A FLOWER STUDYA FLOWER STUDYININ
WOODBURY PARISHWOODBURY PARISH
SALLY ELLIOTTSALLY ELLIOTTANDAND
SYLVIA WICKENDENSYLVIA WICKENDEN
20082008 -- 20112011
2
Just a few of the of the 200plus wild flowers found in
the survey.
Common spotted Orchid.
Greater and Lesser Stitchwort
Dog Rose Yellow Iris.
Rosebay Willowherb. Sweet Briar Rose.
3
Contents
Introduction 4
Physical background 5
Soil tests 6
Relief map (simplified) 7
Geology map (simplified) 8
Parish map of four recording sites 9
Photos of main Parish habitats 10-14
Maps, photographs and lists of flowers of four recording sites 15-34
List of all flowers found in the Parish 35-39
4
Introduction
Our survey of the wild flowers of Woodbury Parish was prompted by the apparent absenceof any previous recording, and the fear that, with climate warming and changes in humanactivity, there might be an increasing loss or change of species. We are not botanists, but aslovers of the countryside we are familiar with most local flowers, and have a collection ofreference books to help us identify species. Even so we have not always been able todifferentiate between the numerous members of the umbelliferae and some other families.
For practical reasons we decided to select four 30 m. stretches of road or lane at differentheights in the parish, and visit them at intervals between 2008 and 2011, to allow for wetter,drier or colder conditions, and the variations of each season.
Fairly recently the Exton end of the Exe Estuary Cycle and Walking Trail has opened,giving access to another habitat. We have also visited the top of Woodbury Common, aswell as noting any other species along the lanes. For reasons of access it has not beenpossible to deal adequately with fields and woodlands.
Our survey includes a brief description of the physical background of the parish, withmaps of relief and geology. One map shows the location of the stretches of lane wherewe did our recording with lists of the flowers found at each. Also included is analphabetical list of all the flowers we found. There are, too, photographs showing themain habitats within the parish.
Too frequent or mistimed cutting of verges by councils and landowners severely reducesthe chances of seed dispersal whereby species survive. We would urge that this practice isavoided.
Apart from their immense aesthetic and cultural value, wild flowers are a fundamentalelement of the ecosystem that maintains biodiversity. They are a rich source of food forinsects, including the essential pollinators. With their verge and bank habitat, they form agreen corridor link for wildlife, especially for small mammals, which reduces the impact ofurban encroachment.
We hope this project will help to promote an interest in and a greater awareness andappreciation of our truly wonderful native flora heritage.
Finally, we would welcome any additions to our flower list.
5
Woodbury Parish: Physical Background
Woodbury Parish stretches from the crest of Woodbury common at a height of about 170m(550 ft) to the Exe estuary. Small streams have cut gentle valleys on their way down to theestuary from the Common, the largest being the Grindle Brook and Gilbrook
Most of the parish is underlain by Permian (295-250 million years BC) and Triassic (250204 million years BC) marls and sandstones which were mostly formed in deserts. On top ofthese lie the Triassic Pebblebeds, in places 80-100 ft thick, which make up the top ofWoodbury Common. These were probably laid down by a river flowing from the south westcarrying chiefly quartzite, sandstone, and some tourmaline pebbles from long since vanishedlands now covered by sea. They are the source of the large, water-rounded pebbles (shown onthe Geology map as 'gravelly soils'), which can be a nuisance in fields and gardens aroundWoodbury. They were mostly washed down from the Common during the last Ice Age bymelt water from heavy winter snows.
The larger brooks have widened their valley floors a little and deposited alluvium on them.The valley gravels mark the tops of gentle hills which are the remains of river terraces of theRiver Exe.
The climate in Woodbury is mild and rainy without a dry season and without severe wintersor very hot summers. However, the weather varies greatly and since the parish is in the rainshadow of the Haldon Hills and Dartmoor it is usually somewhat drier than nearby areas.Annual rainfall is about 800mm (30 ins). In January the average daily maximumtemperatures are usually just above 7 °C and night minimums about 2.5 °C, with frosts quitecommon. In July the average daily maximum temperature is about 20 °C with a minimum ofabout 12.5 °C. Snowfalls are rarely great — in some years little more than a powdering.However, especially in recent years, there have been greater fluctuations. 2012 will beremembered for its very wet cool summer, and 2011 for a very cold spell in winter.
