A wildlife diary
Mary Smith 33 Gaynes Park Road, Upminster, Essex, RM14 2HJ Tel: 01708 228921
On a sultry day in late July 6 people gathered at Kelvedon Hatch for a botanical survey
of the woods running to the North. We stalled on the street weeds, and the four different
Willowherbs caused some difficulties until Ken Adams sorted us, and the plants, out.
Some of us inspected the Swine-cress and Lesser Swine-cress growing side by side,
while others, chiefly Tim Pyner, explored the bryophytes on the walls. It was cooler
under the big trees in the woods and rather soft and soggy by the little stream. Opposite-
leaved Golden-saxifrage was soon admired, then Lady Fern and Yellow Pimpernel. Later
we saw Narrow Buckler-fern, to go with the much more common Broad Buckler-fern.
We sat at the edge of a field of ripe wheat to eat lunch, and found some pretty weeds in
the crop, among them the Sharp-leaved Fluellen. We were glad to see a collection of
field weeds in these days of modern farming where most weeds are not tolerated. One
of our number was also very taken with the numerous insects on the wing, and told us
interesting things about them. Thank you, Ken, for leading this day.
Several points struck me on this visit. First, was the pleasant surprise of finding several
uncommon plants in an area that none of us knew before, bringing to mind the idea that
Essex has many more delights yet to be discovered. Even though our county has been
inhabited by humans for millennia, and the environment continues to be altered by human
activities, there are still places, even quite close to towns, where treasured wild things
apparently thrive and are still unknown, waiting to be found.
Second, people frequently ask why the English names of plants are so complicated, and
say how hard they are to remember. I sympathise greatly with this; just look at some of
those quoted above! The standard English names we use now are built up from basic
names, such as Willowherb, meaning plants with willow-like leaves, and then have
adjectives in front to distinguish one type from another one that is closely related, such
as Short-fruited or Square-stalked. Often these adjectives are descriptive of a feature of
the plant, as above, or may be other things such as habitat types, so we have Annual
Meadow-grass and Hedge Woundwort. The ending 'wort' is common, and indicates a
herbal plant in traditional medicine. The familiar Shepherd's-purse is named after the
shape of the fruits, resembling a traditional item of clothing. Fluellens, according to
Chambers Dictionary, are named from the Welsh 'Llewelyn's herbs', medicinal plants
again, closely related to Toadflaxes, and here is another name with some long-forgotten
meaning not even known to my dictionaries. Many others are steeped in old traditions
or folk lore and are an interesting study in their own right. 'Practice makes perfect' is the
only hint I know to help in memorising them!
Early in September, I was delighted to see a Pigmy Shrew running across the path in
front of me in Belhus Woods Country Park. I was puzzled at first, thinking that it was
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 40, January 2003
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