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
June
Fern-grass Catapodium rigidum
A small annual grass that often only grows to around 10 cm tall. Plants on very dry substrates may be even smaller. Although it’s very common with us, its small stature and habit of growing in pavement cracks and on wall-tops and in other unappealing situations means it may not be recorded as often as it should. It also grows in chalk grassland, especially barish disturbed ground such as tracks.
Subspecies majus has been found once or twice in Wiltshire – a larger, well-branched plant, it is easily recognisable.
Sea Fern-grass C. marinum is spreading along our trunk road network in places where road salt permeates the road verges. It forms dense, dark green patches of spike-like plants that become conspicuous in June and July. A good place to see it is along the A36 between Warminster and Wylye.
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.
