alongside many stations (and sometimes even the platforms) are usually far richer in
plants than the adjacent farmland. I have recorded well over a hundred species from
stations on the Crouch Valley line, some of which are not often met with elsewhere in
Essex nowadays. Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea Lathyrus latifolius is not one of the
latter but it does seem to have a predilection for stations in this part of the County and
has colonised all those between Battlesbridge and Burnham although has not as yet
made the final leap to Southminster. So too Buddleia Buddleia davidii and at times I've
deliberately arrived early for a train at Burnham in midsummer simply to enjoy the
dozens of Peacocks Inachis io, Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta, Small Tortoiseshells
Aglais urticae, Commas Polygonia c-album and Painted Ladies Cynthia cardui flitting
along the platforms. Many grassland herbs such as Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare,
Perforate St John's Wort Hypericum perforatum, Wild Carrot Dauca carota and
Knapweed Centaura nigra are plentiful on the banks adjoining platforms and a few
scarcer species occur too. Of the thirty records of Wild Clary Salvia verbenaca listed in
the 1974 Flora, twelve are from railways, including Althorne Station, and it is pleasing
to report that thirty years on it still thrives there. Elsewhere, North Fambridge has a
good display of Twiggy Spurge Euphorbia x pseudovirgata; Strawberry Clover Trifolium
fragiferum finds the odd niche at Burnham and Rue-leaved Saxifrage Saxifraga
tridactylites has colonised the compacted soil of an old railway siding at Creeksea while
there are several fine clumps of Hart's Tongue Fern Phyllitis scolopendrium on a rai Iway
arch nearby. Southminster, though, boasts the greatest range of species. Surrounded by
old gravel pits, the hard sandy ground is an ideal habitat for the likes of Perennial Wall
Rocket Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Hare's Foot Clover Trifolium arvense, Knotted Clover
Trifolium striatum and Silver Hair Grass Aira caryophyllea while dozens of Large-
flowered Evening Primrose Oenothera glazioviana make a colourful display in
midsummer. There is already an ongoing survey of the County's churchyards and Peter
Harvey and others have demonstrated the enormous wildlife value of derelict land in the
vicinity of Lakeside and similarly built-up areas, so why not a survey of our railway
stations and sidings. True, it might lead to a few fatalities among ageing botanists (and
there doesn't seem to be many of us under fifty!) but the results might open the eyes of
many to the wildlife potential of our much maligned rail network!
The Spring was one of the driest on record, clear skies and sunshine prevailing between
early March and mid-May although they were often accompanied by a chilly easterly
breeze. It was ideal weather for migration but not, perversely, for migrants as there was
no need for them to break their journey on the coast and as a result friends in North
Wales often reported the commoner summer visitors on territory before they were seen
at Bradwell. The entire season produced only three records of Wheatear Oenanthe
oenanthe, a situation applicable to several other species which usually occur in good
numbers. Among the few unusual species to put in an appearance were a Great White
Heron Egretta alba in April, three Dotterel Charadrius morinellus - at Marshhouse
Outfall - and a Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus in May and a Quail Coturnix coturnix
and Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus in June, the last named bird flying slowly
10
Essex Field Club Newsletter No. 42, September 2003