte were found, raising the flora of that sector from 66 to 106!
A very special thank you to The Flora Team for their sterling work.
