Tower and Town, September 2020

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Botany For Beginners

It always struck me as rather unfair that my History-teaching colleagues could specialise in a particular era, whereas us biologists were expected to be masters of the entire natural world. Despite having a degree in Zoology, there are some alarming gaps in my knowledge of the animal kingdom. As for plants, I’m reasonably confident with trees and have spent many happy hours testing myself in Savernake arboretum where, helpfully, most of the fine specimens are labelled.

Summer School usually provides the opportunity to refresh my botanical knowledge as I organise an afternoon course in Week 1 which visits the forest and four Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserves at Morgan’s Hill, Langford Lakes, Jones’s Mill and Lower Moor. Guided by experts, we are shown how to identify some of the species which thrive on these superbly managed reserves. Fortified by this knowledge, I then try to pass some of it on to those who accompany me on my morning walking courses.

This year, Covid-19 has put paid to the Summer School refresher course so I’ve had to do the hard yards myself, equipped with the excellent laminated Guide to Grassland Plants 2 (chalk and limestone), produced by the Field Studies Council.

By late summer, many plants have flowered and set seed but some of my old favourites hang on in there and certain locations always come up trumps. For a beautiful array of plants, there is no better place than Morgan’s Hill, just off the road between Beckhampton and Devizes. From the car park, follow the track uphill and enter the reserve through the wooden gate by the interpretation board. At the top of a steep rise you will be rewarded with marvellous views and the most amazing display of flowers of every hue and colour. The yellows include Lady’s bedstraw, Birdsfoot trefoil, Ragwort and Rock rose. Various shades of blue, purple or lilac encompass Harebells, Field scabious, Knapweed and Self-heal, whereas Yarrow and Wild carrot are predominantly white. That’s just ten species – plenty to start with and a good foundation to build upon.

Closer to Marlborough, the flanks of Knap Hill are rich in chalk grassland plants as is the area west of the Alton Barnes White Horse. On our doorstep, Granham Hill, particularly the Mule Track gulley near the Pewsey Road is a fine place to begin one’s botanical journey.

The Field Studies Council produces a variety of simple to use, beautifully illustrated guides to many forms of British wildlife, all of which can be purchased for a few pounds from their website (www.field-studies-council.org)

Seán Dempster