Report of guided walk around Newditch Plantation Nature Reserve by Ashley Arbon of Whittlesford on Sunday June 16^th 2013.

Written by Shirley Wittering

Points made –

Along the Causeway there is an English Field Maple, Acer campestre var. campestre, this is not the same as most Maples sold in nurseries – those are Acer campestre var. leiocarpum which come from abroad and which support very few insects.

The Dame’s Violet or Sweet Rocket, was at its height and looked and smelt wonderful.  http://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/D/DamesViolet/DamesViolet.htm

Along the Newditch Ashley pointed out that nettles, cleavers and Alkanet were all growing together, they were all indicators of old cultivation.  Nearby the Dog’s Mercury is an indicator of old woodland.  He also pointed out the Stinking hellebore which is a garden escape.

He explained the difference between the male and female flowers of the stinging nettle.  He pointed out that the stinging nettle urtica dioica is not the same as the annual nettle Urtica urens which is found in gardens and has male and female flowers on the same plant.  Both are food plants for many caterpillars of butterflies.

Ragwort – Ashley recommended cutting the plants down rather than pulling them up as the bare earth resulting in pulling encourages the ragwort to further colonisation.  It may take several years to completely eradicate it but will in the end.

The white helleborine grows on beech leaves, Ashley recommended putting up a barrier between four beech trees to encourage it to grow.  He would be happy to come and help.

He was very taken with the meadow and its chalk flowers, although the dry weather has resulted in a rather parched look.  There was Ground ivy as well as Self heal growing there.

He did not know the ornamental tree with the pretty leaves and white flowers,  I have sent him a couple of pictures of it.