A rather disappointing turnout for an all-day meeting hosted by Nicky and Simon Johnson. Unfortunately Nicky was confined to barracks with a broken ankle, but Simon led a select group round the middle part of Hartoft dale south of High Mires. We saw very much the same plants as on our 2019 trip (not surprisingly), but did record a few new ones [list to amend], including the very attractive Chickweed Wintergreen which used to be known as Trientalis europaea but is now Lysimachia europaea. [Ed: I do wish they’d stop changing the Latin names!].

On our return from the walk we had a very pleasant afternoon in the garden; we even got a glimpse of the sun! Over a very welcome cup of tea we enjoyed the view and the wonderful birdlife at the top of the dale, including curlew, peewit, a cuckoo (heard but not seen), many different finches including some beautiful siskins in full breeding plumage and to top it off the sound of a distant turtle dove.

Gill Smith 2023