Bulletin / British Pteridological Society.Bulletin /British Pteridological Society.

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Officers and Committee from October 1997

President: M.H. Rickard

Vice-Presidents: J.H. Bouckley, Dr N.J. Hards, Dr T.G. Walker, J.R. Woodhams
Honorary General Secretary and A.R. Busby
Archivist: ‘Croziers’, 16 Kirby Corner Road, Canley, Coventry CV4 8GD
Tel: 01203 715690

Membership Secretary: M.S. Porter, 5 West Avenue, Wigton, iene CA7 9LG
: 016973 43086

Treasurer: A.M. Leonard, |1 Victory Road, Portsmouth, ‘Hans PO1 3DR
E-mail: GBZURALE@IBMMAIL.COM

Meetings Secretary: P.J. Acock, 13 Star Lane, St Mary Cray, Kent BR5 3LJ
Editors ax the Fern Gaze Miss J.M. Camus & J.A. Crabbe

epartment of S55 The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, pete SW7 5BD

- .CAMUS @NHM.AC.UK

Editor — Pteridologist: Pa f. B.A. Thomas
Department of Geography, University of Wales Lampeter, Lampeter, Ceredigion SA38 7ED

Fax: 01570 424714, E-mail: B. THOMAS @LAMP.AC.UK

Editor of Bulletin: Miss A.M. Paul
Department of Botany, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD

-mail: AMP@NHM.AC.UK

Editor of BPS WWW Site: A.C. Pigott
Kersey’s Farm, setae eat Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 5RB

ail: ANTHONY.PIGOTT @ BTINTERNET.COM

Committee: E.J. Baker, Miss J.M. ce A.C. Jermy, Miss H.S. McHaffie,
M - Murphy, Mrs M.E. Nimmo-Smith, M.S. Porter, R.N. Timm, Prof. A.C. Wardlaw
Conservation Officer: R.J. Cooke, 26 Lancaster Street, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2PY
Spore Exchange Organisers: Mr & Mrs B. Wright
130 Prince Rupert Drive, Tockwith, York YOS5 8PU

Plant Exchange Organisers: Mr & Mrs R.J. Smith

184 Solihull Road, Shirley, Solihull, Warwicks. B90 3LG
Booksales Organiser: _§.J. Munyard, 234 Harold Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 5NG
Trustees of Greenfield and Centenary Funds: M.H. Rickard, A.R. Busby, A.M. Leonard

The BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY was founded in 1891 and today continues as a focus s for

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Gazete, P ter arlene and Bulletin, are published annually. The Fern Gazette publishes matter chiefly of
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misso"

THE 98
BULLETIN ris &
OF THE ensues Sons

BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Vol. 5 1997 No. 2

RETIRING PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

(Presented after the AGM at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Surrey, 18 October 1997)
THE WANDERINGS OF A FERN CYTOLOGIST Dr T.G. Walker

As one approaches middle age (!) it is the time for reminiscing and the realisation that
at certain stages of one’s life particular events have shaped the future and, especially
when one is faced with alternatives, choices have to be made. This has happened several
times to me.

Having been born and spent the first part of my life in York, a rich biological area, it is
not surprising that I grew up with an interest in natural history although as a schoolboy
I was much less fascinated by plants and concentrated on beetles and aquatic life.

The first significant step in my later botanical career was, rather surprisingly, through
National Service. I joined the Royal Air Force a few months after the war ended and
was posted to India. Although mainly stationed in Delhi and the Ganges Plain where the
summer temperature hit 123°F, I spent my leave in the foothills of the Himalayas at
about 7000ft and enjoyed the cooler air and the smell of conifers as well as breathtaking
views of the highest peaks of the range. I was fortunate also in seeing great historical
events — the last days of the Raj, the division of India and Independence. When this took
place our unit was moved to Singapore where I spent about a year. This time spent in
India and Singapore opened my eyes to the staggering richness of plant and animal life
and gave me a life-long love of the tropics.

On demobilisation I applied for botany courses at
the Universities of Leeds and of Newcastle and
was accepted for both. There was little advice for
prospective students in those days and I plumped
for Leeds by chance — the first crossroads! If I had
gone to Newcastle I would most probably have
taken up plant physiology, as the Botany
Department there, under Prof. Meirion Thomas,
was a leader in this field. If so, I would probably
not have met my wife and probably would have
had no connection with ferns and hence not made
friends at Kew, the Natural History Museum and
elsewhere.

A | This period (c.1948) was a great time in the
photo: A.C. Wardlaw universities since approximately 90% of the new
Trevor Walker at BPS AGM 1997 __ Students were ex-servicemen who brought a
mature, fresh outlook on things and were

45

instrumental in sweeping aside a lot of the old restrictive rules. They worked hard,
played hard, and never mixed the two. Indeed, they demonstrated the enormous value
of taking a break between school and university.

At Leeds I became fascinated by the pteridophytes, thanks to Dr Arthur Sledge’s
enthusiasm, and by cytology under Prof. Irene Manton’s tuition. These two interests
came together when I started research. At this time British ferns were being worked on
in the Botany Department by Stanley Walker (Dryopteris), Molly Shivas (Polypodium
vulgare sensu late and Asplenium adiantum-nigrum group) and at the same time as I
was starting so also was John Lovis (Asplenium trichomanes complex). The obvious
choice for me, with my bent for the tropics, was to take on the Pteris quadriaurita
complex in Ceylon, which was known to be a problem. (The whole thing has gone full
circle in that after concentrating on other problems, last year I wrote up Preris for the
fern volume of the Flora of Ceylon.) My work as a research student involved frequent
visits to Kew (where Ballard was in charge of ferns, the incomparable Bert Bruty looked
after the living collections and Sir Edward Salisbury was Director) and to the BM
(where Alston had responsibility for ferns), starting an association with these two
institutes that has continued for the past 45 years.

Halfway through my studentship in 1954 I went to Ceylon with Arthur Sledge to do
field work and see the plants ‘in action’. Later in the same year the International
Botanical Congress was held in Paris. This, for me, stood out for two things: the first
was that Manton presented a paper on her new work on electron microscopy and it is
the only time in my life that I have seen someone being given a standing ovation at a
scientific meeting. The second was that I met Prof. Holttum for the first time. He
quickly realised that fern chromosome numbers could help to solve some questions of
relationships between genera and we collaborated in a general sort of way for the rest
of his life.

Two years later, in 1956, Molly Shivas and I were awarded our PhDs and celebrated by
getting married! The next year we went to Jamaica, I on an exchange lectureship at the
University College of the West Indies as it was then, whilst Molly taught biology in
three boys schools in Kingston. Jamaica is very rich in pteridophytes — over 600 taxa —
and we were lucky in having Dick Proctor to show us the best collecting areas and to
identify our hauls. This was the only time on my various collecting trips that I had the
time and facilities to do much of the actual cytology on the spot, making permanent
Slides etc. Ever after, the procedure on collecting trips has been to make cytological
fixations in the field and send them home to be examined when convenient. At the same
time we collected living plants which went to Newcastle and to Kew in addition to
making voucher herbarium specimens.

Mr Alston died whilst we were in Jamaica and on our return we invited his successor,
Clive Jermy, to Leeds and that was the start of a long period of friendship and
collaboration. In 1959 I was appointed to Newcastle University where I have been ever
since. I returned to Jamaica a further twice for short visits and then Clive and I went to
Trinidad for a short spell in 1963, both to study the ferns and as a trial of the
practicalities of joint collecting ventures. The outcome was that we went on several
collecting trips together very amicably, despite Clive’s love of corned beef for which I
had developed a loathing as a result of my experience in the Forces!

Air travel, prior to the early 1960s, was just starting to come into its own and the
Ceylon, some Jamaican and the first Trinidad visits were all by ship. Speed, however.
became essential and thereafter we flew — if lucky on privilege flights of the RAF. Once

46

at our destination we got about the country in a variety of ways — by road, by air, on foot
etc. We usually camped out and on longer trips set up makeshift laboratories for
processing the specimens. Many of these visits were not without incident, including
experiencing a typhoon and earthquakes, having a platoon of soldiers for protection
against insurgents, the casting out of magic spells, and careering down a mountain in a
car just ahead of a succession of landslides that closed the road behind us!

During this time-span the methods
of obtaining meiotic chromosome
counts have altered relatively little,
thanks to the effectiveness of

ihr methods have undergone
great changes. When I first started
research almost the only means was
by the lengthy and tedious process
of embedding fixed roots in paraffin
wax, followed by sectioning,
staining, dehydration a mounting.
This was adequate to give
approximate results and _ to
determine the level of ploidy but
not sufficiently accurate to
determine chromosome numbers
exactly. The major breakthrough
came when it was found that it was
photo: N.deN.Winser — possible to make root tip squashes
Trevor Walker preserving specimens at Base Camp, using much more drastic methods
Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, 1978. than were needed for flowering
plants. In the early days this
involved boiling the root tips for a few minutes in aceto-carmine, usually without
benefit of a fume-cupboard. You can imagine the smell on ‘squashing days’ with acetic
acid vapour pouring through the labs — Health and Safety in those days was virtually
non-existent! Later on, it was found that the use of snail cytase and other reagents was
effective and without smell. Although only a tiny percentage of the cells were in
metaphase as compared with the root of a flowering plant, nevertheless excellent
squashes could now be obtained which gave completely accurate counts and which in
exceptionally good cases could enable karyograms to be constructed.

Thus my botanical life has consisted of bursts of physical activity whilst collecting in
the tropics, followed by long spells back home tied to the laboratory bench processing
the material. Although it is now a few years since my last visit abroad I am continuing
the work by growing at home a number of ferns that pose particular problems, and of
course there’s always plenty to be done in the herbarium. Although my interests have
been so focused on tropical ferns, my term as President of the BPS has been of immense
satisfaction to me, seeing the enthusiasm of members for this fascinating group of
plants. I congratulate the Society on maintaining its standard of meetings over the many
years since its creation and in the range and high quality of its publications thanks to
hard-working and dedicated editors. It only remains for me to congratulate Martin
Rickard as the incoming President and to wish him well in his term of office.

47

NATIONAL FIELD MEETINGS 1997

NORFOLK BROADS - 6-8 June Rose Murphy

This was a meeting with a very clear aim — a search for good populations of Dryopteris
cristata in various NNRs (National Nature Reserves) and SSSIs (Sites of Special
Scientific Interest) associated with the Broads of East Norfolk. At each site, samples
were collected for the Natural History Museum study of genetical variation in
Dryopteris cristata.

We met first on Friday evening at the Sutton Staithe Hotel by one of the Broads. Here
we were introduced to Jo Parmenter, a local ecologist, and Phil Heath, a liaison officer
with the Broads Authority, who were co-leaders with Clive Jermy for this meeting.
Together, they had organised boat trips and drop-off points so that many Dryopteris
cristata sites could be visited.

On the Saturday, after an introductory talk on the history of the Broads by Clive, we
drove to Fenside (63/366214). Anthony Pigott had brought along a Global Positioning
System (GPS) receiver that used rays transmitted by satellites to determine where we
Were in terms of latitude and longitude, or more useful to us, by grid reference; it
worked whether we were in the middle of reed-swamp or even under birch scrub. It was
to prove invaluable.

Walking across Catfield Fens (owned by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and Butterfly
Conservation) we saw the first plants of Dryopteris cristata, growing with
D. carthusiana, Equisetum fluviatile and an abundance of Thelypteris palustris.
Scattered throughout the fen were fine specimens of Osmunda regalis, A path by one of
the drains (63/365218) led us to the moored flat-bottomed boats that were to be our
main transport for the day. Along this path several of us were delighted to see
swallowtail butterflies (Papilio machaon), so rare nationally, yet so abundant here.
Before getting into the boats, a detour was made into nearby birch scrub (63/365213)
where there was more Osmunda and Thelypteris, but also Athyrium filix-femina and the
two hybrids, Dryopteris x deweveri and D. x uli ginosa growing with the parent species.

Travelling in a flat-bottomed boat, going down the dyke and the River Ant as far as How
Hill and Reedham Marsh, proved very enjoyable. Passing through the reed marshes we
saw two men harvesting both the reeds (Phragmites australis) and the saw-sedge
(Cladium mariscus) and learnt that the tough saw-sedge was reserved for the ridge
capping of thatched roofs while the reed was used for the pitch. The vegetation down
the Ant valley is evidently the typical sub-community of the tall-herb fen that is so
characteristic of the Broads. Marked by an abundance of Phragmites australis and
Peucedanum palustris (milk-parsley), the food plant for the caterpillars of the
swallowtail butterfly, it supports Thelypteris palustris in fair quantity as was observed
in the Catfield Fens. At intervals, however, patches of birch woodland growing on
slightly raised ground replace the tall-herb fen, Marked by hummocks of Sphagnum
bog, it was this habitat that was home to Dryopteris cristata. Our first drop-off point, at
63/369207, was therefore near two stands of birch scrub where D. cristata was growing
with Osmunda regalis, Thelypteris palustris, Dryopteris filix-mas and our first
Ophioglossum vulgatum.

At How Hill we stopped for a picnic lunch and a number of us took the opportunity id
visiting Toad Hole Cottage, an old eel-catcher’s cottage, with tiny windows and gi
sloping ceilings. In the afternoon one group opted for a special bird-observing run

48

while the other continued the search for Dryopteris cristata. Birch scrub by Windmill
Fen (63/368189) produced more of this rare fern, growing with Thelypteris palustris,
but it was Little Reedham Marsh at 63/368186 that produced the greatest surprise. Both
Dryopteris carthusiana and D. cristata were found, but also Ophioglossum vulgatum —
up to 50 plants in spore — growing on slightly raised hummocks of ground amongst reed
stems that stood 1.5m tall. These stems had to be parted to see the Ophioglossum and
many of its fertile spikes reached 25cm in height.

photo: J.C. Vogel

Norfolk Broads
On land: Alison Paul, Mary Gibby, Jacquie Holmes. /n boat: Jo Parmenter, Jessica Barrett,
Steve & Karen Munyard, Rose Murphy, Kate Crane, Rose Pride

Further stops were made and the searches among reeds and in birch scrub took longer
than expected so it was not till 6.30 p.m. that we stopped for a much-needed cup of tea.
Refreshed, we decided to go on and visit the Ebb and Flow Marshes at Horning
(63/365161). These were the best. Dryopteris carthusiana, D. cristata, Osmunda regalis
and Thelypteris palustris were everywhere. Ophioglossum vulgatum grew on the
mounds above the general level of the marsh and a marsh harrier was seen in the
distance. On our way back to the cars, two of us forgot ferns for a moment to look at
the scarce marsh pea (Lathyrus palustris) in full flower. The day ended with extremely
good food at what seemed to be the most popular pub in the whole of Norfolk!

On Sunday we were joined by Alec Bull, BSBI recorder for East Norfolk, and Bob
Ellis, who are working together on a Tetrad Flora of Norfolk. They wished to record on
the reserves we were to visit that day. Most of the morning was spent surveying the
marshes on the west side of Hickling Broad, approaching them along a tree-lined
country track (63/409212). Dryopteris dilatata, D. filix-mas, Equisetum arvense and
Polypodium interjectum were all to be seen here. At the end of the track there stood an
old disused mill, so encrusted with lichens that it attracted much attention. Birch scrub
and fen were searched with much success. Athyrium filix-femina, Blechnum spicant,
Dryopteris filix-mas, D. carthusiana, D. cristata, D. dilatata, D. x deweveri,

49

Ophioglossum vulgatum (on a &
hummock at 63/413210), Osmunda
regalis and Thelypteris palustris were
all to be seen.

Before lunch a short visit was made
to Mrs Myhill’s Marsh
(63/400212). The usual ferns were
seen in the wooded area and
Equisetum fluviatile and E. palustre
were seen in the marsh. goo
discussion was held concerning the
identification of D. x deweveri.

Lunch was at Horsey Mill, a
National Trust property. Those able
to stay for the afternoon divide
into three groups, each going to a
different area.

One group went with Phil Heath to
Winterton-on-Sea (63/494197) and
explored the Winterton Dunes

photo: J.C. Vogel

Dryopteris cristata, Norfolk Broads

national rarity. Winterton Dunes is one of the best dune systems in the UK, having the
range of fore-dunes, dunes and slacks through to grazing land. Unfortunately, the whole
area of dunes and heath has dried out as a result of the treatment of the grazing land that
lies on the estate inland from here; it was ploughed and deep-drained about twenty years
ago. Possibly as a result of this, old records of D. cristata here were not substantiated;
only D. dilatata was found growing under the willows and birches in depressions in the
dune-slacks. There are a number of pools in the slacks dug some years ago for natterjack
toads; the toads were abundant and very vocal. Osmunda regalis was also plentiful in
this area (63/486217) with several large populations of mature plants and sporelings.
Before leaving, Phil showed us a quite extensive colony of Ophioglossum vulgatum at
the edge of some Salix scrub (63/484218).

Richard Starling (Norfolk Wildlife Trust warden) and his wife took the second group
by boat to Martham North Broads (63/4620). Marsh fern was abundant over a wide
area, but the only other fern recorded was Dryopteris dilatata under a clump of ash
trees. Although no D. cristata was found, the group was excited to see a male bittern
flying across the water. A barn ow] nesting in an old boat shed also added interest to the
Visit.

The remaining party accompanied Robin Long, the National Trust warden, to Breydon
Marsh, taking a boat from Horsey Staithe across Horsey Mere. Breydon Marsh is a
sensitive area as there are bittern in residence, but none were seen. There was also little
Dryopteris cristata and what there was, was sprayed with mud; it is apparently

50

declining due to being smothered with mud/ochre deposited on the banks after dredging
of the waterways.

