Our 2025 members’ weekend and AGM will be 6 – 7th September 2025 at West Monkton, Taunton, Somerset.
Please send bookings by 31st July to the Meetings Secretary, Janet John wfs.meetings@gmail.com
Saturday 6th September: Morning Field Meeting: Roughmoor Pond and Longrun Meadow, Taunton
Leaders: Simon Leach and Steve Little
Meet at 9:45 am for a prompt 10:00 am start at Silk Mills Park and Ride, Silk Mills Road, Taunton, TA1 5AA; Grid ref: ST207255; What3Words: feel.keen.forced. If arriving by car, from the entrance to the P&R, bear left along the lane signposted for cars and just after a 5mph speed restriction sign turn left. We will congregate in this area of the car park, near an obvious footpath sign. Parking is free.
If you are arriving by public transport, there is a regular shuttle bus plying the route between Silk Mills P&R and Ruishton Gateway P&R via Taunton town centre. Please consult https://bustimes.org for the latest timetable. The journey takes about 15 minutes from central Taunton.
Splitting into two or three groups, we will start in the car park, where there are a few interesting species, such as Blue Fleabane Erigeron acris and abundant Wall Bedstraw Galium parisiense. We will then move into the adjacent grassland in search of other plants of interest. These include Wood Club-rush Scirpus sylvaticus, Grass Vetchling Lathyrus nissolia and the hybrid between Goat’s-beard and Salsify Tragopogon x mirabilis.
The terrain is flat and the paths are suitable for mobility scooters. Unfortunately, the toilets at the P&R are closed at weekends, although there is some cover among the vegetation along our intended route.
The event will finish at approximately 12:30 pm, giving people ample time to transfer to West Monkton Village Hall.
Afternoon AGM and meeting: West Monkton Village Hall
1pm: Assemble at West Monkton Village Hall for lunch. Unlike previous years, no buffet lunch will be provided. Members are requested to bring a packed lunch or make their own arrangements. Tea, coffee, biscuits and cake will be provided both at lunchtime and in the break after the AGM.
2pm: AGM (agenda to follow).
There will then be a short break followed by:
An illustrated talk by Fred Rumsey: The Continuing Discovery of our Native Flora
During the afternoon, entries to the Photographic Competition will be on display and the winners will be announced. We will have a photo identification quiz provided by Gareth Bursnall, this year focusing on plant fruits, and a plant identification quiz provided by Stephen Clarkson.
We also intend to have a small book sale, the proceeds of which will be donated to Society funds. If members have any botanical or other books that they think might be of interest, please bring them along (or send them with members who will be attending).
Sunday 7th September: All-day Field Meeting: Avalon Marshes, Somerset Levels
Leaders: Steve Parker and Helena Crouch
Meet from 10:00 am for a 10:30 am start at the Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road, Westhay, Somerset, BA6 9TT; Grid ref: ST 425 414; What3words: cave.logbook.icon.
The Centre has excellent facilities including an information centre and toilets. The café is open from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm and serves a wide variety of drinks and hot and cold refreshments. If required, there is supplementary parking in the bottom right corner of the car park (to the far right of the main buildings as you face them). Further information can be found at https://avalonmarshes.org.
Please allow ample time to get to the Centre. The journey from Taunton takes a good three quarters of an hour (slightly less from Bridgwater). Paying for parking at the Centre is voluntary, but a donation of £3 is suggested, which can be paid either using the RingGo app or using cash at the café or gallery. Bring a packed lunch.
We will congregate at the tables behind the craft-shop and in front of the café. Please wear walking boots and bring a packed lunch (or buy something at the café). We will then split into two groups. The walking will be on flat ground, including some damp grassland. A wide range of wetland plants can be expected, including Marsh Fern Thelypteris palustris, Royal Fern Osmunda regalis, Bog-myrtle Myrica gale, Milk-parsley Thysselinum palustre, Marsh Cinquefoil Comarum palustre, Frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Devil’s-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis and Ragged-Robin Silene flos-cuculi.
The event will finish by about 4:00 pm. As the site is also good for birds, you may wish to bring binoculars and a field guide.
Risk assessments for the field meetings will be provided to participants nearer the time.
Monday 8th September:
Unlike previous years, there will be no organised field meeting this day. However, nearer the time, a list of interesting local sites will be provided for members to refer to should they wish to stay on.
Travel Information
Buses 12 and 21A regularly connect Taunton town centre and West Monkton, taking 15-20 minutes and stopping near the Village Hall (the Thornash Close stop). Please check online for the latest timetables (https://bustimes.org).
For those arriving at the Saturday morning field meeting site by public transport, there should be no problem finding you a lift from there to the Village Hall in West Monkton. This will be organised on the day.
If you require transport from Taunton (or nearby) to the Avalon Marshes field meeting on the Sunday, please let Barbara Lewis (herbalist_barbara@hotmail.com or see mobile phone number above) know where you are going to be staying. If you are coming by car and are willing to take passengers both THERE AND BACK from Taunton to Avalon Marshes, please let Barbara know how many you can take.
Arrival at West Monkton Village Hall
From the M5:
The Village Hall is on Monkton Heathfield Road, West Monkton, TA2 8NE. From M5 Junction 25 take the A358 Toneway towards Taunton, go straight on at the first roundabout and at the next junction turn right onto the A38 Bridgwater Road. At a roundabout (c. half a mile) loop left along the A3259 and at another roundabout right along Milton Hill. Continue on Milton Hill, keeping left at a mini roundabout. Shortly afterwards, at a T-junction, turn right along Yallands Hill, go past the Merry Monk pub and the Village Hall (signposted) is about 100 metres beyond on the right. There is an overflow car park in the bottom left corner of the main car park.
From Silk Mills Park and Ride (after Saturday morning field meeting)
Turn right out of the P&R (signposted Minehead and Glastonbury) and then right at the next roundabout (signposted Glastonbury) along the A358 Staplegrove Road. Follow the A358 for about 2 miles (variously signposted Chard/Ilminster/M5) and, at a roundabout where the A358 heads off right, carry straight on along the A3259 Priorswood Road (be careful at this point not to go down Eastwick Road !). Go straight on at the next roundabout, past a left turning signposted to Cheddon Fitzpaine church and a red sign saying ‘new road layout’, and then take the next turning left, signposted to West Monkton. Carry on along this road until you see the Merry Monk pub on the right. The Village Hall is just after this on the right (signposted). The journey should take about 15 minutes.