6
Soil Tests
Common — west side verge alkaline 7.5
Common — east side verge neutral 6.0
Flower Lane acid 5.5
Stony Lane acid 5.5
Porters lane alkaline 7.5
These results were obtained from a simple garden soil test kit.
Those on the Common roadside verges may have been affected by outside influences suchas gritting, salting, and traffic. These results suggest that these soils have not had a biginfluence on local flora.
7
8
9
10
WO
OD
BU
RY
CO
MM
ON
TH
EP
EB
BL
EB
ED
S
BO
GA
RE
A
BO
GA
SP
HO
DE
L
11
WOODBURYPARISH
FROM THEEDGE OF
WOODBURYCOMMON
FROM NEARTHE TOP OF
CASTLELANE
12
WOODBURYPARISH
LOOKING UP TOWOODBURY
CASTLE FROMWINDMILL HILL
LOOKINGTOWARDS THE
COMMONFROM GLOBE
HILL
13
EXTON
EXTON ANDCYCLE/
WALKWAY TOEXMOUTHWET LANDHABITAT
CYCLE ANDWALKINGTRACK TO
EXMOUTH ONTHE EDGE OFWOODBURY
PARISH
14
CRICKET FIELD POND
KINGCUPS BY POND
15
16
Recording Site 1 — Edge of Common: 2008-2011
Jan/Feb Gorse, Dandelion
Mar/Apr Hogweed, Red Campion, Gorse, Dandelion, Dog Violet, Scurvy Grass,Common Chickweed, Sweet Violet
May/Jun Buttercup, White Clover, Herb Robert, Yarrow, Ribwort Plantain, PaleFlax, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Red Campion, Tormentil, Hop Trefoil, Hogweed,Hawkweed, Mouse-ear, Common Sorrel, Lesser Hawkbit, Gorse, Dandelion,Greater Plantain, Sweet Violet, Cow Parsley, Common Vetch, Wild Strawberry,Bluebell, Daisy, Lesser Stitchwort, Hawksbeard, False Strawberry, Cinquefoil,Milkwort, Wavy Bittercress, Hairy Bittercress, Germander Speedwell,Milkweed, Honeysuckle
Jul/Aug Buttercup, White Clover, Red Clover, Ragwort, Wood Sage, HempAgrimony, Herb Robert, Yarrow, Agrimony, Ribwort Plantain, Pale Flax,Fairy Flax, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Self Heal, Red Campion, Slender St John'sWort, Stinging Nettle, Hawkweed, Bramble, Heath Bedstraw, Mouse-ear,Common Sorrel, Hawkbit, Hogweed, Black Medick, Bell Heather,Tormentil, Hop Trefoil, Cow Parsley, Upright Chickweed, Knapweed,Creeping Thistle, Scurvy Grass, Dandelion, Greater Plantain, LesserStitchwort, Scentless Mayweed, Ling Heather, Smooth Hawkbit, AnnualPearlwort, Rough Hawkbit, Scarlet Pimpernel, Meadow Vetchling, WoodDock, Spear Thistle, Mugwort (Artemisia), Cornflower, Nipplewort
Sep/Oct Red Clover, Ragwort, Hemp Agrimony, Yarrow, Agrimony, Pale Flax,Ribwort Plantain, Red Campion, Slender St John's Wort, Bell Heather,Mouse-ear, Common Sorrel, Lesser Hawkbit, Knapweed, Gorse, Dandelion,Creeping Thistle, Daisy, Lesser Trefoil, Montbretia, Knotgrass, Pearlwort,Rough Hawkbit
Nov/Dec Red Clover, Yarrow, Buttercup, Red Campion, Lesser Hawkbit, Gorse,Dandelion, Greater Plantain, Mouse-ear, Rough Hawkbit
17
18
19
20
21
Recording Site 2 — near Cannonwalls: 2008-2011
Jan/Feb Celandine
