On Sunday 23 June a group twelve members gathered outside Chadlington Bowls Club for a leisurely evening stroll up Green Lane, kindly led by Brenda Betterigde. Our main objective was to see the variety of plants growing on the calcareous terrain. We were favoured by warm sunny weather with a very slight breeze, enough for two hot air balloons to put in a leisurely appearance.
The lane provided plenty of specimens in flower starting with wild onion. Common vetch and meadow vetchling were present with greater and common knapweeds dotted along the way; of the former we found a very attractive white example along with field scabious. Goats beard and rough hawksbeard were also regularly present. Particularly lovely was a large patch of sprawling field rose with a good scent and the beautiful pink sainfoin. One pyramidal orchid was also spotted.
We were very pleased to see a variety of butterflies – they’ve been in short supply this year. Ringlets, large skippers, meadow browns and a painted lady were identified. Sue spotted a distinctly yellow bodied crane fly which we were unable to identify and some stilt legged flies. Chrysalis of burnet moths were present, also the aptly named swollen-thighed flower beetle.
Several yellowhammers were in evidence from their song and we saw red kites, swallows and what we thought must be green finches
The walk was about two and a half hours in all. A full list of plants was taken by Brenda and can be found here.
Jill Tigwell 5 July 2024
WEST OXFORDSHIRE FIELD CLUB 