Wiltshire Botanical Society
Welcome
Welcome to the Wiltshire Botanical Society. Our roots began in the 1980's when volunteers made a thorough and detailed survey of Wiltshire's flora, culminating in the publication of the Flora of Wiltshire in 1993. Instead of disbanding, the members joined together to form the Wiltshire Botanical Society. The society's aims are to:
- Foster botanical knowledge and to encourage interest in our local flora
- Increase members' knowledge and skills
- Publicise threats to habitats and populations of wild plants
- Undertake field meetings
- Contribute botanical records to local and national recording schemes
Plant of the Month
October
Annual Wall-rocket Diplotaxis muralis
Easily recognisable (when in flower) as a species of crucifer with gorgeous deep yellow flowers, but which one? Break off a leaf and sniff it and you'll immediately be taken back to the heady days of summer salads by the distinctive aroma of rocket.
Annual Wall-rocket flowers all summer and on into autumn as long as mild weather lasts. In Wiltshire it is relatively uncommon, but may be found in two main habitats: pavement cracks and wall-pavement angles in towns and villages and in disturbed ground on chalk downland (especially Salisbury Plain). On the plain it often grows with Hairy Rocket Erucastrum gallicum but that plant has pale yellow flowers and is hairier.
Join Us!
We pride ourselves on being are a very friendly society and we welcome new members, whatever their age, background or level of botanical knowledge. Annual membership costs £15 (single) and £20 for couples. To join, please email Martin Buckland.
Not sure if it's for you? Potential new members are very welcome to join us free of charge for a few field meetings before committing to membership.
Website Contributions
We always welcome news and contributions for our website. Please send them to the Webmaster, Sharon Pilkington.
