Société Jersiaise Botany Section

Huge congratulations to everyone involved!!

We're incredibly proud to share that the project 'Forget-me-not: Restoring Jersey's Threatened Native Plants' was awarded Best Conservation Project Runner-up at this year's Intact Insurance – Intact Assurance Channel Islands Conservation Awards 🪻🌟

The judges recognised the project for its powerful work restoring one of Jersey's rarest native species, highlighting the clear signs of recovery, strong ecological impact and long-term value.

Whilst the award names two members of the Jersey Biodiversity Centre team, Emily Wagdin and Anne Haden, this project the result of the dedication of multiple organisations and individuals over several years including the Société Jersiaise, Société Jersiaise Botany Section, The Botanic Gardens at Samares Manor, and Infrastructure and Environment - I&E Biodiversity Team.

Well done to all involved! This was a true team effort than couldn't have been achieved without collaboration and passion 🌱💗

Thursday 2nd July
It was rather a damp morning when we met by the car showroom at Five Oaks to see a new site for the Laphangium luteoalbum (Jersey Cudweed) growing in the tarmac amongst the cars.

There are also a few plants in house driveways along the road. Growing in pavements, cracks in the road and on dry gravelly tracks seems to be the preferred habitat for this plant.

Walking along the lane we found Mespilus germanica (Medlar), noting the small fruit and thorns which is typical of the Wild Medlar.
Nearby, we were shocked to see destructive branchage methods had been undertaken with one particular tree being badly damaged and branches cut through.

The Epipactis helleborine (Broad-leaved Helleborine ) were delightful, with many still to flower, so they will be in bloom for a long while.
Like last year there were plants cut down and left on the ground, the reason remains a mystery, maybe rabbits were the cause?

A CONSERVATION TASK FOR YOUR DIARY:
10th July at 9.30
There will be a Purple Dewplant pull at La Port, St. Ouen.
A great opportunity to help remove this noxious pest.
Everybody is welcome to come and help.

OUR NEXT BOTANY WALK THIS THURSDAY 9TH JULY
10AM AT EGYPTE BOG
Please park along Rue de Platons, near the junction with La Rue de Cambrai, by the path leading down to the bog.
All welcome.

Thursday 18th
It was a dedicated bunch of botanists that met at St. Clement's Farm last Thursday, despite not being forecast,heavy rain showers appeared during the morning.
Undeterred, the team got out their brollys and continued exploring.
It was a great site botanically, with lots of wild field edges which held a good number of wildflowers.

For those who persevered to the end of the walk they were rewarded with large patches of Silene gallica var. quinquevulnera (Small-flowered Catchfly), with the dark pink colour variant.

We also found Oxalis tetraphylla (Four Leaved Pink Sorrel) which is only the second site known for this plant.
Another nice find was Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry).

The edge of the field held held Hypericum tetrapterum (Square-stalked St John's-wort).
In a gateway whilst sheltering from the rain we found the mauve colour variant of Lysimachia arvensis f. lilacina (Scarlet Pimpernel), which along with the Geranium pusillum (Small-flowered Crane's-bill), both of which seem to be St Clement specialists!

TOMORROW MORNING (25TH JUNE) WE SHALL BE SEEKING SHADE AT VAL DE LA MARE.
IF YOU WISH TO JOIN US, PLEASE MEET 10AM IN THE MAIN CAR PARK.

Here is the list last weeks endeavours;