There was a final, rather wet (the rain had held off until now) rendezvous back at Horsey
Mill to compare notes. This report, however, cannot be said to be complete without
extending grateful thanks to Jo Parmenter and Phil Heath for the work they put in to
make this meeting such a success, to the Broads Authority for loan of the boats, and to
Clive Jermy for the tremendous organisation and for sharing with us his knowledge of
the fens.

PEAK DISTRICT, DERBYSHIRE - 9-10 August Trevor Taylor

On the morning of Saturday August 9th a select group of nine pteridologists assembled
outside Manor Barn, the English Nature office in the Peak District village of Over
Haddon near Bakewell, before setting off to explore a series of man-made habitats and
to look at the various pteridophytes that have colonised them.

At Brassington Bee Nest Mines SSSI (43/2454) the party met up with a few local BPS
members and guests including Dr Alan Willmot, the newly appointed BSBI vice-county
recorder, who took the opportunity to record the day’s finds for the BSBI’s Atlas 2000
project. The disused silica sandpit is an important Derbyshire site as it supports all three
species of clubmosses that occur in the county. Huperzia pe fir clubmoss and
Diphasiastrum alpinum, alpine clubmoss, were observed in some quantity and while
inspecting the glaucous mats of D. alpinum on a level car, area at 43/239547 Alison
Paul discovered a few scattered plants of Ophioglossum vulgatum, adder’s tongue,
which was quite remarkable in that the species had not been recorded before at this
rather well-monitored site. Unfortunately, due presumably to the hot dry summers of the
past two years, the previously sizeable population of Lycopodium clavatum, stag’s horn
clubmoss, had been greatly reduced to a few fragmented trailing stems concentrated
mainly in the shade of gorse where a few strobili were evident. Crowns of Athyrium
filix-femina, lady fern, Dryopteris filix-mas, male fern, and D. dilatata, broad buckler
fern, were found growing together in the region of a derelict wooden hut while
Equisetum fluviatile, water horsetail, was abundant around the margins of a small pond
on the edge of the site. E. arvense, field horsetail, was scattered throughout.

The party moved on to an area of disused mine workings nearby at 43/237547, where a
reasonable quantity of Botrychium lunaria, moonwort, was still evident, though rather
tatty, among a delightful late-flowering display of Coeloglossum viride, frog orchid. By
this time the temperature was soaring and a visit to the cool confines of the village pub
for lunch and refreshments proved a welcome retreat as well as adding Asplenium
trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens, maidenhair spleenwort, and A. ruta-muraria, wall
rue, to the list as they grew on the mortared walls outside the pub door.

The afternoon was spent on the dismantled railway line which forms part of the
Tissington Trail at 43/155549. A previous record for Polystichum setiferum proved
elusive but Cystopteris fragilis, brittle bladder fern, and Asplenium scolopendrium,
hart’s tongue, were noted while Andrew Leonard daringly scaled the near-vertical
railway cutting to provide some impressively large fronds of Polypodium interjectum,
intermediate polypody, with distinctly serrate pinnae.

Further along the dismantled railway line towards Biggin one of only two Derbyshire
sites for Dryopteris submontana, rigid buckler fern, was visited at 43/161578. A total of
eleven healthy, well established clumps were counted growing out of crevices in the
limestone cutting. On the opposite side of the cutting several lush clumps of Asplenium

51

adiantum-nigrum, black spleenwort, were noted growing in the shade provided by some
ash saplings under which everyone rested as the sizzling heat from the afternoon sun
was by now almost unbearable. On the walk back to the vehicles Polystichum
aculeatum, hard shield fern, was found.

On returning to Over Haddon, two of the party went to check on the well-known long-
established population of Asplenium ceterach, rustyback, in Lathkill Dale to find six
small, very shrivelled clumps almost entirely desiccated by the heat.

The long day was rounded off perfectly, exchanging stories over an evening meal
outside the village pub in Monyash on a warm summer’s evening.

“4 _
be Ss 4
Vie?

y 2s
photo: J.M. Ide

Philip Hammond, Andrew Leonard, Grace Wheeldon and Keith Holly admiring
colony of Polypodium interjectum beside the River Wye near Chee Dale.

Sunday morning found everyone suitably refreshed, with the possible exception of
Andrew Leonard whose hotel accommodation was, apparently, the venue for a late-
night party led by a Bontempi organ! The party, which was joined by Barbara Porter,
gathered at Topley Pike (43/112724) with its dramatic views over Chee Dale and the
River Wye for a day exploring the natural habitats of the limestone dales in the morning
followed by a trip to look at the contrasting fern flora of a gritstone clough in the
afternoon. As the party descended into Chee Dale a small but healthy population of
Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum, green spleenwort, was observed growing in the
sheltered crevices at the base of the limestone outcrops at 43/114724, much to the
delight of American member Philip Hammond, his first encounter with the species. A
stunning display of several hundred fronds of Gymnocarpium robertianum, limestone
oak fern, was the cause of much photographic activity, the large size of the individual
fronds taking everyone by surprise — a marvellous sight. After much deliberation over a
rather unusually shaggy looking Polystichum a frond was taken away to be checked for
any evidence of hybridisation. Closer inspection revealed it merely to be P. aculeatum,
of which more typical specimens were found in the rocky woods alongside the River
Wye. A large, vigorous stand of Polypodium was carefully examined for possible

nF

hybrids, but all fronds checked seemed to be P. interjectum. Amongst the polypods
some particularly large clumps of Aspenium trichomanes were noted.

As the temperatures again began to soar, a pub lunch in the village of Tideswell
provided a welcome retreat on the way to view the ferns of a typical millstone-grit
clough at Abney (43/198799).

Oreopteris limbosperma, \lemon-scented fern, was the first species to be encountered
growing in some quantity alongside the brook. At the side of the path on the south side
of the brook, growing in a shaded rock crevice, a small but long-established colony of
the delicate fern featured in the BPS logo, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, oak fern, was
admired by everyone. Pteridium aquilinum, bracken, and Blechnum spicant, hard fern,
were noted before crossing back over the brook and proceeding eastwards along the
footpath passing a few plants of Asplenium adiantum-nigrum on a field retaining wall.

Specimens of Dryopteris affinis, scaly male fern, were the cause of much deliberation.
They proved to be subsp. borreri. A spectacular display of Phegopteris connectilis,
beech fern, with many stunningly large fronds growing in shade on the bank of the
brook at 43/205798 had everyone reaching for their cameras and provided a grand finale
to an excellent and very enjoyable weekend amidst some beautiful scenery during
which a total of twenty-six species were recorded.

[Many thanks to Trevor Taylor for organising such an excellent meeting. Ed.)

NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND - 13-18 July Paul Ripley
Disappointing attendance at this meeting led by Ted Munyard at least meant that I could
enjoy Ted and Thea’s excellent and kind hospitality. I also had several chances to see
Ted’s remarkable garden. Ferns are well displayed in an indoor garden converted from
an animal shed. Outside I was impressed by Asplenium ceterach growing well in an old
wall, and by a very fine Polystichum lonchitis. Ted is creating a four to five acre area of
woodland, featuring in particular his growing collection of oaks. In this very
agricultural area of north-east Scotland, it will become a rich and natural landmark
within a few years. Surely a remarkable achievement by a man with vision.

The sites visited on this meeting were mainly those seen at a previous meeting in 1990.

14 July. Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve, Burn 0’ Vat. (37/430997) We
followed the Burn up to the ‘Vat’, which is a remarkable round chamber derived from
the rupture of a wall of a pool formed at the base of a waterfall. Behind this waterfall
lies Rob Roy’s cave. Unfortunately it was Kilder Roy, a local sheep stealer who had
given his name to the cave, but it is still a fascinating local feature. We persuaded the
local machos to brave the water in search of Hymenophyllum, but none was found.
Oreopteris limbosperma, Blechnum spicant and Pteridium aquilinum were common
here, and Equisetum sylvaticum, Phegopteris connectilis and Gymnocarpium
dryopteris common in the mossy grass. Dryopteris dilatata, D. filix-mas, D. affinis
(morphotypes cambrensis and borreri) and Athyrium filix-femina were not uncommon.
Polypodium vulgare was prominent on rocky outcrops and Huperzia selago was
occasionally seen.

Linn of Dee and Linn of Quoich. We visited both these sites in the afternoon; a linn is
a narrow rocky gorge. On the road to the Linn of Dee (37/095894), Lycopodium
clavatum was happily colonising (with larch saplings) a recently excavated roadside

the Linn of Quoich (37/115913), we saw the same species as at Burn o’ Vat,
but additionally Cystopteris fragilis and Equisetum arvense. Blechnum spicant was

B

particularly abundant. However, the main reason for our visit was to see Polystichum
lonchitis. In spite of a recent small landslip three good plants were seen, though lower
than recorded previously, along with two or three recent sporelings.

15 July. Bennachie. Bennachie is the mountain which dominates much of
Aberdeenshire. In the morning we ascended a burn through pine forest, passing
Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris filix-mas, D. dilatata, D. affinis (borreri and
cambrensis), Blechnum spicant and Pteridium aquilinum. Out of the forest, and towards
the top of Oxen Craigs (38/622245) (528m), we found Huperzia selago and
Lycopodium annotinum. Stunted blechnums and occasional Dryopteris affinis were
common, but near the summit, D. dilatata was growing with D. expansa in rock clefts.
This D. expansa was not the delicate lacy form usually described, but the almost lime-
green, D. carthusiana - like plants that we saw in Argyll with Hugh Corley in 1996.

Aberdeen environs. Peter Hainsworth joined us at lunch, and we saw the coastal cave
near Aberdeen, just as described by G. Dickie in his book (Botanist’s Guide) of 1860.
{t was a magical moment, in spite of the rain, to stand just like Dr Dickie and admire
the extraordinary greenery surviving in this ordinary cave in a very ordinary coastal bay.
Cystopteris dickieana, with its characteristic rounded pinnules and triangular pinnae,
was flourishing in the moist cracks in the cave walls and roof, together with Asplenium
marinum and Athyrium filix-femina. C. dickieana and A. marinum have both been
grown from the spore-laden sludge that coats the walls of this cave.

We stopped on the way home at Hazlehead (38/893043). In this mixed, but mostly
coniferous wood, Dryopteris dilatata was the dominant plant. We also found D. filix-
mas, D. affinis agg., Blechnum spicant and Polypodium vulgare (which also grows in
profusion along the dry-stone walls in the area). Ted was lucky enough to find three
adjacent plants of Athyrium filix-femina showing cresting and ‘Grandiceps’ characters.

16 July. Glen Prosen. We travelled via Kirriemuir to Glen Prosen, where we were met
by Heather McHaffie from Edinburgh University. Not stopping to examine a fine stand
of Dryopteris affinis, we travelled up Glen Prosen, initially in Heather’s four-wheel
drive vehicle and then for about one and a half hours on foot. We passed Blechnum
spicant, Pteridium aquilinum, Equisetum sylvaticum, E. palustre and E. pratense on our
walk, the latter growing sparsely through grass beside a burn.

Higher up we found crags, under which Phegopteris connectilis was common, with
Gymnocarpium dryopteris under one of them. On scarcely accessible crags we saw
Athyrium filix-femina and Dryopteris oreades, growing only where they were out of
reach of deer and sheep. In fact we saw about 50 hinds (a spectacular sight) on our way
to the site at 37/235734 where Heather has been studying a colony of Athyrium
distentifolium var. flexile and var. distentifolium. Her article in the Pteridologist (1997,

ol. 3: 88-91) gives a fascinating account of her studies at this site. She is also
measuring frond length and correlating growth rates with temperature etc.

Oreopteris limbosperma was seen, but was surprisingly scarce. Steven (Ted’s
grandson) and I climbed Mayer (927m) from where spectacular views over the
Cairngorm range, the Central Highlands, and south towards Fife and even across the
Firth of Forth were obtained. | failed to find Diphasiastrum alpinum, noted by Heather
to carpet the ground in places near the summit.

17 July. North-east coast. Before Peter left us we visited some sites in the area behind
the coast from Methlick to the Moray Firth. This is rich farming land, but relieved by
low mountains to the west, with some forestry plantations and steep wooded valleys.

54

Stopping first at a quarry near St John’s Wells (38/781367), we saw Dryopteris dilatata,
D. filix-mas, D. affinis morphotype borreri and Polypodium vulgare. A little further on
Equisetum sylvaticum was growing in abundance by the roadside. We stopped nearby in
a wood (38/779368) where extremely fine specimens of Dryopteris dilatata were
abundant. In addition to the ferns above, we also found Blechnum spicant, Athyrium
filix-femina and Pteridium aquilinum. In a steep wooded hillside near Bridge of
Marnoch (38/585465), we found all the above species, plus Oreopteris limbosperma. A
wall near the site, which had had a good colony of Asplenium trichomanes on a previous
visit, appears to have been replaced by a new barn. We stopped to admire a fine
specimen of flame flower, Tropaeolum speciosum, before lunch, and also to see
Asplenium ruta-muraria growing happily on walls in the village of Fordyce.

At Spey Bay we explored the old railway bridge over the river (38/3564). Polypodium
vulgare was seen here, but not the undulating variety seen on previous visits. In the bed
of the Spey flood damage was evident, but along the old railway we found Athyrium
filix-femina, Dryopteris filix-mas, D. dilatata, Pteridium aquilinum, and D. affinis
morphotypes borreri and cambrensis. A word should be added here on the D. affinis in
this area. I did not (knowingly) see morphotype affinis at any of the sites during the
week, but cambrensis and borreri were common. The latter appeared to take two forms,
one typical with square-cut pinnules, the other with longer pinnules and
characteristically dark stipes, presumably the shade form. What was remarkable was the
extreme constancy of the three types. They appeared, without variation, at every site
reported. While some would probably not agree, I find it difficult to escape the
conclusion that the D. affinis group represents a superimposition of more or less
distinct, more or less geographically separated clones, on the clearly genetically based
major divisions (e.g. borreri, cambrensis, affinis).

After Peter left us, and before returning home, we stopped to visit the unusual earth
pillars on the steep slopes of the Spey valley. A rich ferny gully had been washed away
by the heavy rains earlier in the month, thus depriving us (!) of the opportunity to spend
even more time studying D. affinis. We did see D. affinis morphotype borreri, D. filix-
mas and D. dilatata.

18 July. Colonel’s Bed, Upper Deeside. The piéce de résistance of the whole week
was a visit to this very special site. The Colonel’s Bed (37/087871) is a narrow gorge,
deeper than the linns seen earlier, where ferns flourish, protected from grazing in the
damp atmosphere, and where base-rich flushes enrich the already broad range of
species. We found Huperzia selago, Equisetum sylvaticum, E. pratense (the latter two
horsetails growing together in quite an open area towards the top of the gorge),
Athyrium filix-femina, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Phegopteris connectilis, Polypodium
vulgare, Oreopteris limbosperma, Blechnum spicant, Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum,
Cystopteris fragilis, Polystichum lonchitis, Dryopteris dilatata and D. affinis
(2morphotype cambrensis). The magic of this site was enhanced by the presence of an
Adonis blue butterfly, which obligingly posed for a close-up photograph. The D. aemula
previously found by Ted and Steve Munyard was not found on this visit, but further
away from the burn Ted found Lycopodium clavatum, Selaginella selaginoides and
Equisetum arvense.

So ended a most enjoyable and rewarding week. It is a pity that more members were
unable to visit this rich area of Scotland. I am very grateful to Ted Munyard for his
research and knowledge, freely imparted and for his always enjoyable company, also to
Ted and Thea, his wife, for their kind and generous hospitality which made the week for
me truly memorable. Thank you both.

55

Pteridophytes recorded during north-east Scotland meeting, July 1997

a
ore 7) it g
A 71 » s 3 2 Ss § a Be
So ai =e Q 2 = a =| o 8 faa] oO
Olas 3 % o Sa} o Ry 5
4 812 S = = Sala§ Ln
SS|eC! §& $ Sy ao |S) eal 2 ieee
=e ae) me a 7 O |/AF|aSs!] a [Om
Diphasiastrum alpinum (+)
Huperzia selago ++
Lycopodium annotinum ~
L. clavatum + ra (+)
Selaginella selaginoides (+)
Equisetum arvense ++ (+)
E. palustre a
Tiras eae
E. pratense + a8
E. sylvaticum - ++ + +
Asplenium marinum ++
A. ruta-muraria +
A. trichomanes (+)
A. trichomanes-ramosum a
Athyrium filix-femina +++ | 44 +4 + + ra
A. distentifolium var,
| distentitotium +
A. distentifolium var.
flexile +
Blechnum spicant +++ | +44 | +44 + ++ + ry
Cystopteris dicki
ystopteris dickieana rors
Rees +—_—_——
ae Preerenr yy aay Z
C. fragilis te
~——-~__-___.
Dryopteris aemula (+)
ese eee
D. affinis borreri ++ | +4* | $4 4 ane his ++
pee Se
‘ :
D. affinis cambrensis i+ neo sh as
D. dilatata ++ $54 eee et ++ ++ a
Sa
D. expansa
pa ++ +
D. filix-mas Bes hee rere +++ ++ | +++
science ee RPE PES
D. oreades ix
rater rere
Gymnocarpium dryopteris | +44 | +4 é +?
STE oe sn a
Oreopteris limbosperma +++] +4 ae 7 +h
: :
Phegopteris connectilis a) +4 Bir Med
ene ds
Polypodium vulgare ++ mar ++ + ++ ++
+}——_—_+—___| RES Bian,
Polystichum lonchitis - +
Pteridium aquilinum +++ |] ++ | +44 ++ + ere ere eee
aera

+ occasional, ++ frequent, +++ abundant, (+) reported from thi

* morphotype not confirmed

don this meeting

GROUP OF EUROPEAN PTERIDOLOGISTS (GEP) Excursion

Bangor, North Wales — 29 August - 3 September Alison Paul
Nigel Brown, Curator of Treborth Botanic Garden, University of North Wales, Bangor,
and Clive Jermy organised this excellent meeting. Participants from Belgium, Bulgaria,
France, Germany, Italy, Slovakia and UK, most of whom are BPS members, visited a
wide range of habitats in this very fern-rich part of North Wales. Sand-dune slacks and
boulder-scree, lead/silver mine spoil heaps, acid heath and limestone woodland, sea
cliffs and castle walls were but a few of our hunting grounds. Thanks to Nigel’s detailed
knowledge of the area’s geology and flora plus his meticulous planning, we saw over
50 ‘pleridophyte taxa during the four days. The evenings provided further opportunities
for discussion following presentations on a wide range of pteridological topics,
including conservation.

