New Forest plant sites (1 Viewer)

[robhope]

I am heading down to the New Forest in a couple of weeks with my young lady and little boy for a camping trip. As well as a couple of family day outs (Paultons Park...), I was hoping to see some of the rare / specialist plants of the area. Does anyone know of any good sites?

robhope

Egrets, I've had a few

 

[Perry Smale]

Bog Orchid should be in flower. Last year I saw them at Stoney Cross near Minstead, just off the A31. They were in a flat area with several logs over towards Long Beech Inclosure and not in the large bog in the valley. Not many plants so best of luck! Found after many hours. Another good site is meant to be Matley Bog which is down towards Beaulieu Road Station. No other sites that I know for anything plant-wise unfortunately. Before anyone starts down the "don't post details of rare plant sites" line, Stoney Cross is in the Harrap guide so no problem!

 

[robhope]

Thanks a lot Perry. As you suggested I was not after exact locations just potential sites. I will try and check out the sites you mentioned.

robhope

Egrets, I've had a few

 

[Stuart Read]

Matley Bog is definately a good site for Bog Orchid, it's just finding them that's the problem, wellies needed here.
Another good site for various interesting plants is Hatchett Pond & surrounding area.

Stuart

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Hi Rob

I would recommend Stoney Cross for Bog orchid rather than Matley Passage. The latter site is extremely treacherous - you can go in up to your waist if you don't know the site very well. It is also a site where a lot of searching is needed to find the plants, and that means a lot of trampling.

If you pm me with your email address I will send you specific directions to the Stoney Cross plants to save you time and trampling. Do you have a GPS?

In addition, Coral necklace, Pennyroyal, Least butterwort, Wild Chamomile and other good stuff is to be found around Hatchett Pond. I can give you directions for those too.

Regards

Sean

 

[lewis20126]

Least butterwort,

Is that the same as pale?

a

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Is that the same as pale?

a

Sorry Alan, yes.

Sean

 

[Xenospiza]

Bog Orchids are in flower, see: http://northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com/2009/06/bog-orchids.html

 

[robhope]

A wet tent

Had to cut short the camping trip due to the non-stop rain coming into the tent, so I did not manage to get too much plant hunting time - British summers!
Managed to see the following species around Hatchett Pond though:

1) Bog Asphodel
2) Marsh St John's-wort
3) Marsh Lousewort
4) Hampshire-purslane?
5) Ivy Broomrape?

Lots of New Zealand pygmy weed around the pond. There was a small fenced off area where they are studying it.

Will try and go back next month and visit some of the sites in this post (and pm's).

robhope

Egrets, I've had a few

 

[Xenospiza]

4 and 5: yes
I visited Hatchet Pond on Friday in heavy rain and saw Chamomille, Pale Butterwort (needed some searching), Hampshire-purslane and (not rare in the UK, but precious as golddust in NL) Bog Pimpernel and Lesser Scullcap. I had been just in time to see a Southern Damselfly!

 

[robhope]

4 and 5: yes
I visited Hatchet Pond on Friday in heavy rain and saw Chamomille, Pale Butterwort (needed some searching), Hampshire-purslane and (not rare in the UK, but precious as golddust in NL) Bog Pimpernel and Lesser Scullcap. I had been just in time to see a Southern Damselfly!

Xenospiza,

Good old British summer weather!

I am planning to make another visit in the next week or so and spend some more time searching around the ponds. Was the Pale Butterwort around the smaller pond?
Lesser Skullcap and Chamomile escaped me last time but I will suceed next time...


robhope

Egrets, I've had a few

 

[Xenospiza]

Pale Butterwort was on the northern slope of the "valley" which runs up from Hatchet Pond, in an area with brown-coloured short grasses. I just searched all areas which looked suitable for butterwort (which luckily aren't the ones that give you wet feet) and found only one plant, so good luck!
Lesser Scullcap was common around Crockford Stream, even just off the road. Note that it often is depicted as a much more impressive plant than it really is.