Tripleurospermum inodorum Scentless Mayweed
Lepidium didymum Lesser Swine-cress
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard
Papaver dubium s.s. Long-headed Poppy
Helminthotheca echioides Bristly Oxtongue
Lysimachia arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel
Veronica persica Common Field-speedwell
Polycarpon tetraphyllum Four-leaved Allseed
Euphorbia peplus Petty Spurge
Parietaria judaica Pellitory-of-the-wall
Cymbalaria muralis Ivy-leaved Toadflax
Crepis capillaris Smooth Hawk's-beard
Chenopodium album s.s. Fat-hen
Chenopodiastrum murale Nettle-leaved Goosefoot
Euphorbia peplus Petty Spurge
Lolium perenne Perennial Rye-grass
Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's-purse
Plantago major Greater Plantain
Hypochaeris radicata Cat's-ear
Tanacetum parthenium Feverfew
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain
Matricaria discoidea Pineappleweed
Polygonum aviculare agg. Knotgrass
Ceratochloa cathartica Rescue Brome
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum s.s. Black Spleenwort
Hedera hibernica Atlantic Ivy
Solanum nigrum Black Nightshade
Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock
Mentha spicata Spear Mint
Trifolium repens White Clover
Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass
Lamium purpureum Red Dead-nettle
Polypodium interjectum Intermediate Polypody
Oxalis stricta Upright Yellow-sorrel
Malva sylvestris Common Mallow
Erodium moschatum Musk Stork's-bill
Taraxacum Dandelions
Medicago lupulina Black Medick
Persicaria maculosa Redshank
Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye Daisy
Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce
Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved Crane's-bill
Galinsoga quadriradiata Shaggy Soldier
Erigeron bonariensis Argentine Fleabane
Iris foetidissima Stinking Iris
Bellis perennis Daisy
Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear
Rubus fruticosus agg. Brambles
Medicago arabica Spotted Medick
Jacobaea vulgaris Common Ragwort
Vicia sativa Common Vetch
Armoracia rusticana Horse-radish
Veronica arvensis Wall Speedwell
Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort
Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle
Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak
Hypericum tetrapterum Square-stalked St John's-wort
Lapsana communis Nipplewort
Pulicaria dysenterica Common Fleabane
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle
Vicia sativa subsp. segetalis
Rumex conglomeratus Clustered Dock
Geranium rotundifolium Round-leaved Crane's-bill
Salix cinerea Grey Willows
Sonchus asper Prickly Sow-thistle
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Geranium pusillum Small-flowered Crane's-bill
Eupatorium cannabinum Hemp-agrimony
Oxalis articulata Pink-sorrel
Phragmites australis Common Reed
Rumex sanguineus Wood Dock
Rumex crispus Curled Dock
Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dog's-tail
Veronica serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved Speedwell
Geum urbanum Wood Avens
Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry
Juncus effusus Soft-rush
Carex pendula Pendulous Sedge
Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed
Hyacinthoides hispanica agg. Spanish & Hybrid Bluebells
Galium aparine Cleavers
Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot
Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail
Oenothera stricta Fragrant Evening-primrose
Viola odorata Sweet Violet
Silene gallica var. quinquevulnera Small-flowered Catchfly
Dipsacus fullonum s.s. Wild Teasel
Juncus bufonius s.s. Toad Rush
Urtica dioica Common Nettle
Poa trivialis Rough Meadow-grass
Fumaria muralis Common Ramping-fumitory
Veronica hederifolia Ivy-leaved Speedwell
Senecio vulgaris Groundsel
Urtica urens Small Nettle
Calendula officinalis Pot Marigold
Stellaria media s.s. Common Chickweed
Ulex europaeus Gorse
Oxalis tetraphylla Four-leaved Pink-sorrel
Galinsoga parviflora Gallant Soldier

Next week is Invasive Species Week! To learn more about Invasive Species, our Biosecurity team are running several public events throughout the week:

🐝 Tuesday 23rd June - Ecoactive Network Lunch & Learn “Invasive Species Up Close: Asian Hornets and Beyond” – 12:30 – 13:30

🐝 Thursday 25th June - Be Plant Wise Stall at Ransoms Garen Centre – 09:00 – 12:00 & 13:00 – 16:00

🐝 Friday 26th June - Public stall at Charing Cross, St Helier - 09:00 – 17:00

🐝 Friday 26th June - Volunteer Invasive Species removal event at Le Port, St. Ouen - 09:30 -1 2:30

🐝 Saturday 27th June Public stall at Lower Charing Cross (opposite Sand Street carpark) – 09:00 – 17:00

Links in the comments!

Climate Jersey

🌿 Making Wildlife Count: The Importance of Biological Recording 🦋

Join us for a lunchtime talk this Wednesday, 17th June at 1.10pm in our Members’ Room.

Jon Rault will be exploring why biological recording is so vital to conservation, how it shapes evidence‑based decisions, and the incredible story behind Jersey’s 600,000 wildlife records curated by the Jersey Biodiversity Centre.

Discover what these records reveal about our island’s natural world and how your own observations can help shape the future of Biodiversity Centre

✨ Please let us know you're coming by reserving your ticket using the link below. ✨https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/making-wildlife-count-the-importance-of-biological-recording-tickets-1987121688462

A perfect way to spend your lunch break learning something meaningful and inspiring 🌱

Thurs 4th June
Somewhere in St Clement!
Last Thursday we met at a mostly gravelled parking area adjacent to an irrigation pond.
The few plants in the car park had not recovered from the drought and were pretty much dried out. Not a good start!

The grassy bank overlooking the pond was vibrant with Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris radicata) and Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) but much more interesting was the abundance of Small-flowered Crane's-bill (Geranium pussilum).
This species of Crane's-bill, with its tiny pale pink/lilac flowers is recorded infrequently across the island. It is fairly easy to separate from the Dove's-foot Crane's-bill (Geranium molle) which has larger flowers, stem hairs of mixed lengths and less divided leaf segments.

Other interesting finds were the Hare's-foot Clover (Trifolium arvense), White Mustard (Sinapis alba), Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum) and Fern-grass (Catapodium rigidum).

