These Pop-up Botany meetings were first organised last year in recognition of the work of Clive Lovatt, whose sudden death was a shock to all who knew him. Clive was an indefatigable botanist, and a generous giver of his time and knowledge to local botany. He is still very much missed.
Getting started in botany can be daunting, so these meetings are for beginners, or near beginners. They will last around one-and-a-half hours and will finish in a pub or café where we can discuss further what we have been looking at, or anything else that comes to mind.
The meetings have themes which could be: characteristic plants of a particular habitat (e.g. wetlands, floodplain meadows, acid grasslands, hedgerows), or particular groups/families of plants (e.g. sedges, rushes, yellow dandelion look-alikes, thistles, vetches) or plants that are in flower at the time, types of seeds, etc.
It is hoped that Habimap volunteers might also find these events useful as they will cover some of the key indicator species for ‘Habimapping’. There are four events planned, and members and non-members are welcome to attend.
Tuesday 27 June. 17.30–19.00. Limestone Grasses. Selsey Common. Meet at the far end of the Common near Pen Wood. SO 825 024. After at The Old Crown, Uley. Leaders Clare and Mark Kitchen 07840 468856.
Tuesday 8 August. 17.30–19.00. Common Urban Plants. Honeybourne Cycle track, Cheltenham. Meet at the Cheltenham Waitrose car park, top storey, west side. After at The Railway Inn, New Street (nearby). Leader Steve Little.
Wednesday 16 August. 17.30–19.00. Hedgerow shrubs. Rough Bank Butterfly Reserve, 3 km north of Bisley. Park and meet in the reserve car park, SO 9139 0871, a sharp turn off the road between The Camp and Bisley. After at The Carpenters Arms, Miserden. Leader Paul Masters 07500 336545.
Thursday 24 August. 17.30–19.00. Flowers of limestone turf. Longwood Common, Nottingham Hill, Cheltenham. Park and meet in the car park on Bushcombe lane. Turn north-east off the B4632 on the top of Cleeve Hill (right takes you to the golf club and Quarry Car Park). After 400 m the road narrows and descends steeply; go past Longwood Farms and find the CP just beyond the cattle grid. After at The Rising Sun Inn, Cleeve Hill. Leader Des Marshall (see below).
For any changes to the list, or more information about these events, please check the website or contact Des Marshall (desjmarshall@gmail.com 07968 419813).