(see http://www.organicresearchcentre.com). 



Jo explained that agro-forestry is a type of integrated land use which balances productivity with 

 environmental protection. At the trial site in Flatbottom Field, strips of short rotation coppice had 

 recently been planted, with 12 metre alleys of grassland remaining between them. The trees were 

 faster growing Willow Salix viminalis and Alder, which grows more slowly but fixes nitrogen. Both 

 species should thrive in the damp clay loam soil. Competition from other vegetation was reduced by 

 using a photo-degradable barrier, which it was hoped would be more effective than the jute tried 

 previously. Once the trees are established, they can be cut every 2-3 years and converted to wood 

 chip for bio-energy, or possibly used as fodder for grazing animals. The effect of different management 

 techniques on the trees and their environment will be evaluated. 



The walk then followed the farm trail, a permissive path round the farm funded under Countryside 

 Stewardship. Large numbers of St Mark's Flies Bibio marci were seen in Flatbottom. The adults 

 emerge around St Mark's Day (25 April) and live for only about a week. A diversion was made through 

 a small damp copse, where a variety of woodland plants and ferns were seen. The ditch between 

 Woodcote North and Quarry Field was interesting, with ferns including Hard Shield-fern Polystichum 

 aculeatum. Brimstone, Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines, Peacock and Green-veined White Pieris 

 napi butterflies were seen in the fields. An area of unimproved grassland with a small pond at the 

 eastern end of Quarry Field was botanically richer than the other pastures, with Pignut Conopodium 

 majus, Betony Stachys officinalis and Devil's-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis in the grassland, and 

 Monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus in the pond. Moschatel was found in the hedgerow at the eastem 

 edge of Flatbottom. The last stop was in Donkey Field, an area of damp unimproved grassland which 

 was rather overgrown. A large clump of Water Avens Geum rivale was in flower here, together with 

 Betony and Devil's-bit Scabious. An Orange-tip butterfly on Cuckoo Flower Cardamine pratensis was 

 being eaten by a spider. The group then returned to the Centre for welcome refreshments. When 

 preparing to leave, an Osprey Pandion fialiaetus being mobbed by a Red Kite Milvus milvus was 

 spotted overhead, rounding off an interesting visit. 



Saturday 26 May 



Chris Raper and Malcolm Storey led a field trip to BBOWT's Hartslock reserve near Goring on 

 Saturday 26 May. 15 members gathered on a hot and sunny afternoon with a strong easterly wind. 

 The Monkey Orchids Orchis simia were in full flower. The two Lady Orchids Orchis purpurea which 

 were in flower were a little past their best. They were first recorded on the reserve in about 1997 and 

 DNA analysis shows that they probably originated from Provence. The hybrid offspring of the Monkey 

 and Lady Orchids, which first appeared in 2002, are going from strength to strength. They are consid- 

 erably taller than either of their parents and share characters from both. So far, they have been well 

 behaved, keeping out of the main Monkey Orchid area and moving instead towards the woods - one 

 has already appeared on the outside of the fence. While Chris recounted the history of the hybrids, a 

 Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi butterfly fluttered about in the tree behind his head. 



Another speciality of the reserve is the Downy-fruited Sedge Carex filiformis, which grows in a small 

 patch near the bottom of the slope. Members of the group took it in turn to lie down and inspect the 

 fruits with a hand-lens. Retuming to the top of the hill, there was welcome shade in the wood, where 

 a few White Helleborines Cephalanthera damasonium were in flower. A number of butterflies were 

 flying on the hillside, including Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages, Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus, 

 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus, Common Blue Polyommatus icarus and more Green Hairstreaks. 

 Brimstones and Orange-tips were patrolling along the edge of the woods and a single new generation 

 Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae was seen. Moving further into the reserve, the Horseshoe Vetch 

 IHippocrepis comosa appeared to be doing particularly well. Pasqueflowers Pulsatilla vulgaris had 

 been introduced a few years ago. They had been planted in a regular grid, which made them easy to 

 find, and one was still in flower. Semi-parasitic Bastard-toadflax Thesium humifusum was growing 

 amongst the sward and a single specimen of the metallic blue Bastard-toadflax Bug, or Down 

 Shieldbug, Canthophorus impressus was captured for closer inspection. A Hobby Faico subbuteo was 

 watched as it flew over the woods and the fields next to the Thames. 



The fields at the top end of the valley are now being managed by BBOWT. Chris explained that these 

 had just been a sea of long grass when the Trust first took them over, but after a few seasons of hard 

 grazing, the structure, with its many anthills, has reappeared. From the far side of the field, Graham 

 Saunders heard an animal calling and spotted a Fox just inside the wood, carrying a Rabbit 



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