Dereham, Norfolk, First Hunt
Sun 6 March 2022
10.30
Leader: Stephen Clarkson Meet at 10:30 in Cherry Tree car park, Theatre Street, Market Place, Dereham, NR19 2AX. Please park at the far northern end where we…
Devil’s Ditch and Newmarket Heath, Suffolk
Leader Alan Leslie
Meet at 10:00. We need to park on the small stretch of road running parallel to the north side of the A1304 which is accessed from the roundabout south-west of Newmarket where the A1304 and A1303 meet at TL617.612. There is a bus stop on the A1304 right by the meeting point, serviced (once an hour) by the Stagecoach 12 bus from Cambridge to Ely. There are trains to Newmarket but the station is a good 30/40 minutes walk away.
In the morning we will walk along the Ditch to the SE and then along to the NW (and over the Heath) in the afternoon – access to the Heath is not possible until after 1.00pm to allow for the exercise of the horses!. We might consider a late transfer to the station area to see Pink Cotoneaster Cotoneaster roseus and Scorpion Senna Hippocrepis emerus.
There is a chance some Lizard Orchids Himantoglossum hircinum would still be out even if Pasque- flower Pulsatilla vulgaris would be in fruit and Spiked Speedwell Veronica spicata only in bud. Other attractions might be Spring Cinquefoil Potentilla verna, Lesser Meadow-rue Thalictrum minus, Field Fleawort Tephroseris integrifolia, Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum, Bastard-toadflax Thesium humifusum, Crown Vetch Securigera varia and Bulbous Meadow-grass Poa bulbosa, which will be in varying stages of development.
Since we will be walking along the Ditch be aware that the going can be steep at times and if wet can be slippery. This could be a long day so bring plenty of provisions!
To book, contact Janet John wfs.meetings@gmail.com or phone 01753 884490
Click to bookImportant information about One Day Meeting
- Field meetings are open to all members of the Society. Guests may also attend meetings. Children are welcome but remain the responsibility of parents/guardians at all times.
- Leaders have received updated procedures and recommendations to ensure the safety of members on meetings with regard to Covid-19. These include maintaining social distancing and perhaps limiting numbers at a meeting depending on terrain.
- To receive monthly updates with details about availability of places or changes to arrangements in meetings and information about extra meetings, sign up for the WFS Alerts system.
- Please DO NOT bring dogs as many field meetings are held in nature reserves or where there are grazing animals. Registered guide dogs may be exempt from this requirement, unless they are prohibited by the landowners. Please check with the meeting organiser.
- Transport and accommodation is the responsibility of the attendee. However, members who do not drive or who have difficulty in reaching the starting point should contact the leader, whose details you will be given when you book, to see if transport might be available.
- Please arrive promptly for the meeting. If you have traffic problems let the leader know so they can advise on the route and how you can find the group.
- When you arrive at the meeting, park considerately, act responsibly, bearing in mind the Countryside Code, and stay with the group. Always inform the leader if you must leave before the end of a meeting.
- Packed lunches are usually required and need to be carried.
- All those attending Wild Flower Society field meetings do so at their own risk.