Mar/Apr Dandelion, Germander Speedwell, Bittercress, Primrose, Celandine, Dog'sMercury, Wood Anemone, Ground Ivy, False Strawberry, Dog Violet, CowParsley, Bluebell, Stitchwort, Herb Robert, Bush Vetch, Red Campion,Garlic Mustard, Pink Purslane, Shining Leaved Cranesbill
May/Jun Dandelion, Germander Speedwell, Celandine, Dog's Mercury, Stitchwort,Wood Anemone, Ground Ivy, Buttercup, Bluebell, Herb Robert, GooseGrass, White Deadnettle, Red Campion, Cow Parsley, Wild Carrot, RedDeadnettle, Pink Purslane, Bush Vetch, Stinging Nettle, Herb Bennet,Pennywort, Brooklime, Garlic Mustard, Fool's Parsley, Hemlock WaterDropwort, Dock
Jul/Aug Buttercup, Herb Robert, Red Campion, Cow Parsley, Pink Purslane,Common Sorrel, Meadow Vetchling, Bramble, Hedge Bedstraw, BushVetch, Honeysuckle, Stinging Nettle, Herb Bennet, Nipplewort, Bramble,Lesser Willowherb, Smooth Hawkbit, Fat Hen, Self Heal, Meadowsweet,Prickly Sowthistle, Woody Nightshade, Common Hawkweed, HedgeWoundwort, Wood Avens, Tormentil, Creeping Cinquefoil, Bistort,Knotgrass
Sep/Oct Cow Parsley, Herb Robert, Red Campion, Dandelion, White Deadnettle,Pink Purslane, Bush Vetch, Honeysuckle, Stinging Nettle, CommonSorrel, Nipplewort, Greater Willowherb, Pale Persicaria, Bramble,Hogweed, Herb Bennet, Hedge Bedstraw, Meadowsweet, Greater BurnetSaxifrage, Greater Plantain, Prickly Sowthistle
No/Dec Herb Robert, Red Campion, White Deadnettle, Bush Vetch, Nipplewort
22
23
24
25
26
Recording Site 3 — Stony Lane: 2008-2011
Jan/Feb Dandelion, Buttercup
Mar/Apr Dandelion, Periwinkle, Stitchwort, Cow Parsley, Bush Vetch, Primrose,Celandine, False Strawberry, Bittercress, Bugle, Bluebell, Ground Ivy,Sweet Violet, Garlic Mustard, Germander Speedwell, Dogs Mercury, LesserStitchwort, Common Chickweed
May/Jun Bramble, Honeysuckle, Herb Robert, Nipplewort, Common Sorrel, RedCampion, Stinging Nettle, Meadow Vetchling, Goose Grass, Hogweed,Buttercup, Field Rose, Pennywort, Bush Vetch, Dandelion, Stitchwort, CowParsley, Hedge Bedstraw, Ground Ivy, Bluebell, Herb Bennet, Crosswort,Germander Speedwell, Hawkbit, Garlic Mustard, Foxglove, Ribwort Plantain
Jul/Aug Hypericum-Pulchrum (Slender St John's Wort), Hedge Bedstraw,Bramble, Honeysuckle, Wood Sage, Herb Robert, Nipplewort, Common Sorrel,Red Campion, Stinging Nettle, Meadow Vetchling, Goose Grass, Hogweed,Buttercup, Dog Rose, Pennywort, Bindweed, Trailing St John's Wort, HerbBennet, Garlic Mustard, Groundsel, Yarrow, Scentless Mayweed
Sep/Oct Hedge Bedstraw, Bramble, Honeysuckle, Herb Robert, Nipplewort,Stinging Nettle, Hogweed, Dandelion, Stitchwort, Prickly Oxtongue,Prickly Sowthistle, Black Nightshade
Nov/Dec Bush Vetch, Herb Robert, Bramble, Red Campion
27
28
29
30
31
Recording Site 4 — Porters Lane: 2008-2011
Jan/Feb Hogweed, Red Deadnettle, Dandelion, Celandine, Snowdrop, Ground Ivy
