See our May newsletter for full details.
FRIDAY, 13 MAY. SHEAF VALLEY – Fungi & General.
Leader – Ziggy Senkans,
The Sheaf Valley is a Local Wildlife Site (LWS). This will be a gentle walk along the valley recording what we see on route.
SATURDAY, 14 MAY. BRYOPHYTES IN THE PORTER VALLEY.
Leaders – Joan Egan and Ambroise Baker, with North Western Naturalists’ Union, Bryophyte & Lichen Section.
The aim of the day is to bring together people who enjoy field bryology and record species present in the Porter Valley as a contribution to the Porter Valley moss micro-Flora. All levels of expertise are welcome throughout the day, including first time beginners. However, the focus of the morning will be training with no other objective than to learn from each other identification tips, while the focus of the afternoon will be recording bryophyte diversity. Ambroise has been recording bryophytes in the Valley since 2013 and is now working on compiling all these records into a micro-Flora. However there are still many habitats not surveyed, older records to be checked and many species he doesn’t identify routinely with confidence, so any contribution is welcome!
The Porter Valley is one of Sheffield’s major valleys and an exceptional nature corridor in the city. Following early industrial development with extensive water management including a series of dams, nature re-colonised. Today the Porter Valley is a favourite green space for recreational activities. There is a wide range of habitats for bryophytes, including old masonry work, heathy grounds, acid grassland, alder carr, ancient and coniferous woodlands, swamps, wells, streams and river, etc. The lithology tends to be acidic but there are also many shale outcrops exposed by the river. Get in touch to book or for any other information: .
TUESDAY, 17 MAY. ENDCLIFFE PARK – Botany & General.
Leader: Julie Westfold,
Endcliffe Park is a Local Wildlife Site (LWS). This will be a gentle amble recording what we see on route.
MONDAY, 23 MAY. BOTANICAL FIELD MEETING TO CRESSBROOK DALE.
Leader – Jean Glasscock.
A field meeting to look for spring flowers in the Cressbrook Dale National Nature Reserve. In particular, to search for Bird’s-foot Sedge, Carex ornithopoda, a nationally rare species. This is usually difficult to spot, but it should be in flower at this time and therefore more obvious. There should also be the usual abundant spring display of Cowslips and Early Purple Orchids, etc.
SUNDAY, 29 MAY. GENERAL FIELD MEETING AT BOLEHILL RECREATION GROUND, CROOKES.
Leader – Roger Butterfield,
Full details here.