Viastimil Mikolas, University Botanic Garden, Kosice, Slovakia, was enabled to
participate in this meeting through a grant from the Centenary Fund. This gave him the
opportunity to make contacts and discuss common problems, as well as to see Atlantic
vegetation, a type unknown in central Europe

The GEP was established to promote contacts between amateur and professional
pteridologists in Europe, to see particular species in different environments and regions
than the familiar ones and thus get a better idea of their ecology and distribution, to
explore less well known areas for particular ferns or to study particularly ‘difficult’
complexes in the areas where the ‘problems’ are
Anyone interested in receiving further information about the GEP should contact

r R. Viane, Dept. of Morphology, Systematics and Ecology, Section: Psiiohogss
K.L. Ledeganckstr. 35, B-9000 Belgium.
E-mail: ronnie.viane@rug.ac.be; Tel. & Fax: +32-9-2645057.

photo: J.C. Vogel

Participants in 1997 GEP meeting, Bangor
Standing: Vlastimil Mikolas, Johannes Me gel, Karin ROttgers, Ronnie Viane, Alison Paul,
Michel Boudrie, Rob Cooke, Agnes Boudrie, Rosemarie & Michael Zink, Fred Rumsey,
Jaques Homes, Stefan Krause, Philip anion Dick Hayward, Herbert Kirsch, Jeff Patteson,
igel Brown, Carolin van den Heede.
Sitting: Mary Gibby, Martin Rickard, Daniella Ivanova, Esther Homes, Wilfried Bennert,
Andrew Leonard, Jane Rutland.

Zz!

(Not in photo: Pat Acock, Clive Jermy, Anthony & Margo Pigott, Paul Ripley, Mario Soster.)

57

LECTURE MEETINGS AND DAY VISITS 1997

SPRING INDOOR MEETING, CAMBRIDGE - 1 March

On Saturday Ist March, 45 members and guests assembled in the Gilmour Building,
Cambridge University Botanic Garden for the Spring Indoor Meeting. The leader,
Margaret Nimmo-Smith, had organised a very interesting day which began with a walk
around the Botanic Garden lead by Norman Villis.

After lunch, we settled back to enjoy the first of three speakers. Local member Sylvia
Martinelli provided us with a talk entitled ‘The Ferns of the Antipodes’. This was a
selection of slides illustrating her visit to New Zealand and the Falkland Islands. Views
of the terrain and local ferns provided opportunities for much comment and envious
thoughts.

Our next speaker was Peter Hovenkamp from the Rijksherbarium, Leiden University,
Netherlands who spoke on the polypodiaceous genera of south-east Asia. Peter showed
us a wealth of slides illustrating the many species of mainly epiphytic ferns from that
fern rich area.

Finally, Andrew Leonard gave an illustrated talk entitled ‘The Ferns of Hong Kong’.
Again the meeting was treated to superb views of the nature reserve in the National
Park. Many of Hong Kong’s ferns were shown along with magnificent views of Hong
Kong harbour.

Before and after the afternoon’s programme, Margaret had arranged a fern bring and
buy sale so everyone was able to go home with some new treasures. Thanks are due to
Geoff and Marie Winder, Barrie Stevenson and Tim Pyner for their valued assistance
with the refreshments and plant sale.

A.R. Busby

HARDY FERNS OF NORTH AMERICA, WARWICK UNIVERSITY — 5 April
Some thirty members and guests assembled at the Institute of Education, University of
Warwick, Coventry for a day-long workshop entitled ‘Hardy Ferns of North America’.

After a brief introduction from Graham Ackers, Prof. Alastair Wardlaw set the tone for
the day with a splendid illustrated talk on his personal experiences as a young emigrant
in Canada c.1960. He outlined the fern flora of that part of the world, explaining what
ferns might be encountered in various parts of Canada.

Alastair then discussed in detail the North American ferns that form the bulk of his own
fern collection at his home in Glasgow. He provided a wealth of information on growing
these ferns in northern Britain. One of many very useful comments that I found
particularly interesting was his experience that it is not necessary to take the plant’s
native latitude into account if you use mature plants. Alastair backed up his talk with
many overhead projector displays and printed handouts for all those attending. He also
commented that none of his Canadian ferns have yet spread by spores in his garden. As
part of his talk, he circulated a six page hand-out which listed all his North American
ferns with comments on their hardiness zones, mentions in literature and their
performance in his garden.

Mary Gibby’s talk on North American Dryopteris (presented on the day and reported
here by Graham Ackers) commenced with a reminder of the terms diploid and

58

polyploid and their significance for the evolution of Dryopteris species. Slides were

shown of some of the scientists who had helped to sort out the confusion with this group

— Dr Stanley Walker, Fred Jackson, Professor Don Britton and Mary herself whilst

Stanley Walker’s research student! Then followed an account of 13 of the 14 North

American Dryopteris species; D. cinnamomea, whose provenance is really Central
merican, was excluded.

Comparisons were made with their British counterparts. For example, the question was
posed as to whether the North American D. filix-mas was really the same species as the
taxon occurring in Britain. Furthermore, are the populations of this species occurring in
western North America the same as those occurring in the N.E. States? D. expansa is a
parental taxon that has given rise to D. dilatata in Britain and Europe and also to the
very similar D. campyloptera in North America.

The relationships of the species with other members of the group were discussed, and
their ecology illustrated with slides taken both in the field and of specimens in
cultivation. Another interesting taxon is D. marginalis, which, although not closely
related to any of the other species, is able to produce hybrids with ten of them!
D. intermedia is of interest on account of its close relationship with two Macaronesian
taxa — D. maderensis and D. azorica, which some people regard as subspecies of
D. intermedia. All three are diploids with fairly similar morphology though with
different degrees of hardiness. Mary has speculated that D. intermedia is the second
parent of D. campyloptera, whereas D. maderensis and D. azorica may be involved in
D. dilatata.

These examples are merely a few of the fascinating insights into this genus described
by Mary. Considering their intrinsic interest and potential horticultural value, it is a pity
that only a few of the North American species (and hybrids!) are grown in our British
gardens.

Matt Busby then gave a brief talk on a few American species that are not commercially
available in Britain. This illustrated talk featured a number of ferns from his collection
which had been kindly provided by C.R. Fraser-Jenkins and included Dryopteris
pseudofilix-mas, D. fragrans, D. wallichiana (new world form), D. munchii and
D. arguta which according to Prof. Wardlaw, “does not like it too wet”. Polystichum
munitum was considered as just about the hardiest and most obliging fern in British
gardens. Other species mentioned were Polystichum braunii, P. imbricans, P. lemmonii,
P. andersonii (difficulties in getting this fern to propagate from its bulbils on the frond
tips were mentioned) and P. acrostichoides.

Ray Smith was then asked to comment on his brief experiences with ferns on his visit
to Canada in the early eighties. Fortunately, Ray had pressed several fern fronds found
during his visit. A common comment during this meeting was that there were no records
of fern varieties amongst the ferns of Canada, yet Ray was able to display two fronds
of a crested bracken, Pteridium aquilinum. A crested form is cultivated in Britain and a
notable wild site for it is in a hedgerow near south Birmingham. The British form has
small neat cresting but the Canadian form had magnificent long tassels of almost
‘polydactyla’ proportions.

Graham Ackers then introduced Martin Rickard who had recently received a quantity
of colour slides of ferns from the estate of the late Jimmy Dyce. Amongst these slides
was a selection taken by the eminent American pteridologist and author, Boughton
Cobb. The gathering enjoyed seeing examples of many American ferns and Martin was
able to make many comments on their availability and suitability for British collections.

59

Once again he patiently explained the new thinking on the Adiantum pedatum complex.
The fact is that true A. pedatum comes from the eastern seaboard of the United States
of America and is rare in cultivation in Britain. The western seaboard form commonly
found in European gardens is A. aleuticum.

The meeting ended with a discussion on a proposed survey by Graham Ackers of
foreign hardy ferns currently being grown in British gardens. He circulated a paper
outlining the proposed survey and an example of the survey form which would be sent
out to all members. Many useful comments were made by members at the meeting and
noted by Graham so that the various ideas could be incorporated in the final draft of the
survey form.

At the close of the meeting members expressed their gratitude and thanks to all the
speakers for providing interesting papers, to Brenda Smith, Rita Coughlin and Doreen
Brotherton for kindly providing refreshments, and to all who attended, many of whom
had travelled long distances. It was agreed that the entire day had been well worthwhile.

A.R. Busby (& R.G. Ackers)

MIDLANDS FERN SHOW, UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK - 26 July

Twenty-two members and guests attended the third Midlands Fern Show, held in the
Department of Science Education Building, Westwood Campus, University of
Warwick, Coventry.

This meeting is held to encourage members to grow and show their ferns in competitive
classes. However, judging from the poor response, there is still much resistance from
our members to displaying their expertise in fern cultivation. It was disappointing to see
only one entry in class 4 and there was criticism of me for allowing exhibitors to submit
more than one entry in each class. I see nothing wrong with this and it does help to fill
up the show benches. Other shows permit the same opportunity, the only difference is
that they charge you for the extra entries. There are no fees for entering these classes
and there is PRIZE MONEY to be won!

Even so I was encouraged to see that this year six exhibitors entered twenty-one
exhibits. The judges were Rita Coughlin and Clive Brotherton and the results were:

Class 1 — One Pot Fern (any kind or variety)
Ist Mr L. Kirkham, 2nd Mr L. Kirkham, 3rd Mr L. Kirkham (11 entries)
Class 2— Three Pot Ferns (any kind or variety)
Ist Mrs D. Holly, 2nd Mr A. Kyte, 3rd Mr R.J. Smith (3 entries)
Class 3— One Pot Equisetum (any kind or variety)
Ist Mr P.J. Acock, 2nd Mrs D. Holly, 3rd Mrs D. Holly (6 entries)
Class 4— One Pot Aquatic Fern (Azolla, Salvinia or Marsilea only)
Ist Mr P.J. Acock (1 entry)

my thanks to Rita Coughlin, Clive and Doreen Brotherton and Howard Matthews for
assisting during the afternoon.

Offers of help and suggestions are always welcome. Details of this fern show are
available from the Show Secretary: A.R. Busby, 16 Kirby Corner Road, Canley,
Coventry CV4 8GD.

A.R. Busby

AUTUMN INDOOR MEETING, RBG, KEW, SURREY - 18 October

Around thirty members met outside the Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew, where Peter Edwards outlined the programme for the first part of the day. We
were blessed with one of those magnificent late autumn days with bright sunshine and
moderately high temperatures and were surprised how few other people had taken the
opportunity to visit Kew that day. We first went to the Alpine House where the ferns,
though few, were beautifully set amongst other alpines. We moved on through the Rock
Garden, which Peter explained had once been full of ferns. The descendants of lady fern
varieties could be discerned by the number that still had the odd tasselling. From
there we proceeded to the wooded area which had more ferns including both varieties
and species. It was interesting to see how well both Thelypteris palustris and
Phegopteris connectilis grew in moderately dry and sunny situations once established.
Our final port of call was the Filmy Fern House where the plants inside continue to
flourish, as do those outside that were donated during our Society’s centenary.

Following the AGM we could not have had two more matched talks. Firstly, Trevor
Walker, our President, gave his retiring address. Trevor showed us how choices he had
made throughout his life had led him to the specific areas of study that we know him
for. He spoke of the people who had influenced his career, the places he visited and
worked in, and also his research. How fortunate we are that Trevor made those
particular choices, for it is obvious that the Society would have been infinitely poorer
during the past forty years if there had not been the interaction between Trevor and the
other professionals of whom he spoke.

Our second speaker, John Woodhams,
also chose to talk on how his career
developed. Once again we could see
how lucky the Society has been over
the years in its association with RBG,
Kew. John spoke of people he had
worked with and opportunities he had
had. It was interesting to see how so
many of the personalities overlapped
with those mentioned by Trevor. Once
again John delighted us with slides of
splendid ferns and memories of the
characters that have given us so much
pleasure over the years.

We would like to convey our thanks to
both our speakers and also to Peter
Edwards who once again did all the
hard work behind the scenes,
including taking a crash course in how
to use all the modern technology in the
Jodrell Laboratory. It was a great joy
to see so many new faces at Kew and
it is hoped that we will come to know
photo: AC.Jermy you better in the years ahead.

John Woodhams, RBG Kew Patrick Acock

REGIONAL MEETINGS 1997
MIDLANDS A.R. Busby

Garden Visit, Worcestershire - 21 September

Due entirely to the kind offer of Olive Mason and the dogged persistence of Margaret
Collins, the Midlands Group managed one meeting this year with no credit to me.

On Sunday 21st September, fourteen members and guests took advantage of Olive
Mason’s invitation to visit her garden at Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster,
Worcestershire. It must be three or four years since I last visited this garden and I was
surprised and delighted to see how quickly it is maturing; indeed I drove past it twice
without recognising it. The garden is a pleasing mix of shrubberies, herb garden,
herbaceous beds and lawns, with a generous sprinkling of ferns. I particularly liked the
use of ferns planted into a ‘stone corner’, a very novel way of attractively planting up
what might otherwise be a difficult area.

Our thanks to Mr and Mrs Mason for allowing us another visit to their garden and for
the delicious refreshments provided.

LEEDS & DISTRICT

West Beck and Fen Bogs near Goathland, North Yorkshire — 7 June
Ken Trewren

On a fine, sunny day eight members assembled at the Mallyan Spout Hotel at the
western end of Goathland village (called Aidensfield in the Heartbeat television
programme which is filmed in the area). We decided to visit Fen Bogs Nature Reserve
in the morning in order to allow more time for the exploration of West Beck in the
afternoon.

Heading south-east from Goathland by road we stopped briefly at Moorgates farm to
examine the ferns growing on two railway bridges (44/845993). One bridge is virtually
covered with Cystopteris fragilis, whilst the other supports many plants of Asplenium
trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens. Cystopteris is rare in this part of the North York
Moors and its presence on this bridge is of particular interest because of an old record
(Druce, 1932) from Goathland of Asplenium obovatum subsp. lanceolatum, the species
being recorded as growing on a mortared bridge. Goathland is about ten miles from the
sea as the crow flies and a case of mistaken identity is therefore suspected. Other species
growing nearby included Pteridium aquilinum and Oreopteris limbosperma.

At Fen Bogs Nature Reserve, just off the main Pickering to Whitby road (44/852975),
we paused to examine Botrychium lunaria, a dozen spikes of which were growing in
short turf beside a track. One strange specimen had a sterile leaf which forked into three
branches, with a few sporangia around the margins of some of the lower pinnules.
Further on down the track we noticed Equisetum arvense, and E. palustre in boggy
flushes. Where the track runs into the bog there was a large patch of Ophioglossum
vulgatum and a little further on, in the middle of the track, we found about 20 spikes of
Selaginella selaginoides which is also rare in the North York Moors. Other species seen
nearby were Blechnum spicant, growing on the heathy banks beside the track,
Equisetum fluviatile in a wet depression in the bog and Dryopteris carthusiana in a
patch of Salix scrub.

62

In the afternoon we left the hotel and walked along the footpath towards Mallyan Spout
waterfall, passing stands of Equisetum sylvaticum, E. arvense, E. telmateia and, most
noteworthy of all, a well-known patch of E. hyemale (45/825011). On the banks of the
stream beside the track there was an abundance of ferns, including Dryopteris dilatata,
D. Lose mas, D. affinis subsp. affinis and subsp. borreri and Athyrium filix-femina.
ese e common ferns, along with Blechnum and Oreopteris, were seen in
abundance throughout the woods in which we were to spend the rest of the day. At the
foot of the slope we turned left along the river, where I pointed out a fine patch of the
gametophyte stage of Trichomanes speciosum growing in a deep, dark cleft in the crags
on the lefthand side of the track. A little further on, at the waterfall itself, we found
Polystichum aculeatum and some fine specimens of Dryopteris affinis subsp. affinis.