Mar/Apr Stitchwort, Herb Robert, Red Campion, Buttercup, Red Deadnettle,Dandelion, Celandine, White Deadnettle, Cow Parsley, Snowdrop, GarlicMustard. Dock, Periwinkle, Common Wintercress, Ground Ivy
May/Jun Common Sorrel, Herb Robert, Stitchwort, Red Campion, Red Clover,Hogweed, Stinging Nettle, Buttercup, Hedge Woundwort, Crosswort, HedgeBedstraw, Cow Parsley, Wild Carrot, Goose Grass, Garlic Mustard, Dock, WaterDropwort, Fumitory, Dandelion, Forget-me-not, Shepherd's Purse, Cut-leaved(Geranium) Cranesbill
Jul/Aug Slender St John's Wort, Sorrel, Hedge Bedstraw, Bramble, HedgeWoundwort, Herb Robert, Hawkweed, Stitchwort, Tufted Vetch, Crosswort,Red Campion, Bindweed, Red Clover, Hogweed, Cut-leaved Cranesbill,Stinging Nettle, Nipplewort, Buttercup, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Stitchwort,Herb Bennet, Hogweed, Fat Hen, Prickly Sowthistle, Cow Parsley,Dandelion, Teazle, Convolvulus, Scentless Mayweed, Yarrow,Greater Plantain, Common Wintercress, Spear Thistle
Sep/Oct Hedge Bedstraw, Bramble, Hedge Woundwort, Herb Robert, Red Clover,Red Campion, Stinging Nettle, Nipplewort, Dandelion, Fumitory, Clematis,Lesser Willowherb, Bistort, Forget-me-not, Teazle, Fat Hen,Upright Goosefoot, Smooth Sowthistle, Red Deadnettle, White Deadnettle,Convolvulus, Honeysuckle, Scentless Mayweed, Pearlwort, Groundsel
Nov/Dec Hedge Woundwort, Red Campion, Bramble, Herb Robert, Cow Parsley,Red Deadnettle, Dandelion, White Deadnettle
32
33
34
35
List of all Flowers Found in the Parish of Woodbury
Agrimony
Agrimony, hemp
Alkanet, green
Anemone, wood
Artemisia (Mugwort)
Aster, sea
Balsam, Indian
Bedstraw, hedge
Bedstraw, heath
Bedstraw, marsh
Betony
Bindweed, hedge
Bindweed, field
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Bistort
Bittercress, hairy
Bittercress, wavy
Blackthorn
Bluebell
Bramble
Brooklime
Brookweed
Bryony, black Bugle
Burdock, greater
Burdock, lesser
Bush Vetch
Buttercup, creeping
Buttercup, meadow
Campion, bladder
Campion, red
Campion, white
Carrot, wild
Celandine
Centaury, common
Chervil, rough
Chickweed, common
Chickweed, upright
Cinquefoil, creeping
36
Cleavers (Goose Grass)
Clematis (Travellers' Joy or Old Man's Beard)
Clover, red
Clover, white
Coltsfoot
Convolvulus, field (bindweed),
Convolvulus, hedge (bindweed),
Cornflower
Cow Parsley
Cowslip
Cranesbill, cut-leaved (geranium)
Cranesbill, dove's foot
Cranesbill, shining-leaved
Creeping Thistle
Crosswort
Cuckoo-flower
Cuckoo Pint
Dandelion
Daisy, Ox-eye
Deadnettle, red
Deadnettle, white
Dock, broadleaved
Dog's Mercury
Enchanters' Nightshade
Fat Hen
Figwort
Flax, fairy
Flax, pale
Forget-me-not
Fox and Cubs
Foxglove
Fumitory, common ramping
Garlic Mustard (Jack-by-the-hedge)
Geranium, cut-leaved
Geranium, Dove's Foot
Goats-beard, greater
Goosefoot, upright
