top of the hill

The border of area runs northeast along a ridgeline, before turning southeastwards along a drainage line from the summit.

This morning I walked the circuit up the near side of the hill, and then looping back through the Florula Urbana area on the far side of the hill.

Near the summit are three species not found at lower altitudes - heather (Calluna vulgaris), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and heath bedstraw (Galium saxatile). At the same location, but probably also to be found elsewhere, is common orache (Atriplex patula).

On the reverse side of the hill I found second localities for sticky groundsel (Senecio viscosus), hairy bindweed (Calystegia pulchra), and hop trefoil (Trifolium campestre). I also encounted a ragwort (Senecio sp.) that I couldn't place (perhaps a short-ligulate form of common ragwort).

[Hop trefoil is probably widespread in the area, but earlier in the year it is difficult to distinguish from black medick.]

Down in the town, in an area of scrubland between housing estates, were gorse (Ulex europaeus) and Japanese knotweed (Persicaria japonica) - these can be found elsewhere, but I seem to have neglected to record them.

four more

About a week ago I used a slightly different route to the town centre (I was heading to different shops from usual), and found sticky groundsel (Senecio viscosus) growing alongside a street.

Today I took a different route to the supermarket (through an industrial estate, and then along the footpath along its northern boundary). Along the footpath there was hairy bindweed (Calystegia pulchra) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus), and also another site for French cranesbill (Geranium endressii).

At the Working Mens Club near the supermarket blue fleabane (Erigeron acer) was found.

assorted species

The fishing pond which has yellow, fringed and pink water lilies turns out to also have white water lily (Nymphaea alba). The surrounding woods have common hemp-nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit)).

The St. John's Wort noted at the edge of the park turns out to be tall tutsan (Hypericum ×inodorum). The park also has marsh cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum), common centaury (Centaurium erthyraea), wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), water mint (Mentha aquatica) and enchanter's night shade (Circaea lutetiana).

chickweed

I was filing (or deleting) some photographs taken on the 14th of June. Among them was one of a chickweed, which by the counting of stamens is identified as common chickweed (Stellaria media).

nature reserve

Up against the southern boundary of the area is an area of woodland (including a deep valley) managed as a nature reserve. On Friday I explored some of the paths through this. It has a variety of tree species, which are regenerating. These include hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), swedish whitbeam (Sorbus intermedia), holly (Ilex aquifolium), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastaneum), field maple (Acer campestre), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa and oak (Quercus sp.). Hazel (Corylus avellana is also present, as are bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) and field rose (Rosa arvensis agg.).

To reach the reserve I pass through an retail/industrial estate. Here I saw seedlings of Norway maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), and on the boundary of that estate spotted dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum), a St. Johns wort (Hypericum sp.) and cat's ear (Hypocharis radicata).

roses

I haven't looked at roses in the Florula Urbana area as closely as in the Florula Prima area, but both field rose (Rosa arvensis agg.) and dog rose (Rosa canina agg.) are present. In addition three specimens of many-flowered rose (Rosa multiflora) are present along a section of canal bank.

recent observations

Yesterday, at the loop of canal where I previously recorded Cardamine amara, I observed marsh (Stachys arvensis) and hybrid (Stachys ×ambigua) woundworts, hedge bindwind (Calystegia sepium), meadowsweet (Filependulina ulmaria) and yellow water lily (Nuphar lutea).

Other recent observations include black-bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus) and black horehound (Ballota nigra).