From here we proceeded along the footpath for about a hundred metres, then the group
split into two, the more agile members climbing directly up the slope to the foot of the
crags whilst the less adventurous — or more sensible — took an easier route to the same
point. Our objective was to see the four plants of Dryopteris aemula which grow on the
rocky outcrop near the crest of the slope. Three of the plants were in excellent condition
but one, which was eaten by a grazing animal last year, was only just surviving. Just
above the hay-scented bucklers, in birch woodland at the top of the slope, I led members
to a large stand of Dryopteris x deweveri. There was much discussion about the
differences between the hybrid and the parent species.

From here we dropped down to the riverbank, then continued westwards for half a mile
to some wet crags where four colonies of Phegopteris connectilis and two of
Gymnocarpium dryopteris are known to me, the latter being much reduced in extent
over the past three years. On the way back to the waterfall was a large colony of what
I believe to be a good candidate for Polypodium x mantoniae, growing on a boulder on
the opposite bank of the river. The identity of this colony is awaiting expert opinion.

Back at the waterfall the party again divided, with some members calling it a day, whilst
a few of the more foolhardy followed me along a very rough, overgrown path along the
opposite bank of the river to the pretty little village of Beck Hole. Along the way we
saw Polystichum setiferum in abundance, Polypodium vulgare on a tree, Asplenium
scolopendrium on disused mine workings and a magnificent colony of Trichomanes
speciosum gametophytes in a deep cleft beside a waterfall.

After taking much needed refreshment at the pub at Beck Hole we walked over the
railway bridge to see Asplenium adiantum-nigrum and A. ruta-muraria growing on a
wall beside the road (45/821023), before following the track of the disused railway for
two miles back to Goathland. Although it had been a long day, the weather had been
fine, and we had seen 31 or 32 taxa (depending upon the identity of the Polypodium).
We wonder whether this is a record for a BPS outing? Does anyone claim to have beaten
this total?

Levisham, North York Moors — 5 July Barry Wright
On a fine, sunny day we met near the pub in the remarkably remote village of Levisham,
the access being made via a narrow and very steep road. It was a painfully frustrating
day for Ken Trewren as he patiently tried to show us the finer points of identifying
Dryopteris affinis morphotypes, since we nearly always got the identification wrong
when he posed the question “which morphotype is this?” It didn’t help that he pointed
to an unusual specimen which did not seem to conform to the characteristics of one of
the accepted forms. This we came to know and love as ‘morphotype Mulgrave’ or ‘that
one again’.
63

The morning took us into Newtondale (44/818905) where we parked in the station car
park. After watching a steam locomotive pull out we set off southwards down a path to
the west of the railway line. Recent heavy rain had made the steep and uneven path very
muddy and slippery, making it difficult to look for ferns for fear of gliding majestically
past your companions on the way to an undignified end at the bottom of the hill. We
did however see a good range of species including Dryopteris dilatata, Blechnum
spicant, Athyrium aie -femina, Equisetum arvense, E. sylvaticum and Pteridium
aquilinum. But what we had gone to see was Dryopteris x deweveri. This we found in
some scrubby alder (Alnus glutinosa) wood in the valley bottom. It was growing with
one of its parents, Dryopteris carthusiana, around the bases of the coppiced trees
where it received less attention from the cattle which are allowed free access to the
area.

After a pleasant lunch watching the trains puff in and out of the station we moved back
to Levisham for the longer excursion of a clockwise loop which began by heading north
along Limpsey Gate Lane to Dundale Griff (44/833918). How many different words are
there in our language for a valley? This dry ghyll was a shady and cool area festooned
with ferns, including Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris dilatata, Athyrium filix-femina,
Oreopteris limbosperma, Polystichum aculeatum, Gymnocarpium dryopteris and
Dryopteris affinis subsp. borreri. An odd mixture of calcicolous and calcifugous species
all in the same clough.

After leaving Dundale Griff we climbed and skirted round Far Black Rigg to arrive near
the head of Black Griff (44/842915). Here we entered D. affinis country in earnest.
Ignoring ‘that one again’ we are fairly sure we saw D. affinis morphotypes borreri,
paleaceolobata, affinis and robusta. The paleaceolobata was particularly notable,
standing some 1.8m tall. This site also supported Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris dilatata,
Athyrium filix-femina, Polystichum aculeatum, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Dryopteris
filix-mas, Asplenium scolopendrium and Polypodium vulgare.

The long, hot scramble back took us past a limestone outcrop (44/841908) supporting
several colonies of Asplenium adiantum-nigrum.

Thieveley Escarpment, near Todmorden, West Yorkshire — 16 August
Richard Unett
Towards the end of 1996 Clive Jermy wrote to the Leeds Group suggesting that it might
be able to help with the production of Atlas 2000 by checking old (pre-1950) fern
records in the Atlas of Ferns of the British Isles. After some preliminary listing, square
4/82 was selected as there were ten pre-1950 records to be checked and a further
sixteen species not recorded for the square that might well be found there.

The meeting had its origins back in May when Barry Wright and I made a
reconnaissance visit to the area with the object of looking for sites for Botrychium
lunaria and Ophioglossum vulgatum. Both of these species are known to be readily
eaten by sheep, so it was imperative to look for these before the sheep were turned out
onto the fields. Unfortunately we did not find any Botrychium, but succeeded in finding
a field (34/836232) that contained numerous patches of Ophioglossum vulgatum.
Extensive agricultural improvement in the area has left many fields looking too fertile
and green to justify spending precious search time.

Checking with the BSBI vice-county recorder revealed that most of the old records
were on the Thieveley Escarpment which runs from Beater Clough (34/897263) %

64

Dean Scout (34/873278), so we decided to search the foot and the top of the escarpment
and the nearby woods

A party of twelve met near Portsmouth (Yorks. not Hants.) and searched along the
bottom of the escarpment. Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) was, of course, ubiquitous.
The other common ferns were Athyrium filix-femina, Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris
affinis subsp. affinis, D. filix-mas and D. dilatata, all scattered along the foot of the
cliffs. There were also some plants of Oreopteris limbosperma from about the halfway

int. We found one plant of Cryptogramma crispa in a cleft at the foot of the cliffs
(34/886627) though we could find no more in that area, but the ground is well-grazed
by sheep. We also found a plant of Phegopteris connectilis, again only one. The latter
two were pre-1950 records for which we were searching. After lunch we searched the
Black Clough in Dodbottom Wood (34/873280). This was likely Hymenophyllum
country but, alas, we found none. Apart from the ferns already mentioned as common,
Dryopteris affinis subspp. borreri and robusta and a plant which was similar to but
differed in some respects from robusta were recorded. We also found Asplenium
trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens. (A. trichomanes was previously recorded for the
square but not that subspecies.)

After this, a small party returned along the top of the escarpment hoping to find
clubmosses but without success. There were scattered plants of Blechnum spicant,
Dryopteris affinis subsp. affinis and D. dilatata and, of course, lots of bracken. Finally
the party descended to the road via Beater Clough, finding Asplenium ruta-muraria (on
some walls), A. scolopendrium, Athyrium filix-femina, Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris
affinis subsp. affinis, D. dilatata, Oreopteris limbosperma and Phegopteris connectilis
(the seid a pre-1950 record) en route. The small colony of P. connectilis was tucked

nde overhang of a small waterfall near some old mine workings near the head of
the Tak (34/891258).

The area could repay further attention. There are other old (c.1880) Hymenophyllum
records near Todmorden (34/9424).

Hayburn Wyke, North Yorkshire - 6 September Barry Wright
The unforeseen event of the death of Princess Diana meant that this excursion
coincided with the funeral. After contacting the expected members we agreed to go
ahead with the excursion but to show our respect in the form of two minutes silence at
noon. This was done on the shores of the North Sea underneath a colony of Asplenium
marinum. I am sure that, like me, members will forever associate the two memories, the
sad death of Diana and the valiant clinging to life of the spleenwort on these cliffs.

The main objective of the morning trek was to see the most southerly colony of
A. marinum on the east coast. This is at Hundale Point (55/026948), not an easy
approach. It took almost an hour of slipping and sliding over seaweed-coated rocks to
reach the cove with the spleenwort. Thankfully no one suffered any injury. The only
other pteridophytes were Equisetum arvense and Pteridium aquilinum.

The afternoon was spent in the woods around Hayburn Wyke (55/007971). This area
was much better for ferns. In addition to bracken we also saw some good colonies of
Polystichum setiferum, Polypodium vulgare and P. interjectum (both on the same log)
and Asplenium scolopendrium. Our leader, Ken Trewren, disappeared into a deep, dark
hole in search of the gametophyte of Trichomanes speciosum. We all took turns to peer
down, make appreciative noises and ponder why it never makes fronds anywhere other
than its few favoured spots.

65

A more rewarding find was a colony of Dryopteris aemula clinging to a steep, muddy
stream valley side. (Do all ferns grow on steep, muddy slopes or is only those that Ken
finds?) Parts of this valley also support Asplenium scolopendrium, Dryopteris dilatata,
Athyrium filix-femina and Blechnum spicant.

Ken also subjected us to the ‘affinis problem’ again with more of the “Mulgrave
morphotype’ as well as the more established Dryopteris affinis morphotypes, affinis
and borerri. He also pointed out Dryopteris x complexa, the hybrid between D. affinis
and D. filix-mas. Which morphotype of D. affinis was in the hybrid has yet to be
determined.

All in all an interesting and rewarding excursion. Thanks to Ken for his efforts which
left most of us thoroughly ‘pteridologged’.

WESSEX Jim Jarvis

Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire — 2 August

We met at the car park at Cannop Ponds (32/610108) and walked along the cycle track
towards the stone works and Parkend. At the stone works we left the track and entered
the lower part of the Nagshead Nature Reserve. The path follows the stream through
wet, shaded woodland with most of the ferns growing in the banks of the stream or close
to it. Nothing unusual, but many fine specimens of Athyrium filix-femina, and
Dryopteris dilatata, very attractively sited, which provided ideal resting places for a
number of male beautiful demoiselles (Calopteryx virgo). We walked on into Parkend
for a pint with our sandwiches.

After lunch we made our way back through the RSPB Reserve on Nagshead Hill. We
didn’t see a single pied flycatcher, in fact we saw very few birds all day, and the ferns
were thin on the ground until we reached the edge of the Reserve where the track starts
the long, gentle fall back to the bottom of Bix Slade. Except for bracken most of the
ferns were confined to the uphill bank of the track, mostly Oreopteris limbosperma with
Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris affinis, D. dilatata and D. filix-mas.

From the stone works we walked up the west side of the Cannop Ponds to look at the
Equisetum sylvaticum site. For a moment we thought it had gone but after a good look
around realised that the centre of the clump had died out and that the plant had spread
up the bank and was hidden in the bracken.

During the day we saw Asplenium ruta-muraria, A. scolopendrium, A. trichomanes,
Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris affinis, D. dilatata, D. filix-mas, Oreopteris
limbosperma, Equisetum arvense, E. fluviatile, E. sylvaticum, Polypodium interjectum
and Pteridium aquilinum.

May Hill, Gloucestershire - 3 August

It was not a good day to climb May Hill (32/6921); rain threatened, and mist and cloud
reduced the visibility to less than a mile and the usual reward for the effort is the view
from the top. We eventually made our way onto the path across the top of Newent
Woods following up a vague report of Phegopteris connectilis. 1 didn’t expect to find
any and we didn’t, but the slope is north-east facing, usually a good aspect, and there is
a record in the original Gloucestershire flora. The usual woodland ferns were there in
abundance and we did find Equisetum sylvaticum but didn’t stop to gauge the extent of
e stand because of the worsening weather.

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SOUTH-EAST

Rye Harbour Local Nature Reserve, East Sussex — 24 May Rob Cooke
(Leader: Rob Cooke)

About ten members and friends met on a sunny but bracing spring day to explore Rye
Harbour Local Nature Reserve. We were delighted to be met and guided around by the
warden of the site, Dr Barry Yates. Rye Harbour is an important coastal site, of note for
its vegetated shingle and birds, and the eagle-eyed amongst us were lucky enough to see
a hobby quartering one of the flooded gravel pits.

This was a meeting to investigate what was there, rather than to visit known plants. We
first visited some drainage ditches where we nearly trod on Ophioglossum vulgatum,
and Patrick (who else!) was soon wallowing in horsetails (Equisetum arvense,
E. fluviatile and E. palustre).

In particular we wanted to explore the walls of Camber Castle, a Norman castle within
the site, and we were very grateful to be allowed unrestricted access to the castle by the
warden; it is not open to the public so we were very privileged. Unfortunately the walls
at Camber have previously suffered from some over-zealous ‘restoration’ work and
most of the plants had been removed, including one nationally rare vascular plant.
However, a detailed search did reveal Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, A. ruta-muraria,
A. trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens and A. scolopendrium. Although Polypodium
cambricum grows in abundance nearby at Winchelsea we did not find any here — I
wonder if it was present before the walls were ‘cleaned’.

Although only eight species were seen it was a glorious day and the visit to Camber
Castle alone made the trip worthwhile. I would like to extend my thanks on behalf of
the group to Barry Yates for giving up a Saturday morning and allowing us onto the site
and in particular into Camber Castle.

Selborne, Alton, Hampshire — 14 June Patrick Acock

Over two dozen members from all over the south-east met in the car park at Selborne.
We started the morning by walking around Long Leigh (41/745342), an area of
streamside meadows and woodland where the interesting geology of the area was made
manifest by surface soil variation and a diverse flora. Eqguisetum arvense and
E. telmateia were amongst the horsetails observed. Many of the most common
woodland ferns found on neutral to basic soils were seen but then there was Blechnum
spicant on an acid outcrop.

Before lunch, a carload of us visited Sotherington Lane (41/755332) where we saw
Polystichum aculeatum in profusion with many of the morning’s ferns as well as
Polypodium interjectum.

After lunch we walked down to Sir Henry Peto’s garden that had delighted us so a few
years ago. In this natural wooded ferny valley Henry has complemented the natural
ferns with a wealth of varieties and exotic hardy ferns. The collection has been greatly
extended with many of the larger ferns being divided and introduced in new areas of the
valley. Henry explained that he has bequeathed the collection as a whole to stop it being
broken up. He still attends to the gardens entirely on his own including trimming the 20-
foot enclosing hedge. Following a look around the vegetable and fruit garden, Henry
and his wife entertained us to a magnificent cream tea.

On dispersing, Andrew Leonard insisted that we continue ferning until bedtime and led
us to Upper Farringdon (41/714351) to look at the magnificent Asplenium ceterach on
a house wall and we were invited in to see if there was anything else in the garden. From
there we proceeded to a railway bridge (41/674287) to look at an A. adiantum-nigrum
pouring out of the ageing mortar. From here we were cajoled to proceed to another wall
surrounding a large house where many aspleniums were seen including magnificent
colonies of A. trichomanes. By this time the ladies were getting restless and exploration
of a further wall had to be postponed until a later date.

Our sincere thanks go to Paul Ripley for leading the morning, Henry and his wife for
allowing us to view their lovely home and for feeding us, and to Andrew for slotting in
a few extras.

Amberley Wild Brooks, near Arundel, West Sussex — 12 July. Patrick Acock

About a dozen of us met in Amberley village (51/030133) to be shown around
Amberley Wild Brooks by Rob Cooke. An old peat meadow has reverted to woodland,
mainly willow scrub, over the last 100 years, as ownership has been lost. Rob had taken
us to a corner of the wood and was explaining that Thelypteris palustris had not been
seen for a large number of years, when Howard Matthews asked whether it was not
Thelypteris palustris under his foot — and of course it was! Transecting the wood failed
to find another patch but at least the record was re-established. Drying of the soil had
allowed nettles and balsam to encroach. The only horsetail found was Equisetum
fluviatile but the umbellifers were many and varied; Patrick undertook a thorough
search for Azolla in one of the ditches!

In the village Polypodium cambricum was observed on many walls along with the
common spleenworts.

After a full lunch we moved on to Houghton (51/018116) and walked along the River
Arun to South Stoke to look for Ophioglossum vulgatum. On the way the understorey
of the beech wood was packed with Asplenium scolopendrium and a frond was plucked
and measured to be 3ft 2in. This will be compared with those at Folkestone Warren to
see where the largest are. A thorough search of the meadow, newly planted with spruce,
cherry and beech, failed to reveal any Ophioglossum.

After exchanging ferns, we drove on to West Burton to examine an old wall
(51/000140). One particular Square foot had Polypodium cambricum, Asplenium
scolopendrium, A. ruta-muraria, A. trichomanes and A. adiantum-nigrum. Whilst
examining the wall, the owner appeared in a doorway above us and invited us into the
garden. One large Polypodium variety was to be found in many parts of the garden, but
little else of pteridological interest.

We travelled on to Bignor Hill (41/981 3) where, much scratched and battered, we found
Gymnocarpium robertianum growing much larger than we remembered it under yew
trees, but possibly not in exactly the same place. This site for limestone oak fern has
been known since 1882.

Thursley National Nature Reserve, Thursley, near Guildford, Surrey

13 September — (Leader: Rob Cooke) Paul Ripley
Eight members and friends enjoyed this meeting at one of the classic Surrey heathland
sites. We were pleased to be joined by three members of the Surrey Flora Committee,
who added local as well as botanical knowledge.

68

Past The Moat (41/902416) we saw the primary objective of our visit, Lycopodiella
inundata, thriving on the damp and rather bare peat of this part of the heath. Apart from
Pteridium aquilinum, ferns were, not surprisingly, few and far between, but in patches,
notably near willow carrs by the A3, we found Dryopteris dilatata, D. carthusiana,
D. filix-mas, D. affinis (borreri), Athyrium filix-femina, and the occasional Blechnum
spicant. A few clumps of polypodiums were seen. One, with poorly developed
sporangia, was possibly P. interjectum, but another clump appeared, interestingly, to be
P. vulgare. A brief search of a Parish Field failed to yield Ophioglossum, but the sight
of an adder moving slowly away from our path rewarded us.