Goose Grass (cleavers)
Gorse
Green Alkanet
37
Ground Elder
Ground Ivy
Groundsel
Hawkbit, lesser
Hawkbit, rough
Hawkbit, smooth
Hawkweed, common
Hawksbeard, beaked
Heath Milkwort
Heath Speedwell
Heather (Ling)
Heather-bell
Heather, cross-leaved
Hedge Woundwort
Hellebore, winter
Hemlock
Hemlock Water Dropwort
Herb Bennet
Herb Robert
Hogweed
Honeysuckle
Horehound, black
Iris, yellow
Ivy
Ivy-leaved Toadflax
Jack-by-the-hedge (Garlic Mustard)
Kingcup
Knapweed
Knotgrass
Lesser Stitchwort
Lesser Willowherb
Loosestrife, purple
Mare's-tail
Mayweed, scentless
Meadowsweet
Meadow Vetchling
Medick, black
Milkweed
Milkwort, heath
38
Mint, water
Montbretia
Mouse-ear
Mugwort (Artemisia)
Mullein, great
Musk Mallow
Nettle, stinging
Nightshade, black
Nightshade, enchanter's
Nightshade, woody
Nipplewort
Orchid, common spotted
Orchid, early purple
Ox-eye Daisy
Oxtongue, prickly
Pale Persicaria
Pearlwort, annual
Pennywort
Periwinkle
Pimpernel, scarlet
Pink Purslane
Plantain, greater
Plantain, ribwort
Poppy, common
Primrose
Queen Anne's Lace
Ragged Robin
Ragwort
Ramsons (wild garlic)
Red Campion
Rose, dog
Rose, field
Rose, sweetbriar
St John's Wort, slender (Hypericum-Pulchrum)
St John's Wort, trailing
Salsify
Scabious, field
Scentless Mayweed
39
Scurvy Grass, common
Sea Aster
Self-heal
Shepherd's Purse
Shining Cranesbill
Snowdrop
Sorrel, common
Sorrel, red
Sowthistle, prickly
Sowthistle, smooth
Spear Thistle
Speedwell, germander
Speedwell, heath
Speedwell, thyme-leaved
Spurge, wood
Spurrey, sand
Stinging Nettle
Stitchwort, greater
Stitchwort, lesser
Strawberry, false
Strawberry, wild
Sweetbriar
Teazle
Thistle, creeping
Thistle, marsh
Thistle, spear
Toadflax, common
Toadflax, ivy-leaved
Toadflax, purple
Tormentil
Trefoil, bird's foot
Trefoil, hop
Trefoil, lesser
Umbelliferae:Alexanders
Cow Parsley
Fool's Paradise
Greater Burnet Saxifrage
Hedge Parsley
Hemlock
Hemlock Dropwort
Hemlock, water
40
Hogweed
Water Parsnip
Wild Carrot
Yarrow
Upright Goosefoot
Vetch, bush
Vetch, common
Vetch, meadow vetchling
Vetch, tufted
Violet, dog
Violet, purple
Violet, sweet
Water Dropwort
Water Mint
Water Parsnip
Wild Carrot
Willowherb, greater
Willowherb, lesser
Willowherb, rosebay
Wintercress, common
Winter Hellebore
Wood Anemone
Wood Avens
Wood Dock
Wood Sage
Wood Spurge
Woody Nightshade
Woundwort, field
Woundwort, hedge
Yarrow
Yellow Iris
Unusual additions:August 2006 — growing in a field border in Woodbury: Watermelon Nightshade,
(Solanum Citrullifolium), Native of Iowa-Kansas, Texas, Mexico.
End of May 2013 — growing on a roadside bank in Woodbury, Fringe Cup,(Tellima Grandiflora), Native of Western North America.
41
VIEW FROM SANCTUARY LANE TOWARDS THE BEACON AND CASTLE RIDGEFloral diversity in a June hedgerow
VIEW FROM THE TOP OF LOWER MALLOCKS LANECow Parsley in May