length of the Forest Edge site of Lord Bushes but includes the extreme eastern portion of
the north edge. Underlying this area is London Clay and this almost certainly accounts
for the presence of field maple (Acer campestre) and black bryony (Tamus communis),
and probably also the sedge (Carex divulsa), which are more typical of basic soils. This
edge of the wood, until about 1939, bordered fields and this may explain the presence of
blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and white campion (Silence alba) and there is also the
possibility that the elm suckers (Ulmus sp.) originated from a tree planted along this
edge.
Also of interest, was the presence in 1978 (not seen in 1979) of common cow-wheat
(Melampyrum pratense) just inside the woodland near Squirrels Lane. This species
became common for a short period when the undergrowth was cleared from this edge of
Lords Bushes, following the building of houses along Forest Edge in the late 1930's
(Scott pers. comm.)
(7) Flora of the Ponds
The ponds Pl and P2 are not a natural feature in Lords Bushes, they originated as
gravel workings probably in the nineteenth century. Originally the workings were
drained but on the cessation of gravel extraction these two pits were dammed forming
the ponds we see today. From the photographs (Plates 3 and 4) taken from very nearly
same position we can see how the flora has changed, due mainly to infilling by beech
leaves and also the failure of the concrete dam. At one time the ponds must have had a
healthy ecology (carp were caught in pond P2 in the 1940's (Scott pers. comm.) but now
the flora and fauna are very poor reflecting the tendency to infill: present species include
reed sweet grass (Glyceria maxima) sallow (Salix cinerea) and Willowherb (Epilobium
hirsutum). 1 have included in the lists two species found around the edge of the ponds:
horsetail (Equisteum arvense) and gorse (Ulex europaeus), both these may have
originated at the time the pits were being actively dug for gravel and were consequently
more open.
CHECK LIST OF THE VASCULAR PLANTS
The following check-list summarises the locations of the higher plants in Lords
Bushes the numbers 1 -7 are the recording units previously referred to and located on
map 3(c).
Nomenclature follows that used in Jermyn. S.T. (34) with the exception of
Leycesteria formosa Wall.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
EQUISETACEAE
Equisetum arvense (Common Horsetail)
POLYPODIACEAE
Dryopteris dilatata (Broad Buckler-fern) 5
filix-mas (Male Fern) 1
Pteridium aquilinum (Bracken) 1 3 5
PINACEAE
Pinus sp. (Pine) 3
TAXACEAE
Taxus baccata (Yew) 1 3
RANUNCULACEAE
Aquilegia vulgaris (Columbine) 3
Ranunculus acris (Meadow Buttercup) 3
bulbosus (Bulbous Buttercup) 3
ficaria (Lesser Celandine) 4 5
flammula (Lesser Spearwort) 3
repens (Creeping Buttercup) 3 4 5
sceleratus (Celery-leaved Crowfoot) 3
25