This nature reserve also has a most remarkable number of dragonfly (and damsel and
mayfly) species, and nearby, at Frensham Ponds, all the British species of reptiles can
be found. We were pleased to meet colleagues from the Surrey Flora Committee, and
very grateful to Rob Cooke for showing us this fascinating and beautiful area of the
south-east.

Eridge Rocks, near Tunbridge Wells, Kent — 11 October Paul Ripley
(Leaders: Pat Acock & Paul Ripley)

About a dozen members and friends met at Eridge Green, near Tunbridge Wells
(51/557356) to visit the well known Hymenophyllum tunbrigense site at Eridge Rocks.
The Society has contributed £250 towards the purchase of this marvellous area by the
Sussex Wildlife Trust [see p. 90] and it was good to see that this remarkable habitat has
been preserved, not only for the preservation of wildlife, but also for the enjoyment of
visitors. The nearby Harrison’s Rocks are much used by climbers. Probably the
Hymenophyllum sites are safe, but a degree of control over the activities of climbers will
need to be exercised.

The Hymenophyllum was flourishing in at least five quite large colonies, at least as
large as previously seen by Steve inp Anaad a ‘alee plants were fertile. Other ferns
seen at this site were Dryopteris affinis . borreri, D. dilatata, D. filix-mas,
Polypodium interjectum , i by paid and Athyrium filix-femina. After
lunching in Frant (The George is to be recommended for its quality and standard of
service), we stopped to look at the colony of Polystichum aculeatum on Frant Hill
(51/586357), which we are pleased to report is thriving. On the other side of the road is
an old bottle tip, but here we found single though well grown plants of Asplenium
scolopendrium and Polystichum setiferum. We also found a number of plants
representing the plumose form of Dryopteris affinis, which has the matt appearance,
thin indusia and relatively sparse scales of morphotype borreri, but which is clearly
different and may be morphotype robusta. We also found D. filix-mas. On the other side
of the road, behind the Polystichum aculeatum, we looked for Oreopteris and
Dryopteris x deweveri, but found only D. dilatata, D. filix-mas and Blechnum.

The second half of our meeting was held at Pat Acock’s house. After a sumptuous tea
and a tour of Pat’s always-fascinating garden, Howard Matthews discussed the
nomenclature of a fern found at Bridgemere Garden World. Jennifer Ide, Steve Munyard
and Paul Ripley showed slides of recent trips, Steve’s being of a visit to the Ontario
region in Canada which looked very exciting. We were sorry not to be able to visit
Rosemary Hibbs as planned, but are most grateful to Pat and his family for their warm
and generous hospitality.

EAST ANGLIA

Chippenham Fen, Cambridgeshire - 22 June Barrie Stevenson

Chippenham Fen is situated to the north-east of Newmarket (52/651692) and is
designated a National Nature Reserve administered by English Nature. The Fen, damper
than usual this year as a result of a particularly wet June, is in sharp contrast to the well-
drained and mainly corn-growing surrounding farmland. The Warden, Malcolm Wright,
gave 13 BPS members and friends a comprehensive tour of the Fen, including a
demonstration of an ingenious method of sluicing used to retain water in the dykes that
criss-cross the reserve. I am indebted to Tim Pyner for the following report.

Chippenham Fen consists of 275 acres of wooded and open fen. About one third is
woodland dominated by alder, ash and oak, with an understorey of privet, buckthorn,
guelder rose and sallows. Birch and alder buckthorn occur in more acid areas. Common
reed (Phragmites australis) and saw-sedge (Cladium mariscus) cover large areas of
open fen, and areas of fen pasture are also present. Several rare and local species were
seen including Cambridge milk-parsley (Selinum carvifolia) which is known from only
two other sites in Britain. Unfortunately, pteridophytes were in short supply, only
bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) and field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) being seen.
Adder’s tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum) was searched for but not detected in an area
where it is known to grow.

After a picnic lunch we made a brief stop at the railway bridge in the next village,
Snailwell, where we found the brickwork mortar supporting a colony of Asplenium
ruta-muraria and a solitary specimen of A. scolopendrium. We drove next to Lowlands
Nursery, Waterbeach, which is owned by member Brian Cox. Here we toured a vast
display of ferns and their cultivars grown in tunnels and a collection of unusual shrubs
and trees, many grown from seed.

We rounded off our day by visiting Brian and Jennifer Cox’s home where, after
admiring many mature ferns and some splendid trees and shrubs in the garden, we were
entertained to a generous spread of refreshments and invited to view the collection of
rare and curious laundry memorabilia which have been assembled by Brian and Jennifer
over many years.

Ranworth and Malthouse Broads and Fairhaven Gardens, Norfolk

17 August Geoffrey Winder
Shirt-sleeves and sunhats were the order of the day when 19 of us, including some
friends and family, met at Malthouse Staithe, which is on the edge of the Broads about
nine miles north-east of Norwich. In the morning we were to visit the Norfolk Wildlife
Trust’s nature reserves (63/357149) at Malthouse and Ranworth Broads, and, in the
afternoon, Fairhaven Gardens, a few miles away beside South Walsham Inner Broad.

For those unfamiliar with the region, the Broads are shallow lakes with their associated
marshes, the results of ancient peat digging, interconnected by slow-flowing rivers and
waterways.

With the warden, George Taylor, we were ferried across a short stretch of open water to

an area of marsh inaccessible from dry land. The vegetation was fairly typical, with

alder and willow carr, common reed and sedges. Flowering plants which attracted

interest included water mint, yellow loosestrife, marsh pea and ‘the best thing since

Sliced bread’, a stingless nettle which, | understand, some botanists regard as being 4

Separate species from the stinging nettle (Urtica dioica ). Milk-parsley, food plant of the
70

swallowtail butterfly caterpillar, was in flower, but there were no signs of the butterfly
or its larvae.

In contrast to Chippenham Fen which we visited on 22nd June (see previous report),
ferns were plentiful. In part of the marsh where reeds and taller vegetation were cut
annually there were several acres where it was almost impossible to avoid treading on
marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris). The warden showed us slightly raised uncut areas on
which grew marsh buckler fern (Dryopteris cristata), narrow buckler fern (Dryopteris
carthusiana) and lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina). Bog myrtle also grew on this
slightly raised ground and looked as if it could overrun the ferns if unchecked.

The launch then ferried us between the numerous holiday cruisers on Malthouse Broad
to our second venue, the Broadland Conservation Centre overlooking Ranworth Broad
Nature Reserve. Along the wooden walkway leading back through a wooded but
generally marshy part of the reserve were Dryopteris dilatata, several royal fern
(Osmunda regalis) and Dryopteris filix-mas, the latter on higher, dryer ground near the
exit. Again, flowering specimens of milk-parsley were seen.

After a picnic lunch at the Fairhaven Garden Trust, we were joined by the warden,
George Debbage, who accompanied us round the gardens. These are informal, with
footpaths leading through woodland and down to South Walsham Inner Broad.
Although freshwater, the broad rises and falls with the tides down-river. This causes
water to flow to and fro along narrow channels which lead into the lower marshy parts
of the gardens. Moisture-loving plants thrive close to these channels and there are good
stands of skunk cabbage, candelabra primula, Ligularia and the ferns Onoclea
sensibilis, Matteuccia struthiopteris and Osmunda regalis. In other, mainly dryer, parts
of the garden were Dryopteris filix-mas, D. dilatata and Athyrium filix-femina. Despite
the moisture in the environment some of the Matteuccia and Athyrium had scorched
foliage, which we decided was caused by drying winds a few weeks earlier.

A most successful day, and it was particularly interesting to see so many ferns in wild
or semi-wild conditions in a single day in East Anglia.

Warley Place, Essex — 17 September Barrie Stevenson
Ellen Willmott established the gardens of Warley Place, south of Brentwood
(51/583907) in 1880 and for the next 50 years employed up to 100 gardeners to
maintain her vast collection of rare plants. During her life-time more than 70 plants
were named in her honour, but after her death in 1934 the house and greenhouses were
demolished and the neglected garden became overgrown, soon to revert to woodland.
However, 16 acres of the garden are now leased by the Essex Wildlife Trust and Tim
Pyner led a group of ten members and friends around the Trust’s Reserve to hunt for
ferns, both species and cultivars.

We found the following pteridophytes: Asplenium scolopendrium, Athyrium filix-
femina, Dryopteris affinis, D. dilatata, D. filix-mas, Equisetum arvense, Osmunda
regalis, Polystichum setiferum, Pteridium aquilinum and Selaginella kraussiana. We
were pleased to find, in addition, cristate forms of Asplenium scolopendrium, Athyrium
filix-femina, Dryopteris filix-mas and Polystichum setiferum, presumably derived from
introduced cultivars.

Much of the original planting was evident, including a group of enormous sweet
chestnuts (Castanea sativa) which are between 300 and 350 years old and reputedly
planted by John Evelyn, the diarist and author of the influential ‘Sylva’, a multi-trunked

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Gingko biloba, vast specimens of the pungent laurel (Umbellularia californica) and a
fine example of the very rare Chinese tree, Meliosma veitchiorum. We also found, in a
sunlit glade, a purple carpet of Colchicum species in full bloom.

After a picnic lunch we drove to Westcliff-on-Sea to visit Tim Pyner’s garden which
contains an exceptionally varied collection of pteridophytes. He had produced a handlist
giving details of the 97 different types on display, many of which are generally
considered tender yet have survived a minimum temperature of —10°C with no
protection. Tim enjoys living dangerously, horticulturally speaking, especially as he
also grows many Australasian species, including a most imposing yellow-bloomed
Banksia marginata.

We have to thank Tim for organising a most stimulating day and Tim’s wife, Jill, for
providing the splendid refreshments which brought our visit to a highly enjoyable
conclusion.

End of Season Meeting, Suffolk — 26 October Barrie Stevenson

Thirteen members and friends celebrated the end of British Summer Time by holding
their autumn get together at the home of members Marie and Geoff Winder at Barrow,
near Bury St Edmunds. During our tour of the garden we admired many interesting
ferns growing below mature trees, including a superb group of Polystichum setiferum
‘Divisilobum Densum’ and an impressive mass planting of Asplenium scolopendrium
‘Crispum Group’ which have been propagated from leaf-bases.

NORTH-WEST

Holker Hall 1997, the year of ‘Fern Deco’ - 30 May -1 June Sally Beamish

The BPS North-West Group was again successfully represented at the Holker Great
Garden and Countryside Festival near Cark-in-Cartmel, gaining one of the top medal
awards in the Societies’ marquee.

‘Fern Deco — the art of decorative ferns’, focused on the influence of the fern in
decorative art. Our stand was divided into two ‘rooms’, representing the home and the
garden. The ‘garden’ displayed a fine collection of ferns contained in a rope-edged
‘bed’, demonstrating the diversity of colour and form that can be achieved with hardy
ferns. Pictures and texts explained the history of the fern as a decorative garden plant,
and a shady fern ‘arbour’, created by a display of potted ferns surmounted by a lofty
Dicksonia antarctica, proved irresistible to the show-weary visitor. Here they could
rest on a small fern bench, purchased by the Garstangs as a long-coveted addition to
their garden, but coming to them via a small detour to the show. It arrived just in time!
Leaving the garden and entering the ‘home’ through the garden door, the visitor was
introduced to the possibilities and potentials of ferns indoors, with examples of both
historical and contemporary ideas for their use in display. A curtained window
embrasure contained a selection of backlit ferns, providing a striking three-dimensional

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living image on one wall. The other walls were hung with a selection of fine Victorian
fern prints and with a fascinating range of illustrations depicting many of the forms of
decorative art that have been inspired by the fern. Such diverse pieces as the fern-
decorated ‘pace’ eggs painted by Wordsworth’s hairdresser, Andy Goldsworthy’s
amous bracken ‘sculpture’, the fern-carved furniture that prevails in the beautiful old
farmhouse of Townend, Troutbeck, near Ambleside and the crozier design of the
traditional bishop’s crook, were included in this display of Fern Deco

The furnishings of the home were, naturally, ferny as well. A small side-table, decorated
with pressed ferns, stood next to a statuesque armchair sporting an attractive modern-
day fern-printed ‘throw’. A display case of fern memorabilia and books graced another
table covered by that most versatile of materials, the old, faded, moss-green chenille
curtain, veteran of all our fern displays in Cumbria. A special award should be made to
this piece of fabric on its retirement from the showbench!

Public reaction to our display was most encouraging, with many people lingering to
look, read and chat, some for over half an hour! Bringing ferns to the attention of the
general public is always a rewarding challenge and our ‘Gold Award’ this year was
given to us by a passing visitor who stayed, and stayed, and stayed. He said “I could sit
here and look at this for hours — it really is beautiful” — and he did! Thank you, sir.

Hay Bridge, Bouth, near Haverthwaite and Brantwood, Coniston,
Cumbria — 21 June Jack Garstang

Nineteen members assembled in the car park of Hay Bridge Nature Reserve
(34/336876). This privately owned reserve is situated in a coastal valley with habitats
of woodland, rough fell, pasture, ponds, fen land, river banks, raised bog and a tidal
river subject to occasional flooding.

Dryopteris filix-mas, D. affinis subsp. affinis, Athyrium filix-femina and Blechnum
spicant were found on the short walk down to a raised bog, stretching over 50 acres and
surrounded by a lagg, a long, narrow wet area. On a natural raft of luxuriant sedges,

irch, alder and blackthorn covering the lagg, were 26 large colonies of royal fern,
Osmunda regalis, and the narrow buckler fern, Dryopteris carthusiana, was dotted
about everywhere. Many of the royal fern colonies had 60-100 crowns, some standing
almost two metres high. A walk through the woods of mainly birch, oak, alder and ash,
now recovering from three centuries of coppicing and charcoal burning, showed
Dryopteris filix-mas, D. affinis subsp. affinis, D. dilatata, Blechnum spicant,
Polypodium vulgare, P. interjectum, large swathes of beech fern, Phegopteris
connectilis, and one unusual Dryopteris filix-mas (Grandiceps group”).

Adjacent to the woods we examined an excavated potash pit, approximately twelve feet
across by nine feet deep, where bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) was once burnt to obtain
the potassium salts used in making soap for the woollen industry.

Lunch was taken in the fascinating Hay Bridge Museum before driving to Brantwood
up the minor road known as Fern Alley on the east side of Coniston Water.

After an introduction by Sally Beamish on the continuing progress and developments at
Brantwood we visited the Linton Room to view the ‘Ferns in the Fells’ exhibition, a
beautiful and successful display of ferns, paintings, books, writings, memorabilia and
fabrics. One American visitor writing in the visitor book wrote “this certainly cuts the
mustard”; we took that as a compliment.

The Linton Fern Garden and woodland walks were magnificent, now containing over
250 species and varieties. Dryopteris affinis ‘Pinderi’, “Crispa Gracilis’ and ‘Stablerae’
— crisped form, and Blechnum spicant ‘Serratum’ and ‘Cristatum’ are just a few of the
many cultivars now well established in this lakeside environment. Just above the track
by the pond is a huge D. affinis which has always caused a heated discussion as to its
correct name. Thanks to Ken Trewren we now know it is Dryopteris x complexa
nothosubsp. complexa (the hybrid between D. affinis subsp. affinis and D. filix-mas).
Within a few feet of it is a beautiful, pale green, late developing D. affinis morph.
paleaceolobata. The afternoon finished with a visit to the nursery by the lake shore
where the most interesting ferns were sporelings of Athyrium filix-femina ‘Plumosum
Penny’ and ‘Plumosum Druery’, and a D. affinis with inrolled pinnae that was found in
the Zig Zaggy garden. Dryopteris x uliginosa and D. corleyi were both flourishing.

Silecroft and West Coast, Cumbria - 19 July | Edna Marper & Mike Porter

On a perfect summer’s day eighteen members of the North-West Group met on the
shore west of Silecroft (44/121810) to investigate, under the joint leadership of Edna
Marper and Mike Porter, a range of sites both inland and coastal. The group having
assembled, Edna led the way south along the shore to a superb colony of
Ophioglossum vulgatum, passing on the way numerous bushes of dyer’s greenweed
(Genista tinctoria). The adder’s tongue plants here grow in a dense patch with several
hundred fertile spikes and are situated on a sandy bank some way above the high water
mark. Having admired and photographed the colony, the party made its way back to the
cars noting good numbers of butterflies on the way; dark green fritillaries and meadow
browns were especially common.

At this point the group split up, Edna’s party exploring the churchyard at St Mary’s
Whicham and the lanes round about, while Mike’s group went on to the lower slopes of
Black Combe, a massive hill which dominates this part of the coast.

The first party reported Asplenium scolopendrium and Equisetum arvense (sometimes
locally known as ‘holy water sprinkle’) in the churchyard, and Polypodium interjectum,
Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris filix-mas, D. dilatata and Pteridium aquilinum on the
turf and stone banks of the lane.

