FIELD MEETINGS, 1949 
.49 
dunes, growing with var. hinceolota, whilst a form of Tjamiuvfi alhumi 
with a ])ink upper lip to the corolla was noticed near Berrow Chui’cli. 
Conditions for botanizing were, liowever, not particularly good, owing 
to a strong, cool wind, and later rain turned the iiarty hack towards 
^ the road, where the coaches were waiting. Before an excellent tea, 
which was provided at Burnham, some members of the party examined 
the salt marshes around the mouth of the River Bure, whilst others 
])aid a short visit to Brean Down. 
On Monday the members and their friends again made use of public 
transport, which took them to the hamlet of Blagdon, some four miles 
south of Taunton and on the north slope of the Blackdown Hills, and 
about four miles from the Thurlbear localities visited on the Saturday. 
Here the* ground is considerably higher, and as one climbs the escarp- 
ment one passes from the alkaline soils of the Lower Lias to the acid 
soils of the Greensand. The party visited Prior’s Park Wood, and, fol- 
lowing the track up the valley, reached Hawk’s Moor, where a flora 
was seen very different from anything seen on Saturday. The transition 
from alkaline to acid soil was very marked, and soon after reaching the 
Greensand, a most interesting alder wood was seen. In great quantity 
on the sloping, boggy floor of this wood were magnificent plants of 
Athyrinm filltix-femitui, and in between was an association of Caltha 
pdlustris, Viola palustris and Valeriana officinalis. On the drier slopes 
Dryopteris Tiorreri was conspicuous, as were foxgloves, which had been 
seen neither lower down nor at Thurlbear. Above, a typical flora of a 
damp heath was in evidence. At the lunch interval a hearty vote of 
thanks to the Leaders was passed. The jiarty then gradually dispersed, 
as some of us had to catch early trains at Taunton. As was to have 
been expected in this district, no startling discoveries were made, yet 
a most enjoyable week-end was spent botanizing in truly delightful 
country, whilst the arrangements for the meeting, so admirably planned 
by the leader and his hel])ers, left nothing to be desired. Thanks must 
be expres.sed to Aliss iM. MeCallura "Webster for the lists of species made 
by her during the meeting. 
• A list of all the species of vascular plants noted in the various habi- 
tats, both at Thurlbear and Blagdon, has been prepared, but owing to 
editoi-ial difficulties it has been impossible to publish it here. It is, how- 
ever, hoped that it may be juiblished elsewhere. 
E. M.-R. 
MAY 28th. BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT. 
Leader: Dr R. C. L. Burges. 
The arrangements for this day excursion were carried out by the 
Botanical Section of the Birmingham Natural History Society. The 
main object of this meeting was to enable Alidland members of the 
B.S.B.I. to visit, in the company of local liotanists, an interesting 
botanical district. The well-known Hartlebury Common was selected. 