In total we recorded 103 species of wildflower - a fantastic result from a site which we had never thought to survey before!

TOMORROW 11th JUNE WE ARE MEETING AT ROZEL - IF YOU WISH TO JOIN US PLEASE MEET AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AT 10.00.

Here is the impressive list;
Lysimachia arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel
Lotus subbiflorus Hairy Bird's-foot-trefoil
Trifolium dubium Lesser Trefoil
Polypogon viridis Water Bent
Sonchus oleraceus Smooth Sow-thistle
Hypochaeris radicata Cat's-ear
Veronica arvensis Wall Speedwell
Polygonum aviculare agg. Knotgrass
Senecio vulgaris Groundsel
Polycarpon tetraphyllum Four-leaved Allseed
Chenopodium album agg. Fat-hen
Gnaphalium uliginosum Marsh Cudweed
Solanum nigrum Black Nightshade
Matricaria chamomilla Scented Mayweed
Stellaria media s.s. Common Chickweed
Galium aparine Cleavers
Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot
Malva sylvestris Common Mallow
Tanacetum parthenium Feverfew
Helminthotheca echioides Bristly Oxtongue
Papaver rhoeas Common Poppy
Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved Crane's-bill
Lepidium didymum Lesser Swine-cress
Geranium pusillum Small-flowered Crane's-bill
Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup
Galinsoga quadriradiata Shaggy Soldier
Ceratochloa cathartica Rescue Brome
Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear
Arabidopsis thaliana Thale Cress
Persicaria maculosa Redshank
Sagina apetala Annual Pearlwort
Oenanthe crocata Hemlock Water-dropwort
Papaver rhoeas Common Poppy
Salix cinerea Grey Willows
Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail
Prunella vulgaris Selfheal
Cyperus eragrostis Pale Galingale
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain
Viola odorata Sweet Violet
Petasites pyrenaicus Winter Heliotrope
Taraxacum Dandelions
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Cortaderia selloana Pampas-grass
Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog
Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed
Pulicaria dysenterica Common Fleabane
Acer campestre Field Maple
Bellis perennis Daisy
Hedera hibernica Atlantic Ivy
Lotus corniculatus Common Bird's-foot-trefoil
Galium album Hedge Bedstraw
Ulmus glabra x minor x plotii = U. x hollandica Dutch Elm
Lotus pedunculatus Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil
Typha latifolia Bulrush
Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort
Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle
Rumex sanguineus Wood Dock
Poa trivialis Rough Meadow-grass
Rubus fruticosus agg. Brambles
Hypericum tetrapterum Square-stalked St John's-wort
Jacobaea vulgaris Common Ragwort
Juncus bufonius s.s. Toad Rush
Sonchus asper Prickly Sow-thistle
Cyperus longus Galingale
Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's-purse
Parietaria judaica Pellitory-of-the-wall
Persicaria amphibia Amphibious Bistort
Plantago major Greater Plantain
Euphorbia peplus Petty Spurge
Arctium minus s.s. Lesser Burdock
Medicago polymorpha Toothed Medick
Epilobium hirsutum Great Willowherb
Veronica persica Common Field-speedwell
Catapodium rigidum Fern-grass
Geranium molle Dove's-foot Crane's-bill
Trifolium arvense Hare's-foot Clover
Erodium moschatum Musk Stork's-bill
Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed
Vulpia myuros Rat's-tail Fescue
Valerianella carinata Keeled-fruited Cornsalad
Geranium rotundifolium Round-leaved Crane's-bill
Lamium hybridum Cut-leaved Dead-nettle
Lapsana communis Nipplewort
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard
Corylus avellana Hazel
Urtica dioica Common Nettle
Urtica urens Small Nettle
Artemisia vulgaris Mugwort
Chenopodiastrum murale Nettle-leaved Goosefoot
Sinapis alba White Mustard
Spergularia rubra Sand Spurrey
Sagina filicaulis Slender Pearlwort
Sambucus nigra Elder
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle
Epilobium parviflorum Hoary Willowherb
Medicago lupulina Black Medick
Festuca rubra agg. Red Fescues
Populus Poplars
Crepis capillaris Smooth Hawk's-beard
Anisantha sterilis Barren Brome
Hordeum murinum Wall Barley
Fumaria capreolata subsp. capreolata White Ramping Fumitory

A serious misdemeanour ... where would our wildlife be without plants? In fact where would we be ...🤔

Please look after our wildlife during this dry weather!

Please remember during this hot weather to keep putting clean fresh water out for your garden birds every day while also keeping it topped up in the afternoons if necessary!

All birds will need to drink plenty throughout the day while also bathing at least once to keep themselves in great condition.
It’s also very important to remember to keep your water bowls and bird baths clean to stop any build up of harmful bacteria.

Photo of a Blue Tit having a bath by Alan Gicquel