The second party, after a stiff climb up from the car park, enlivened by the sight of
peregrine falcons ‘dive-bombing’ a buzzard, reached the south-facing slate crags which
house a scattered colony of Asplenium obovatum subsp. lanceolatum. The plants were
rather small and seemed to be suffering a little from lack of moisture, but were readily
distinguishable with their shiny, lanceolate fronds closely pressed to the surface of the
rock. The two parties having met up for lunch in the welcome shade of Whicham
churchyard wall, the group moved north to the other Cumbrian site for A. obovatum
subsp. lanceolatum. Here the plant grows in a roadside wall and is almost totally
concealed by the vigorous growth of other plants, notably Dryopteris filix-mas and
foxglove (Digitalis purpurea).

The final site of the day was the road end at Drigg (34/048985) where two medium-
sized plants of Osmunda regalis grow in a damp roadside ditch.
Arnside, Cumbria and Silverdale, Lancashire — 16 August Peter Hindle

We spent the morning in Arnside at the home of John Mashiter, who over many years
has developed and expanded the collection started by his grandfather. Many of the ferns
there have been in cultivation for over 100 years. Part of the garden comprises 4

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low limestone cliff and as we were in the middle of a warm, dry spell, many plants were
not at their best. Outstanding though were Thelypteris palustris flourishing in some very
dry spots, Onoclea sensibilis and several variants of Polystichum lonchitis.

Our host then led us through Grubbins Wood Local Nature Reserve, where despite
being on limestone, soil pH values of 4.9, 5.8 and 6.8 have been recorded. Here we
found several specimens of Polystichum setiferum ‘Divisilobum’ and isolated plants of
Gymnocarpium dryopteris.

After lunch we moved to Kaye’s Waithman Nurseries at Silverdale and were impressed
by the developments since our previous visit in 1994. Much has been done to increase
the area of fern planting and we were able to inspect some of the newly planted beds.
Mrs Kaye, our guide for the day, stressed the importance of thorough ground
preparation before planting. Of particular interest were plants of Dryopteris wallichiana
(brown-scaled form) and red-stemmed Osmunda japonica. Another noteworthy plant
was a crested form of Pteridium aquilinum, originally found wild in the Silverdale area
by Reginald Kaye.

Our sincere thanks to both owners for allowing us these visits and spending time
showing us around and answering our many questions.

Cumwhitton Moss and Eden Valley, East Cumbria — 13 September
Mike Porter

Scattered over the North Cumbrian Plain are a number of ‘mosses’, areas of damp peat,
often well wooded with birch and Scots pine and supporting a wide range of flora and
fauna. Cumwhitton Moss, situated close to the village of Cumwhitton (confusingly
similar in name to nearby Cumwhinton which is to be found on the other side of the
River Eden!) is one of the most interesting of these mosses and was the site for the
North-West Group’s last field meeting of the season. Eleven members eventually
arrived (some via Cumwhinton) on a rather threatening morning with heavy clouds
building up and rain in the air. However, a strong wind got up, dispersed the clouds and
enabled the group to enjoy a splendid autumn day with only one brief shower.

The moss was entered from its western side and a compass course was steered through
dense pines and rather dangerous concealed peat diggings to a point just south of the
Cumwhitton Beck. On the way the group noted many specimens of Dryopteris dilatata
and D. carthusiana with a number of likely plants of the hybrid D. x deweveri. A little
further on, the prime object of the visit was located — a healthy and extensive colony of
Thelypteris palustris in perfect condition. Careful examination revealed that although
the vast majority of the fronds were sterile there were also a small number of fertile
fronds, distinguishable by their larger size, narrower pinnae and rather ‘crinkly’
appearance. In general the sori were not well developed. This colony, one of only three
in Cumbria, contains well over 1,000 fronds. In the near vicinity were various other
objects of interest, notably hoof fungus which is not infrequent in this part of the Eden
Valley and the small evergreen orchid, creeping lady’s-tresses (Goodyera repens).

The group now left the moss and moved on to a site near the Eden at Wetheral for lunch,
followed by a leisurely stroll along the bank of the river to a series of caves which were,
reputedly, the cell of St Constantine. In this area of the Eden Valley by far the most
frequent polypody is Polypodium interjectum and this was observed growing in
profusion on walls, trees and banks.

The meeting finished in bright sunshine shortly after 3.00 p.m.

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AGM, Holehird, Windermere, Cumbria — 11 October Jack Garstang

Thirty-five members assembled for our fourth AGM. The meeting reports and
members’ photographs on display reflected another very good season of varied and
well-attended meets. The formal business being quickly completed, a healthy
discussion soon led to the development of several interesting ideas for our 1998
programme.

Prof. Alastair Wardlaw gave an excellent illustrated talk entitled ‘Experiences with tree-

erns’. This covered his own experience of growing tree-ferns and his practical
experiments with methods of winter protection for them. The winner of the amusing
anagram and limerick competition was once again Mike Porter; the other competition
winners were: ‘Indoor Fern’ — Jack Bouckley, ‘Hardy Fern’ — Les Dugdale. After an
enjoyable tea provided by members the meeting closed at 5 p.m.

CORNWALL Rose Murphy

The Lizard, West Cornwall — 16 April

Eight of the group met at my home in Reskadinnick to start the second year of our
recording. After tea or coffee and a look at some of the new ferns in the garden, we
drove down towards The Lizard, meeting up with Chris Page on the way. Our first stop
was at Lizard Wood (10/791226), a mixed broad-leaved wood with some hazel
coppice. In this year’s cold, dry spring, ferns were not as well-advanced as they had
been last year and all that could be noted were Athyrium filix-femina, Blechnum
spicant, Dryopteris affinis agg., D. dilatata, D. filix-mas, Polypodium interjectum,
P. vulgare, Polystichum setiferum and Pteridium aquilinum. We soon moved on to a
small roadside wood near Little Trevean ( 10/767199). Again we were able to see the
effects of the dry spring, many of the ferns still being in the crozier state. For new
members of the group this was an advantage as it was possible to see the distinctive
unfurling pattern of Polystichum setiferum contrasting with that of Dryopteris dilatata.
It was also interesting to see the winter-surviving fronds of D. affinis subsp. affinis (still
with their intact indusia) surrounding the newly uncurling fronds. The lunch stop was
made at the northernmost tip of Crousa Downs and here, in the ditches and on their
banks, were Equisetum arvense (10/762197) and E. telmateia (10/759190), the latter
now spreading its range from the Original site in the nearby Rosenithon valley.

In 1992, Equisetum telmateia was abundant in the Rosenithon valley (10/7920 and
10/8020), but development has taken place and the great horsetail is not as easy to find.
However, two plants were seen on top of the roadside hedge (10/799212), each with
whorled branches, yet with cones. Chris Page was very intrigued with these and photos
were taken. The narrow lane towards Rosenithon village (10/797212 to 10/801212) was
very sheltered and sunny and though species were few, the ferns themselves were
abundant, especially Asplenium adiantum-nigrum and A, scolopendrium. While trying
to find more E. telmateia, two of us searched the valley on the south side of the road
and found unusual Dryopteris filix-mas with tawny, foxy-red scales in abundance
(10/199212). Two more plants of the same kind were found at Porthoustock, our last
stop for the day. Here, on the south side of the beach, the cliff face was partly hard rock
(gabbro) and partly slumped clay ( 10/807217). Tony Atkinson and Chris Page were in
their element here, searching everywhere for Asplenium obovatum subsp. lanceolatum
though without success, but adding A. marinum to the list. Some of us then searched the
inland valley, while others continued the search for lanceolate spleenwort. It was
eventually located on coastal cliffs on the far side of a disused quarry just to the north

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of Porthoustock at 10/809220. A new record for a ten kilometre square (10/82) and a
good ending to a brilliant day.

Penjerrick, West Cornwall (10/780309) — 14 June

This was in part a garden meeting and seven of us met at Penjerrick and were
introduced to Mrs Rachel Morin, the present owner. Penjerrick is one of three gardens
established in this area during the last century by the Fox family and it is the one that is
still in their ownership. Set in a sheltered, south-east facing valley, with many springs
that create a more or less permanent stream even in a drought, it is one of the mildest
gardens in Britain and boasts a rich collection of ferns, both native and introduced. In
the top garden Athyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris affinis, mainly subsp. affinis,
D. dilatata, D. filix-mas, Asplenium scolopendrium and Polystichum setiferum were
abundant. The first introduced fern noted was Pteris cretica, growing at the foot of the
garden terrace. Within the shelter of nearby woodland were Dryopteris crispifolia,
Polystichum polyblepharum, Todea barbara and Woodwardia radicans. The grotto at
the end of the terrace was home to Cystopteris fragilis and Selaginella kraussiana (now
I know the origin of these two species which grow in the lane between the two halves
of the garden!). Fine Dicksonia antarctica were frequent, some of the tallest occurring
in the Lower Garden where they reach heights of 25 feet or so. Down in the moist
Lower Garden with its streams and ponds, many young tree-ferns were naturalised and
Athyrium filix-femina was head-high. Blechnum magellanicum was everywhere and
Onoclea sensibilis flourished by the lakes. Lunch was had in a sunny, sheltered place in
the top garden, then, after extending our thanks to Mrs Morin who had opened the
garden especially for us, we began a fern search in the surrounding lanes.

The lane between the two gardens is very damp and sheltered, especially at 10/779307.
Cystopteris fragilis, young Dicksonia antarctica and Selaginella kraussiana were
naturalised here, growing with a number of native ferns. Towards its northern end, a
steep rocky bank supported Dryopteris aemula (10/781308), growing with Blechnum
spicant. The ferns growing along the lane that borders the northern side of the gardens
(10/780309) were more varied though less abundant and we were able to see both of
the types of scaly male fern that are common in Cornwall, Dryopteris affinis subsp.
affinis and subsp. borreri. As we walked back towards the cars we noticed a shining,
rather young Polystichum and wondered if it could be yet another escape from
Penjerrick, this time Polystichum polyblepharum. At the end of a most enjoyable day
we thanked Chris Page who had organised it all for us and who so ably led the meeting.

Carwinion, near Mawnan Smith, West Cornwall (10/781282) — 12 July

The weather forecast for the weekend was not good, but it proved cool and blessedly
dry when ten of us were made welcome at Carwinion by Mrs Jane Rogers, the owner
of the gardens. Over coffee we learnt of the collection of bamboos and of the plans she
and her husband were making to add to the ferns they already grew. Making for the
woodland areas, we followed a path that led past various pools towards a qu and
then down to the beach by the Helford River. This garden, though sheltered, can still be
affected by frost and this meant that one of the Woodwardia species had been lost in
the very cold spell of early spring this year. Ferns grew in profusion in the wooded
areas, along hedgebanks, by the pools and in the quarry where most of the introduced
ferns could be found. Polystichum setiferum and Athyrium filix-femina were
everywhere, with Dryopteris dilatata and Asplenium scolopendrium on the
hedgebanks. Osmunda regalis and Onoclea sensibilis grew by the ponds and streams.

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Dryopteris filix-mas was, strangely, not all that common in what the owners describe as
a ‘wild valley-garden’, but D. affinis flourished, several plants proving to be subsp.
affinis (10/780281). Only one plant of D. affinis subsp. borreri was seen, and this was
outside the garden by the path that led to the beach (10/780271). Only one kind of
horsetail was seen and quite as expected this proved to be Equisetum arvense.
Polypodium interjectum was not common and Pteridium aquilinum was rare(!), but a
careful search revealed Dryopteris aemula growing on rocky banks by the stream at
10/780274. Within the quarry (10/781279) were such introduced species as Athyrium
niponicum ‘Pictum’, Dryopteris erythrosora, D. wallichiana, Polystichum poly-
blepharum, Todea barbara, Woodwardia fimbriata, which survived this year’s frost,
and W. radicans. They grew with such garden-worthy varieties of native species as
Athyrium filix-femina ‘Fieldiae’ and ‘Frizelliae’, Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Crispum’
and a magnificent Dryopteris affinis ‘Cristata The King’. Dicksonia antarctica was
almost naturalised — several huge tree-ferns, smaller ones just beginning to develop
trunks, and young sporelings in dozens along the more shaded banks above the stream.

Lunch on the beach was followed by a gentle walk back towards the house exploring
new areas. This allowed us to add Selaginella kraussiana to the list. A cream tea brought
us to the end of the day. Our grateful thanks were extended to Mrs Rogers who gave us
a warm invitation to visit the gardens again and see more of the ferns she plans to
introduce. The fern collection at Carwinion is only just beginning; it will be fascinating
to watch it grow!

Equisetum Workshop - 13 August

Cornwall Wildlife Trust kindly made a room available to us for this workshop. Chris
Page discussed the evolution of this ancient group, their present distribution and their
habitat preferences. To learn that we have more hybrids in Britain and Ireland than
anywhere else in the world, that Equisetum telmateia can send its rhizomes down to a
depth of 40 feet and that horsetails require conditions where both calcium and silica are
available all added to the fascination of this group. Fourteen people were present, three
being Conservation Officers from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Barbara Porter made the
journey to Cornwall especially; she had brought slides with her and these, together with
those from David Holyoak, allowed us to consider those hybrids that don’t grow in
Cornwall. With local material, especially huge E. telmateia from Goss Moor
(10/939596) (presumably calcium and silica were present!), we were able to discuss
identification, learn that we have only one form of E. variegatum in Cornwall (the
prostrate dune form), see unusual growth forms of E. palustre and discuss the detailed
structure of E. arvense. Unlimited tea and coffee were made available to us by the Trust
and we ate our picnic lunch in warm sunshine in their garden. Our grateful thanks go to
the Trust for making this day possible.

Temple, Bodmin Moor, East Cornwall (20/136729) — 4 & 20 August

A small group, that included Trevor and Julie Taylor from Derbyshire, visited this very
special site on Bodmin Moor. We had made a special detour to Dozmary Pool
(20/192745) to see Isoetes echinospora, which was particularly abundant this year and
sporing well. This was followed by a visit to Temple to see a Dryopteris that looked
unusual. Anthony Pigott determined it as D. affinis morphotype paleaceolobata, the
first time it had been seen in Cornwall.

A re-visit was made later in the month, this time with Mary and Tony Atkinson, who
hope to find more sites for this fern. It made a rather good end to our year.

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HORTICULTURAL SHOWS

MALVERN SPRING SHOW - 9-11 May A.R. Busby

Due to the early date of this show we once again had to rely mainly on indoor ferns,
although Ray Smith was able to provide a few hardy ferns in pots and Clive Brotherton
again supplied several of his superb Cheilanthes in pots.

There was an air of sensuality at this year’s Society stand. Staging ferns in terracotta-
coloured pots tends to clash with the black show cloths thereby giving a rather artificial
look to the stand, and the bright colour of the pots draws the eye from the more neutral
green of the ferns. To offset this we used an idea from other society stands — usin
ladies’ black tights to cover the pots. Of course, much male discomfort could be avoided
by using only black pots! This is something I must consider for future events.

The following ferns were shown in the competitive classes. Once again, it was
disappointing to see so few ferns exhibited.

Class 4G One Pan Hardy Fern: Ist Mr C.A. Loader (Athyrium niponicum), 2nd Mrs
. Thomas (Adiantum pedatum ‘Imbricatum’), 3rd Dr A.J. Hughes
(Polystichum setiferum ‘Dahlem’) (6 entries)
Class 29G One Pot Fern: Ist Mr B. Walker (Cystopteris dickieana), 2nd Mr
D.L. Richards (Cheilanthes eatonii), 3rd Mr G. Lewis (Asplenium fontanum)
(6 entries)

My ‘award’ for best in show must go to the excellent Asplenium fontanum exhibited by
Mr Lewis which was just about the best example of this species I have ever seen
exhibited. If only I could do half as well.

The stand prompted the usual amount of interest from the gardening public and it was
very gratifying to enrol four new members. My thanks to Ray and Brenda Smith and
John and Margaret Collins for helping me set up the stand and to Sue Pierce, Alan
Ogden and Clive and Doreen Brotherton for assisting during the show.

BBC GARDENERS’ WORLD LIVE! - 11-15 June A.R. Busby
As a new venture this year, I set up a display of ferns in pots at the BBC Gardeners’
World Live! at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. This five day show has
become one of the nation’s major horticultural events and I felt it only fitting that our
Society should be represented. It was also very gratifying to be able to set up the stand
using predominantly British hardy ferns from my garden, augmented by five extra
plants kindly loaned by Rickards Hardy Ferns.

Local members manning the stand on the days that I could not be there reported much
interest from the gardening public and five new members were enrolled. An interesting
comparison can be made with the neighbouring stand, a very attractive display by the
Cottage Garden Society. They enrolled thirty new members on the first day and told me
that they enrolled some two hundred new members at last year’s show. For me this
confirms what I have always maintained — that we are a very specialist Society and
unlikely ever to enjoy such popularity.

As always, I am indebted to our local members who are such stalwarts and without
whose support I would be unable to contemplate such ventures, namely J. & M. Collins,
R. & B. Smith, A.H. Ogden, S. Pierce and C. & D. Brotherton.
I hope to represent the Society again at next year’s show and offers of help will be
gratefully received.

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SOUTHPORT FLOWER SHOW - 21-23 August A.R. Busby

It was very disappointing to see so few entries in the fern classes this year, largely due
to the absence of Ray Smith’s entries. Ray has been such a stalwart supporter of the fern
classes for many years and was sorely missed. New blood is needed very badly but Iam
at a loss to know how to encourage more members to take part.

