10
was dominated by bracken (P. aquilinum) with
bluebells (H. non-scripta), wood sage
(Teucrium scorodonia), wood sorrel (Oxalis
acetosella), dogs mercury (Mercurialis
perennis), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and
a range of grasses all being recorded. In the
more grassy areas, the common tormentil
(Potentilla erecta) was flowering. By mid-
summer the bracken produced almost a continuous
field layer and the efficiency of the large
leaf area at intercepting the limited amount of
light penetrating the summer canopy was illus-
trated by the success of this plant. The
species found were generally in accordance with
the soil type found — a medium clay, slightly
acid. Mosses, liverworts and lichens were
found on old tree stumps but moisture levels
were generally too low for an established
ground layer. Ivy (Hedera helix) and
lichens (such as Cladonia coniocraea) were
recorded passing through all the woodland
layers extending from the ground upwards
towards the canopy.
Area 3
A pond of standing water, cleared and dug out a
few years ago, varying in area and volume with
the time of the year, but of some 1800 square
feet and a depth of up to about 8 feet. The
pond was examined superficially and netted
around the margins out to some 10 feet and at
all levels. The "catch" was examined in trays
and then returned. In previous years this
pond was reported to be poorly populated by
plant and animal life. Through the year of
this survey, too, the numbers of plants
recorded were few.