Société Jersiaise Botany Section

Sunday 19th July - Wildflowers and Folklore
On another glorious Sunday morning, Action for Wildlife Jersey joined the wonderful Tina Hull for a Botany walk at Les Quennevais.
We started the event on the rather dead patch of grass, just outside the main entrance of the Sports Centre. To our delight Tina showed us a number of plants which were well and truly alive, many of which were blossoming in the dry conditions, with the help of a passing dog or two!
We discovered Sea Radish and Hoary Mustard, which seem to have the same cruciform yellow flower but have totally different seed heads!
Wall Barley, Common Mallow, Dandelion, Yarrow and Lesser Burdock. Four-leaved Allseed, Creeping Thistle, Mugwort and Giant Echium, to name but a few...
Yarrow was used by Achilles to heal his wounded solders, hence the scientific name Achillea millefolium. The 'millefolium' refers to the multitude of tiny white flowers in each head.
Mugwort is antibacterial and the Romans would put the leaves in their sandals to protect from weariness. They probably smoked the leaves too - a very useful insect repellent!
So many of our wildflowers were critical to our daily lives, we lived in harmony with them and cherished their individual properties.
Take a look next time you are out walking - amongst the dry grasses, dusty paths and dead leaves, our wildflowers are crying out to be noticed!

When you are looking at the wildflowers, please take note of the butterflies 😉

Islanders urged to spend 15 minutes counting butterflies this summer - Jersey Evening Post ISLANDERS are being urged to help assess the health of Jersey’s environment by counting butterflies for just 15 minutes. The annual Big Butterfly Count returns from Friday 17 July to Sunday 9 August. Participants across the UK and Channel Islands are encouraged to log which insects can be seen in ...

Join us next time, 24th July, 9.30 at Le Port

Well done to the teams from KPMG and Societe Jersiaise Botany Section for volunteering with our teams in Natural Environment during Invasive Species Week. The 28 volunteers removed 1,300kg of invasive Purple Dew Plant.

For future volunteering opportunities, visit: https://bit.ly/450Z0T7

Huge congratulations to everyone involved!!

We're incredibly proud to share that the project 'Forget-me-not: Restoring Jersey's Threatened Native Plants' was awarded Best Conservation Project Runner-up at this year's Intact Insurance – Intact Assurance Channel Islands Conservation Awards 🪻🌟

The judges recognised the project for its powerful work restoring one of Jersey's rarest native species, highlighting the clear signs of recovery, strong ecological impact and long-term value.

Whilst the award names two members of the Jersey Biodiversity Centre team, Emily Wagdin and Anne Haden, this project the result of the dedication of multiple organisations and individuals over several years including the Société Jersiaise, Société Jersiaise Botany Section, The Botanic Gardens at Samares Manor, and Infrastructure and Environment - I&E Biodiversity Team.

Well done to all involved! This was a true team effort than couldn't have been achieved without collaboration and passion 🌱💗

Thursday 2nd July
It was rather a damp morning when we met by the car showroom at Five Oaks to see a new site for the Laphangium luteoalbum (Jersey Cudweed) growing in the tarmac amongst the cars.

There are also a few plants in house driveways along the road. Growing in pavements, cracks in the road and on dry gravelly tracks seems to be the preferred habitat for this plant.

Walking along the lane we found Mespilus germanica (Medlar), noting the small fruit and thorns which is typical of the Wild Medlar.
Nearby, we were shocked to see destructive branchage methods had been undertaken with one particular tree being badly damaged and branches cut through.

The Epipactis helleborine (Broad-leaved Helleborine ) were delightful, with many still to flower, so they will be in bloom for a long while.
Like last year there were plants cut down and left on the ground, the reason remains a mystery, maybe rabbits were the cause?

A CONSERVATION TASK FOR YOUR DIARY:
10th July at 9.30
There will be a Purple Dewplant pull at La Port, St. Ouen.
A great opportunity to help remove this noxious pest.
Everybody is welcome to come and help.

OUR NEXT BOTANY WALK THIS THURSDAY 9TH JULY
10AM AT EGYPTE BOG
Please park along Rue de Platons, near the junction with La Rue de Cambrai, by the path leading down to the bog.
All welcome.

Thursday 18th
It was a dedicated bunch of botanists that met at St. Clement's Farm last Thursday, despite not being forecast,heavy rain showers appeared during the morning.
Undeterred, the team got out their brollys and continued exploring.
It was a great site botanically, with lots of wild field edges which held a good number of wildflowers.

For those who persevered to the end of the walk they were rewarded with large patches of Silene gallica var. quinquevulnera (Small-flowered Catchfly), with the dark pink colour variant.

We also found Oxalis tetraphylla (Four Leaved Pink Sorrel) which is only the second site known for this plant.
Another nice find was Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry).

The edge of the field held held Hypericum tetrapterum (Square-stalked St John's-wort).
In a gateway whilst sheltering from the rain we found the mauve colour variant of Lysimachia arvensis f. lilacina (Scarlet Pimpernel), which along with the Geranium pusillum (Small-flowered Crane's-bill), both of which seem to be St Clement specialists!

TOMORROW MORNING (25TH JUNE) WE SHALL BE SEEKING SHADE AT VAL DE LA MARE.
IF YOU WISH TO JOIN US, PLEASE MEET 10AM IN THE MAIN CAR PARK.