The championship class helps to fill the bench and this year’s winner, Mrs Anne
Beenham, exhibited some well grown specimens: Asplenium scolopendrium ‘Crispum’,
Athyrium filix-femina ‘Rosemary’, Polypodium vulgare ‘Cornubiense’, Dryopteris
affinis ‘Crispa Congesta’, Onoclea sensibilis, Cheilanthes eatonii, Adiantum raddianum
and Cyrtomium falcatum, all in seven or eight inch pots. The quality of the exhibits was
and large, and presentation continues to improve. Sad to report one
disqualification due to a Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Prolifica’ being entered in the
Polystichum class and a Polystichum species rather than variety being included.

This year’s judge was A.R. Busby. The prize winners are listed below.

Class 6 Individual Championship: Four hardy, two greenhouse, two foreign hardy
ferns: Ist Mrs A.G. Beenham (1 ent

Class 7 Three Hardy British Ferns (dissimiliar): Ist Mrs H.C. Shepherd (1 entry)

Class 8 Three Hardy Foreign Ferns: (no entries)

Class9 Three Polypodium (distinct varieties): 2nd Mr & Mrs B. Russ, 3rd Mrs
E.A. Gibbs (2 entries)

Class 10 Three Polystichum (distinct varieties): (1 entry, disqualified)

Class 11 Three Athyrium: (no entries)

Class 12. Three Asplenium (excluding A. scolopendrium): 1st Mr & Mrs B. Russ, 2nd
Mrs E.A. Gibbs (2 entries)

Class 13. One British Fern (any kind or variety): Ist Mrs E.A. Gibbs, 2nd Mr A. Lovell
(2 entries)

Class 14 One Greenhouse Fern: 1st D. Need, 2nd Mrs E.A. Gibbs, 3rd Mr & Mrs
T. Melling (4 entries)

Class 15 Three Asplenium scolopendrium (3 distinct varieties): 2nd Mr & Mrs
B. Russ (1 entry)

My sincere thanks to Ray and Brenda Smith, David Harrison and Lawrence Kirkham
for their invaluable assistance on the Society’s stand.
Offers of assistance at Southport Show will be gratefully received.

THE AMERICAN FERN SOCIETY

The AFS invites all readers of this Bulletin to join the American Fern Society. Regular members
receive the Fiddlehead Forum six times a year. This newsletter is published for the benefit of

including postage for airmail-assisted delivery. For particulars please write to Dr David B.
Lellinger, 326 West St. NW, Vienna, VA 22180-4151, USA. Prospective members residing in
Great Britain should write to Mr M.S. Porter, 5 West Avenue, Wigton, Cumbria CA7 9LG.

AFS SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENTS: Our societies have an exchange arrangement whereby

members of the BPS can pay their AFS subscription through the BPS Membership Secretary and
vice versa. Contact your Membership Secretary for details.

SECRETARIAL NOTES

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 1998, PRELIMINARY NOTICE — The 95th
AGM will take place on Saturday 12th September 1998 at the Waterhead Hotel,
Coniston, Cumbria at 2.00 p.m.

COMMITTEE VACANCIES - In accordance with paragraph 3, section 3 of the
Society’s Constitution, two vacancies will occur due to the retirement of the two longest
serving Committee members. Nominations are invited from Society members to fill
these vacancies at the Annual General Meeting in 1998. The names of the nominees,
proposers and seconders, together with a letter from the nominee indicating his/her
willingness to serve, should reach the General Secretary by | August 1998.

SUBSCRIPTIONS 1998 — Members are reminded that subscriptions for 1998 are due
on the Ist January 1998 and should be paid to the Membership Secretary*, Mr M.S.
Porter, 5 West Avenue, Wigton, Cumbria CA7 9LG. Cheques should be made payable
to ‘The British Pteridological Society’. Current rates are given inside the front cover.
Standing Order forms are available from the above address. Payment can be made by
Credit Card — see renewal form.

“Please note change of Membership Secretary.

PUBLICATIONS BY AIRMAIL - Our journals can be sent by airmail to overseas
members, provided they advise the Membership Secretary and pay an additional
subscription to cover airmail postage. See inside front cover for rates.

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY — Our Society is affiliated to the RHS,
enabling a limited number of members to enjoy certain privileges in connection with
RHS Shows, competitions and services.

The BPS has bought a Garden Entry Card from the RHS. This allows one BPS member
and a guest to visit Wisley for £3.50 (normally £5), Rosemoor £2.80 (normally £4) and
Hyde Hall £2.10 (normally £3). The card is valid for a year from September 1997 and
is not valid for Wisley on a Sunday. If anybody would like to borrow this card, they
should to write to A. Leonard, 11 Victory Road, Portsmouth, PO! 3DR, enclosing an
SAE. The card should be returned to the Treasurer within 30 days.

READING CIRCLES — The Society operates a reading circle for several journals. The
American Fern Journal is a quarterly publication taining much information for those
Seriously interested in ferns; it is accompanied by the Fiddlehead Forum, which
publishes many ‘ferny’ items of interest to the amateur grower. The Royal Horticultural
Society’s journal, The Garden, is published monthly. To receive any of these journals
apply to the General Secretary.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS - There are four Special Interest Groups. For further
information please send a stamped addressed envelope to the organisers:

Aquatic Pteridophyta: Miss J.M. Ide, 42 Crown Woods Way, Eltham, London SE9 2NN.
Tree-ferns: Prot. A.C. Wardlaw, 92 Drymen Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 2SY.
Foreign Hardy Ferns: A.R. (Matt) Busby, 16 Kirby Comer Road, Canley, Coventry CV4 8GD.
Filmy Ferns: S.J. Munyard, 234 Harold Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 5NG.

MEMBERS INFORMATION SERVICE — Members often require information and

advice on many aspects of pteridophytes but are reluctant to ask or simply do not know

where to obtain help. Queries from members on any aspects of the biology,

identification or cultivation of ferns or fern allies should be sent to the General
ecretary accompanied by three first class stamps.

81

GREENFIELD FUND - This fund, set up as a memorial to one of our Society’s great
fern growers, Percy Greenfield, is used to finance approved research projects, helping
with the cost of necessary equipment, books and travel expenses. Percy Greenfield’s
interest leaned very much towards the non-scientific side of our activities and it is felt
that he would want this taken into consideration when decisions are made. Workers
eligible for university or college grants and similar support are not therefore eligible for
help from the fund. Members wishing to benefit from this memorial fund should apply
to the trustees via the General Secretary.

CENTENARY FUND - This fund is used to promote the study of all aspects of
pteridophytes — horticultural, scientific and educational, whether by amateurs, students
or professional pteridologists. As such its scope is much broader and more flexible than
the Greenfield Fund. Anyone wishing to avail themselves of this fund should contact the
trustees via the General Secretary.

BACK NUMBERS OF JOURNALS - Why not be ready for the new season’s ferning
by doing a little reading. Our back numbers are a valuable source of information
pertaining to most aspects of ferns. A mixed pack of six of our journals is available for
just £5 post free to whet your appetite; other back numbers of the Society’s journals are
available to members at reasonable prices. A full list is available from Pat Acock, 13
Star Lane, St Mary Cray, Kent BR5 3LJ.

BPS VIDEO ‘BRITISH FERNS’ — With over fifty species of ferns the British Isles
has a remarkably varied fern flora. Many species have distinctive distributions
reflecting regional variations in environmental conditions. In particular the cool,
relatively damp environments of the North and the mild Western fringes of Britain bring
together species typical of Atlantic, Arctic and Alpine regions, resulting in a fern flora
that is unique to the British Isles.

This twenty-five minute video shows most of our native ferns growing in their natural
habitats. It demonstrates the wide variety of size and form to be found in British ferns
and the broad range of habitats they colonise. Attention is drawn to key identification
characters for each species.

The video was funded by Schering Agriculture and the National Museum of Wales. It is
available for loan, free of charge, to interested individuals and organisations (UK only).
For further details write to the General Secretary enclosing an SAE.

NEW SPORE EXCHANGE ORGANISERS _ Please note that Barry and Anne
Wright are taking over this role from Margaret Nimmo-Smith.

WANTED: ARCHIVIST — The Society requires an archivist to actively maintain and
enhance its collection of various archive materials, mainly photos, letters and a few
sundry items. Further information from the General Secretary.

WANTED: AUDITOR — Do you have accounting or auditing experience? One of the
Society’s auditors wishes to stand down at the next AGM so a volunteer is needed to
join Graham Ackers. Further information from Graham Ackers, Deersbrook, Horsham
Road, Walliswood, Surrey RHS5 5RL, tel./fax 01306 627330.

WORLD-WIDE WEB SITE — The URL ( address) of the BPS Web site hosted by the
Natural History Museum has changed to “http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/bps/”.
The content should be expanded and updated very shortly.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 1997

MINUTES of the 94th Annual General Meeting held in the Jodrell Laboratory, The
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey on Saturday 18th October 1997 at
2.15 p.m.

IN THE CHAIR: The President, Dr T.G. Walker.

PRESENT: P.J. Acock, E.J. Baker, E. Bucke, A.R. Busby, J.M. Camus, R.J. Cooke,
M. & L. Craddock, T. Craddock, H.L. Davies, A. Dickman, P.J. Edwards, J. Faulkner,
M. & J. Garstang, M. Gibby, D.C. Guest, N.J. Hards, R.J. Hayward, E. Hennipman,
R. Hibbs, A.E. Hoare, R.G. Hoare, D. & K. Holly, J.M. Ide, A.C. Jermy, L. Kirkham,
A.M. Leonard, P.A. Lynch, E.O. Mason, S.J. & K. Munyard, R.J. Murphy, J. Parker,
A.M. Paul, A.C. Pigott, B. Porter, P. Richardson, M.H. Rickard, N.A. Riddell,
P.H. Ripley, A.D. Sclater, R.N. Timm, J.C. Vogel, O. Walker, A.C. Wardlaw,
J.R. Woodhams.

ITEM 1 - APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: J.A. Crabbe, JK. Cramp, R.J. & B. Smith,
C.N. Page, J.W. Merryweather,

ITEM 2 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the 93rd AGM held on the 12th
October 1996 had been published in the 1996 Bulletin and were approved.

ITEM 3 - MATTERS ARISING: None.

ITEM 4 —- REPORT OF THE HONORARY GENERAL SECRETARY:
MEETINGS: Regrettably, yet another year has passed in which I have been unable to
attend field meetings but I have heard good reports, especially of the meeting in
Derbyshire. I take this opportunity to thank all those members who take the trouble to
lead meetings.

REGIONAL GROUPS: Apart from my own Midlands Group which only managed one
meeting this year and one at that for which I can take no credit, and the Wessex Group
which is not well supported, the other regional groups appear to be flourishing. I urge
all members who are fortunate enough to live in an area that boasts such a group to
contact the organiser and take part in its activities.

MEMBERSHIP: Our Membership Secretary, Alison Paul, informs me that we have
had 27 resignations this year and 55 members have lapsed to date, but we have been
fortunate enough to enrol 58 new members during the year. Our membership total
stands at 742.

PLANT AND SPORE EXCHANGE SCHEMES: Ray and Brenda Smith continue their
good work organising the Plant Exchange Scheme. As I prepare this report they have
just completed the latest list of the plants that members are offering. Brenda has very
recently undergone major surgery and we wish her a speedy recovery.

Margaret Nimmo-Smith reports great difficulty in keeping up with the demands of the
Spore Exchange Scheme. She extends her sincere apologies for the long delay in
fulfilling members’ spore requests but continues in her endeavours to clear the backlog.
MERCHANDISE: Mick and Linda Craddock continue to organise the Society’s
merchandising and report another busy year.

BOOKSALES: Steve Munyard sent me a long report during June of this year outlining
several problems mainly to do with insuring the Society’s book stock at his home. This

83

is being considered by the Committee. He also reports a general increase in the cost of
buying books from bookshops which prevents him from making any good level of profit
from sales. This service is run with low margins and it was never envisaged that it would
make big profits.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS: These groups continue to operate at various levels
and their activities will be reported in the 1997 Bulletin. [see p. 88]

COMMITTEE BUSINESS: We have formed a Finance and General Purposes Sub-
Committee consisting of three officers and two Committee members. The aim is to try
to ‘pre-digest’ some of the Society’s business and be able to make recommendations to
the Committee. Hopefully, the Committee will be able to merely rubber stamp some
items but will always be able to reject those that it considers inappropriate. This sub-
committee has met twice during 1997; time will tell whether or not it will be effective.

Items at present under consideration include seeking charitable status for the Society,
and organising a symposium on fern growing to be held in 2001. The Committee has
also been considering various ways of commemorating the many years of hard work
that Jimmy Dyce gave to this Society and we shall keep members informed on these as
they bear fruit. I am pleased to announce that one item that will bear J immy’s name has
been given to the Society today. Thanks to the extreme generosity of James Crabbe, the
Society now has a silver cup, the James Dyce Trophy. This will be awarded to exhibitors
of ferns in a Society show; further details will be announced at a later date.

There are changes afoot during the coming year. Alison Paul will be retiring as our
Membership Secretary. We are most grateful to Mike Porter who has offered to take
over this role from 1998 in response to Alison’s plea for a volunteer to succeed her.
Reluctantly, I shall be retiring as General Secretary at the AGM in September 1998.

Once again I must end on a sad note by reporting the deaths of Dr H.E. Bellringer, a
member since 1969 and Mrs D. Ellenberg, a member since 1979, and we were shocked
to learn of Mrs Alma Jermy’s death in June. To their families we extend our deepest
sympathy. As most members will know, James Wood Dyce MBE, our President
Emeritus, died on 29th December 1996. It has been said that without Jimmy Dyce our
present Society would not exist. I am not sure about that but I am sure that without
Jimmy we would not have the kind of Society we have enjoyed for the last fifty years.
If I may be allowed to paraphrase Sir Christopher Wren’s memorial in St Paul’s
Cathedral — ‘if you seek Jimmy’s memorial, you are a member of it’.

The President thanked Mr Busby for his report.

ITEM 5 —- REPORT OF THE HONORARY TREASURER: Andrew Leonard
circulated to the meeting a copy of the balance sheet for 1996. This was duly approved
and the President thanked Mr Leonard.

ITEM 6 —- REPORT OF THE MEETINGS SECRETARY: Patrick Acock, acting
Meetings Secretary, circulated a list of meetings proposed for 1998. There will be an
indoor meeting in London on 7 March, a field meeting in Hastings 23-25 May, a field
meeting in the Brecon Beacons in July and the Midlands Fern Show at Warwick
University on the 18 July. The Society will have its usual stand at Southport Flower
Show on the 20-22 August, a field meeting in the Lake District on the 10-13 September
and there is a proposed winter mini-symposium in London on the 16 January 1999.
The President thanked Mr Acock and the Meetings Sub-committee for all their hard
work in seeing the 1997 programme through and in getting the 1998 programme ready
for today’s meeting.

84

ITEM 7 - REPORTS OF THE EDITORS:

Fern Gazette — Mr Busby read the report received from B.A. Thomas in which he
apologised for the delay in the publication of the Fern Gazette. This was due to
circumstances beyond his control, in large part the lack of completed copy. The present
issue is with the publisher and will be sent out shortly. For the next part, two papers are
ready for the printer and two are in the pipeline.

Pteridologist — Mr Busby read a report received from the retiring editor, James
Merryweather. He is handing over the editorship with mixed feelings. Having always
enjoyed reading Pteridologist from cover to cover, he had very much enjoyed having
the opportunity to test his own style on the journal. However, due to a combination of
various pressures and the need for freedom to indulge fully in his other interests he felt
it was time to retire from the post. Much more copy is needed for the 1998 edition which
will be a memorial to Jimmy Dyce. Members were urged not to procrastinate, but to put
pen to paper and ensure that the new editor has enough material.

Bulletin — Alison Paul reported that some of the copy was to hand for the 1997 issue but
that she is still waiting for many reports. Alison also asked members to submit for
consideration for publication any photographs they had taken at this year’s meetings.

World-Wide Web Pages — A.C. Pigott who has been the driving force to get the Society
onto the WWW reported that The Natural History Museum has provided space on its
WWW server to enable the Society to display a few pages giving information on
membership, the Society’s activities and pteridophytes generally. Our site is very basic
at the moment but Anthony hopes soon to update and expand the information available.

The President thanked the Editors for their reports.

ITEM 9 —- REPORT ON BPS MAPPING PROJECT: Anthony Pigott gave a
presentation on the objectives of this scheme and outlined ways in which members
could contribute. [For more information see Anthony’s report on p. 89.]

ITEM 10 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE:

Election of President: Having completed his three years as President of the Society, Dr
Trevor Walker was retiring from this post. Dr Walker stated how pleased he was to
recommend, on behalf of the Committee, Mr Martin H. Rickard as the next President of
the Society. Martin Rickard received the unanimous approval of the meeting and was
therefore duly elected and took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

Election of Vice-President: It was proposed by A.R. Busby, seconded by M.H. Rickard
and approved by the meeting that Dr Trevor Walker be elected a Vice-President of the
Society.

Election of Officers: Both A.R. Busby and A.M. Leonard had expressed their
willingness to stand for re-election as Honorary General Secretary and Honorary
Treasurer respectively and they were elected by the meeting.

85

Honorary Meetings Secretary: Patrick Acock had expressed a willingness to fill this
vacancy and was duly elected by the meeting.

Election of Editors: Following the resignation of J.W. Merryweather, Prof. Barry
Thomas agreed to stand for election as Editor of the Pteridologist.

Josephine Camus agreed to stand for election as Editor of the Fern Gazette with J.A.
Crabbe; Dr Mary Gibby was retiring as an editor.

Alison Paul agreed to stand for re-election as Editor of the Bulletin.