Here is the list last weeks endeavours;

Tripleurospermum inodorum Scentless Mayweed
Lepidium didymum Lesser Swine-cress
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard
Papaver dubium s.s. Long-headed Poppy
Helminthotheca echioides Bristly Oxtongue
Lysimachia arvensis Scarlet Pimpernel
Veronica persica Common Field-speedwell
Polycarpon tetraphyllum Four-leaved Allseed
Euphorbia peplus Petty Spurge
Parietaria judaica Pellitory-of-the-wall
Cymbalaria muralis Ivy-leaved Toadflax
Crepis capillaris Smooth Hawk's-beard
Chenopodium album s.s. Fat-hen
Chenopodiastrum murale Nettle-leaved Goosefoot
Euphorbia peplus Petty Spurge
Lolium perenne Perennial Rye-grass
Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's-purse
Plantago major Greater Plantain
Hypochaeris radicata Cat's-ear
Tanacetum parthenium Feverfew
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain
Matricaria discoidea Pineappleweed
Polygonum aviculare agg. Knotgrass
Ceratochloa cathartica Rescue Brome
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum s.s. Black Spleenwort
Hedera hibernica Atlantic Ivy
Solanum nigrum Black Nightshade
Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock
Mentha spicata Spear Mint
Trifolium repens White Clover
Poa annua Annual Meadow-grass
Lamium purpureum Red Dead-nettle
Polypodium interjectum Intermediate Polypody
Oxalis stricta Upright Yellow-sorrel
Malva sylvestris Common Mallow
Erodium moschatum Musk Stork's-bill
Taraxacum Dandelions
Medicago lupulina Black Medick
Persicaria maculosa Redshank
Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye Daisy
Lactuca serriola Prickly Lettuce
Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved Crane's-bill
Galinsoga quadriradiata Shaggy Soldier
Erigeron bonariensis Argentine Fleabane
Iris foetidissima Stinking Iris
Bellis perennis Daisy
Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear
Rubus fruticosus agg. Brambles
Medicago arabica Spotted Medick
Jacobaea vulgaris Common Ragwort
Vicia sativa Common Vetch
Armoracia rusticana Horse-radish
Veronica arvensis Wall Speedwell
Stachys sylvatica Hedge Woundwort
Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle
Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak
Hypericum tetrapterum Square-stalked St John's-wort
Lapsana communis Nipplewort
Pulicaria dysenterica Common Fleabane
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle
Vicia sativa subsp. segetalis
Rumex conglomeratus Clustered Dock
Geranium rotundifolium Round-leaved Crane's-bill
Salix cinerea Grey Willows
Sonchus asper Prickly Sow-thistle
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Geranium pusillum Small-flowered Crane's-bill
Eupatorium cannabinum Hemp-agrimony
Oxalis articulata Pink-sorrel
Phragmites australis Common Reed
Rumex sanguineus Wood Dock
Rumex crispus Curled Dock
Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dog's-tail
Veronica serpyllifolia Thyme-leaved Speedwell
Geum urbanum Wood Avens
Fragaria vesca Wild Strawberry
Juncus effusus Soft-rush
Carex pendula Pendulous Sedge
Calystegia sepium Hedge Bindweed
Hyacinthoides hispanica agg. Spanish & Hybrid Bluebells
Galium aparine Cleavers
Dactylis glomerata Cock's-foot
Equisetum arvense Field Horsetail
Oenothera stricta Fragrant Evening-primrose
Viola odorata Sweet Violet
Silene gallica var. quinquevulnera Small-flowered Catchfly
Dipsacus fullonum s.s. Wild Teasel
Juncus bufonius s.s. Toad Rush
Urtica dioica Common Nettle
Poa trivialis Rough Meadow-grass
Fumaria muralis Common Ramping-fumitory
Veronica hederifolia Ivy-leaved Speedwell
Senecio vulgaris Groundsel
Urtica urens Small Nettle
Calendula officinalis Pot Marigold
Stellaria media s.s. Common Chickweed
Ulex europaeus Gorse
Oxalis tetraphylla Four-leaved Pink-sorrel
Galinsoga parviflora Gallant Soldier

Next week is Invasive Species Week! To learn more about Invasive Species, our Biosecurity team are running several public events throughout the week:

🐝 Tuesday 23rd June - Ecoactive Network Lunch & Learn “Invasive Species Up Close: Asian Hornets and Beyond” – 12:30 – 13:30

🐝 Thursday 25th June - Be Plant Wise Stall at Ransoms Garen Centre – 09:00 – 12:00 & 13:00 – 16:00

🐝 Friday 26th June - Public stall at Charing Cross, St Helier - 09:00 – 17:00

🐝 Friday 26th June - Volunteer Invasive Species removal event at Le Port, St. Ouen - 09:30 -1 2:30

🐝 Saturday 27th June Public stall at Lower Charing Cross (opposite Sand Street carpark) – 09:00 – 17:00

Links in the comments!

Climate Jersey

🌿 Making Wildlife Count: The Importance of Biological Recording 🦋

Join us for a lunchtime talk this Wednesday, 17th June at 1.10pm in our Members’ Room.

Jon Rault will be exploring why biological recording is so vital to conservation, how it shapes evidence‑based decisions, and the incredible story behind Jersey’s 600,000 wildlife records curated by the Jersey Biodiversity Centre.

Discover what these records reveal about our island’s natural world and how your own observations can help shape the future of Biodiversity Centre

✨ Please let us know you're coming by reserving your ticket using the link below. ✨https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/making-wildlife-count-the-importance-of-biological-recording-tickets-1987121688462

A perfect way to spend your lunch break learning something meaningful and inspiring 🌱