Anthony Pigott was standing for election as Editor of the Society’s new WWW site.

It was proposed by Dr T.G. Walker, seconded by A.R. Busby and approved by the
meeting, that the Editors be elected en bloc.

Election of Committee: The two longest serving members of the Committee due to
retire were P.H. Ripley and R.J. Cooke. The President thanked them for their service.
wo nominees to join the Committee were Mike Porter, proposed by E.J. Baker,
seconded by J.H. Bouckley, and Rose Murphy, proposed by A.R. Busby and seconded
by M.E. Nimmo-Smith. The remaining members of the Committee standing for re-
election were: E.J. Baker, Miss J.M. Ide, A.C. Jermy, Miss H.S. McHaffie, Mrs M.E.
Nimmo-Smith, R.N. Timm, Prof. A.C. Wardlaw.
It was proposed by S.J. Munyard, seconded by D. Holly and approved by the meeting
that they be elected en bloc.
ITEM 11 - ELECTION OF HONORARY AUDITORS: Both Graham Ackers and
Graham Hoare were willing to stand for another year as Auditors. It was proposed by
A.R. Busby, seconded by J.H. Woodhams and approved by the meeting that they be
elected.
ITEM 12 - ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
As there was no further business the President thanked members for attending.
The meeting closed at 3.15 p.m.
A.R. Busby
Hon. Gen. Sec.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT AS AT 31 DECEMBER 1996

Notes to the Accounts

1. The Society had the following stocks of books at 31.12.1996 (1995 stocks in brackets): Guide
to Hardy Ferns 0 (0), Fern Names and their Meanings 240 (264), Cultivation and Propagation
of British Ferns 223 (290), History of British Pteridology 854 (859), BPS Extracts and Papers
453 (460).

2. Small floats were held by four officers at 31.12.1996. These are not included in the accounts.
3. The accounts reflect the subscriptions actually received in the year. Approximately £1,971 is
subscriptions received in advance for 1997 but some subscriptions remain outstanding for 1996.
4. BPS Booksales had assets of £4,056.48 (£3,829.90) at 31.12.1996.

5. The Centenary Fund had 185 (192) copies of A World of Ferns at 31.12.1996.

6. The Society also possesses the following assets with less tangible value:

A share in a computer and software at The Natural History Museum which cost £1,000 in 1992.
The Spore Exchange has a computer and software that cost £1 ,000 in 1996 and a fridge that cost
£200 in 1991.

Back issues of the Bulletin, Fern Gazette and Prteridologist valued at at approximately £3,000.
Merchandise valued at approximately £1,500.

(1995)
£12,209.37
171.85
200.00
8.00
730.79
49.00
1,093.14

£14,462.15

£11,149.64

3,312:51
4,018.14
(1,000.00)

£6,330.65

5,285.64

142.81
(400.00)

48.00

363.61

£5,440.06

1,808.49

--£2,507.25.

ORDINARY ACCOUNT

INCOME:
Subscriptions
terest
Booksales
Spore Exchange
Merchandise
lant Sale
Sundries
TOTAL INCOME

EXPENDITURE:
Pteridologist

Gazette

Bulletin

Printing & Stationery
Administration & Postage
Subscriptions to Societies
Plant & Spore Exchanges
Meetings

Merchandise

Mapping Project

TOTAL EXPENDITURE

BALANCE for 1996
Brought forward from 1995
Publications Account

Carried forward at 31.12.1996

CENTENARY FUND
Brought forward from 1995
Interest
Grant
World of Ferns
Intercept

Carried forward at 31.12.1996

GREENFIELD FUND
Brought forward from 1995
Interest

rant
Donations

Carried forward at 31.12.1996

PUBLICATIONS ACCOUNT
995

Brought Forward from 1
rints

Special Publication No.
Special Publication No.
Special Publication No.
Special Publication No.
Special Publication No.
Special Publication No.
Reprinting

Ue WN ee

Balance
Ordinary Account

Carried forward at 31.12.1996

1996
£11,673.15
476.54
174.26

3.00

£12,326.95

£8,849.20

3,477.75
6,330.65

£9,808.40

56.00
112.35

£5,853.50.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

FOREIGN HARDY FERN GROUP A.R. Busby
I am pleased to report that the FHFG’s success continues unabated and we continue to
enrol new members, membership now standing at about 22. Our third newsletter was
circulated in December 1996 and was the largest so far produced. Thanks to a modest
grant from the Greenfield Fund, we were able to include coloured photocopies of
European and North American Hardiness Zones. Articles on growing foreign hardy
ferns in Surrey, Lincolnshire and Germany were included. I have only just enough copy
for our fourth newsletter which I hope to circulate in the near future.

Any members wishing to join this group should write to A.R. Busby, 16 Kirby Corner
Road, Canley, Coventry CV4 8GD.

AQUATIC PTERIDOPHYTE GROUP
Organiser: Jennifer M. Ide, 42 Crown Woods Way, Eltham, London SE9 2NN.

TREE-FERN GROUP M.H. Rickard
The group continues to grow (now 22 members), as does the newsletter. The two issues
produced during the past year ran to about ten sides each. Much excellent copy has been
contributed by Alastair Wardlaw who recently visited New Zealand, Australia, France
etc. where he gleaned all sorts of interesting information about a whole host of different
species.

At his home in Glasgow, Alastair is carrying out some quite exciting experiments with
several species of tree-fern. Coupling this with his rapidly accumulated worldwide
experience, he seems to be at the centre of activity and I have therefore asked him if he
would be prepared to take over editing the SIG newsletter, | am delighted to say he has
accepted. The next issues should be in autumn 1997 and spring 1998. Any copy will be
gratefully received by Alastair at 92 Drymen Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 2SY; tel.
0141-942-2461; e-mail: a.wardlaw @bio.gla.ac.uk. Members wishing to join the group
should also apply to Alastair from whom back issues of the Newsletter are also
available.

Last year I asked members of the group to send ten second class stamps each year to
help with costs. I am now pleased to say this is no longer necessary as the newsletter
will be funded by the Society centrally.

FILMY FERN GROUP S.J. Munyard
The first newsletter for the group was issued later than anticipated due to my change of
employment this year. If anyone has access to filmy ferns for cultivation or pieces of
tree-fern trunk for use as a growing medium, I would be pleased to hear from them.
Anyone else interested in joining this group please contact Steve Munyard at 234
Harold Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 5NG.

BPS MAPPING PROJECT
This note is based on a presentation given at the BPS AGM at Kew on 18 October 1997.

The basic objective of this scheme is to produce a new fern atlas by about the year 2000.
The precise date is uncertain, mainly because there is some dependency on the
Botanical Society of the British Isles’ ‘Atlas 2000’ project. We intend to create an on-
going pteridophyte database so that the atlas production is not a one-off publishing
activity. We will exploit new technology in analysis and publication, e.g. GIS
(geographical information systems), database methods, WWW (world-wide web) and
CD-ROM.

The actual publications to be produced include a book, provisionally entitled The
Geography and Ecology of the Pteridophytes of Britain and Ireland, an interactive CD-
ROM and on-line access to the pteridophyte database through the BPS WWW site. The
publications will include distribution maps at different scales to illustrate specific taxa
and overlays with environmental and ecological data. The CD-ROM version has the
potential of displaying good colour photographs.

Our approach is to work with others, e. g. BSBI and BRC (Biological Records Centre),
adding our specialist knowledge to their Atlas 2000 project by acting as referees for
identification of difficult fern groups, and recording selected scarce species in greater
detail. In return we have an agreement with BRC to use their collective records in the
book proposed above. More specific work with the BSBI in 1997 has included
attendance at their Atlas 2000 workshops and the BSBI Recorders’ Conference,
including distribution of the Affinis Watch paper on morphotypes. We have also
contributed the pteridophyte section of a new Plant Crib 1998 to be published next May,
the substance of which will be available to BPS members. We will work with the Record
Centres, BRC in Great Britain, CEDAR in Northern Ireland and the equivalent in the
Republic of Ireland, feeding our records to their databases and using extracts of their
pteridophyte records. We will also liaise with the Conservation Agencies including
English Nature, the Countryside Commission for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage,
Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) and the Wildlife Trusts.

The BPS Mapping Project team is made up of a steering committee comprising Rob
Cooke, Clive Jermy and Anthony Pigott, with ‘Regional Advisors’ Tom Curtis
(Republic of Ireland), Paul Hackney (Northern Ireland), Heather McHaffie (Scotland),
Gavin Stark (England) and Ray Woods (Wales).

Our own computing facilities are provided by a computer at The Natural History
Museum, running the ‘Recorder’ program. This will be used to collate records
originating within the BPS and to hold and process extracts received from Record
Centres. This is likely to be enhanced with more computing power and other software
including mapping facilities; D-Map is being acquired.

The greatest needs that the project has at present are for data/record management effort
to manage the data flow and identify target areas and taxa, for data entry effort to put
new BPS records on the database and for more new records from members. We intend
to resurrect the BPS Recorder post. This would be a data manager, co-ordinating data-
flow with BSBI and Record Centres, providing lists of gaps and target areas and vetting
records. It would be rather like a BSBI vice-county recorder but dealing with
pteridophyte records for all areas. We also need data entry people. They would use
either the computer at the NHM or their own if more convenient, enter new records
from record cards, etc. and use the BPS database to produce reports and maps. This

89

work can be varied depending on the wishes and aptitude of the person. Anyone who
feels they could help in any of these capacities should contact me. [Note new address:
Kersey’s Farm, Mendlesham, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 5RB; e-mail:
anthony.pigott @ bti t

All members can contribute by making records of all pteridophytes, by site, parish,
tetrad, 10km square, etc., especially looking at endangered and scarce species in detail,
by looking for old records, especially at the edge of a taxon’s normal range and by
looking for gaps in distribution by using their knowledge of ecology and sites. Anyone
needing guidance in this should contact Clive Jermy (Botany Department, The Natural
History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD; e-mail: c.jermy @nhm.ac.uk).

So, what is the outlook for the project? On the positive side, the objectives are
established, we are already working with other organisations and the technology is
available. However, we still desperately need more effort for data management and
input in order for us to achieve our objectives.

Anthony Pigott

ERIDGE ROCKS
— an opportunity to see Hymenophyllum tunbrigense in SE England

This site, in the High Weald of East Sussex between Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough
(51/554358), is an important example of the Wealden Sandrocks and as such contains a
range of locally rare species. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, first notified in
1950. Of particular interest is a large population of Tunbridge filmy fern. Other ferns
are present in the surrounding woodland, as well as a range of interesting mosses and
liverworts growing on the rock outcrops.

This site has recently been purchased by the Sussex Wildlife Trust, mainly through grant
aid from the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Nature, but also with a very modest
contribution (£250) from the British Pteridological Society. To my knowledge this is the
first time the BPS has contributed to the purchase of a nature reserve.

Members may like to know that the site is “open access’ and visits from BPS members
are encouraged. The Sussex Wildlife Trust would be grateful to receive any plant
records for the site, and any other observations (e.g. Is the Hymenophyllum tunbrigense
as luxuriant as it used to be? Has
Dryopteris aemula been seen here?
How are the ferns responding to
management at the site?).

If you do visit, please be careful
around the rocks — it is a vulnerable
site and a misplaced boot could easily
scrape off some rare plants; the filmy
fern is tucked away and the Trust
have asked if visitors could avoid
creating an obvious path to it.

Rob Cooke
Conservation Officer

90

OBITUARIES

JAMES WOOD DYCE MBE 1905 — 1996
Before 1934, Jimmy — as he was known to all his friends, knew nothing about ferns. It
was Only a chance request from a friend to collect some hart’s tongue fern while on
holiday in north-east Scotland that made Jimmy realise there was more to ferns than met
the eye. Aided by his father he soon got to grips with some of the commoner types and
as a consequence wanted to know more. On returning to London he wrote to
A.J. Macself, then editor of Amateur Gardening and coincidentally a top fern man at the
time, asking him to suggest a good fern book. Macself responded by recommending
British Ferns and their Varieties by Charles Druery. On his 30th birthday in 1935
Jimmy was presented with a copy — in his own words the most important present he ever
received.

To have chanced upon A.J. Macself in this way was extraordinary but Jimmy’s
enthusiasm brought his new interest to the attention of all his friends. The wife of one
revealed to Jimmy that her uncle Joe had a collection of ferns and was treasurer of a
Society called the British Pteridological Society. Uncle Joe turned out to be
J.J. Sheldon, another very active fern man at the time. Jimmy was greatly impressed by
his collection, especially the cultivars of Polystichum setiferum; he immediately joined
up, in 1935,

Fuller details of how Jimmy became
interested in ferns, how he almost
single-handedly saved the Society
from extinction after the war, how he
filled almost every post in the
Society, many of them
simultaneously, and how he was for
many years *Mr Fern’ have been told
elsewhere (See Dyce 1981, 1982,
1991, Various 1985, Busby 1991,
Hall 1991). In the space available
here it seems appropriate to give a
more personal reminder of a man
who became a very special friend to
so many fern enthusiasts.

either in the wild or in other
members’ gardens. For many years
in the sixties and seventies his
attendance at meetings was the
corner-stone of the Society’s
success,

Like most, I first met Jimmy on a eG >, My. aes
field trip. In my case it was on the photo: A.C. Jermy

: Jimmy Dyce in the field, late 1960s
already 64 and still in short

trousers! This was my first Society

meeting and I really only went because I knew Arran from the 1950s and wanted to see
it again. I expected to be bored with a lot of aged and rather intense enthusiasts. But not
a bit of it! We had a wonderful time! The hard core of the group certainly were
enthusiasts but they were human too, and the whole week went off as an extremely
enjoyable affair. At the heart of the success was Jimmy Dyce who inspired other
notables, including Henry Schollick and Fred Jackson, to contribute to the relaxed
atmosphere of the week. After that experience I, and many others, knew that if Jimmy
Dyce was going to be at a meeting it was going to be a success. For years he attended
virtually every meeting of the Society and was the main catalyst for its rapid growth
through the seventies and eighties.

Sadly, many members
played safe and sampled the
BPS at either an indoor
meeting or the annual Kew
Gardens tour. I say sadly
because at these meetings
there is never enough time
to get to know people and
certainly while Jimmy was
secretary, treasurer, editor
etc. he had no time to chat at
length. He was, however,
the perfect host. Every new
member was_ personally
greeted — “Call me Jimmy”.
I think it would be safe to
say that every UK member
knew Jimmy either
personally, or by
correspondence, and very
many overseas members,
amateur and_ professional,
enjoyed similar contact.

Over the years many new
members _ joined the
Society because Jimmy
had been so helpful and

; epragaep when
Peter Boyd, Jimmy and Joan Lorraine discussing the finer enthusiastic
points of some of Joan’s ‘Greencombe’ series of approached for advice. I -_
Polystichum cultivars. on dangerous ground here if

I pick out a few names but
some do deserve special mention. Were it not for Jimmy I wonder if Joan Lorraine
would have got the ‘bug’ and now be a proud holder of the National Collection of
Polystichum. Certainly without his enthusiasm at the Bromyard meeting in 1969 Ray
and Rita Coughlin are unlikely to have been hooked — what a disaster that would have
been for the fern cult. Would the Society have got off the ground if Jimmy hadn't
persuaded Dick Cartwright to take on organising meetings and later the spore
exchange? I could go on and on, what would the Society have done without many others
who Jimmy encouraged to participate in Society matters.

92

— <- aS

Ray Coughlin and Jimmy in Ray’s garden at Bromsgrove.

During the 1950s fern interest in Britain and overseas was weak, but the development
of the Society took a step forward with the appointment in 1959 of a new editor for the
Fern Gazette, Clive Jermy. Clive encouraged the scientific side of fern study as the
Gazette thrived, again with Jimmy’s whole-hearted support. This left a void for the fern
grower. Realising this and stimulated by complaints from some of the horticultural
members, Jimmy launched a new journal — The British Pteridological Society
Newsletter, later becoming the Bulletin and finally the Preridologist. | remember how
much I used to look forward to receiving the Newsletter in particular; the information
contained was unavailable elsewhere, and most of it came from Jimmy’s pen. The list
of 52 fern books given as an appendix to the 1967 issue had a huge effect on me and
many other members at around that time. I was not alone in wanting to own every book
on the list — fern book collecting was fashionable and fun! Jimmy, of course,
encouraged our interest. He built up BPS Booksales and made us all green with envy
with stories of how he bought The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland by Moore and
Lindley for 15 shillings (75p!) during the war.

Even though he was a horticulturalist Jimmy always saw the professional scientific side
of pteridology as an important part of the Society’s future. He always did whatever he
could to encourage professional involvement in the Society, particularly at the Natural
History Museum initially with A.H.G. Alston, then Jim Crabbe and Clive Jermy and
eventually with Mary Gibby, Josephine Camus and Alison Paul. Elsewhere in Britain,
Jimmy developed links with Prof. Holttum and Prof. Irene Manton, both to become
Society Presidents. I know one highlight for him was his trip to Portugal in 1976 with
Clive Jermy and Mary Gibby when they discovered Dryopteris guanchica, a new record
for mainland Europe. He was certainly not just a variety man! In 1978 the BPS and the
Botanical Society of the British Isles published Atlas of Ferns of the British Isles, and
while Jimmy did not get credit as an editor he. along with Tony Worland, was one of the
main contributors of records. Jimmy with his little booklets of record cards was a very
familiar site in the field!

Jimmy’s catalytic effect was not confined to Britain. He went to great lengths to
encourage fern interest elsewhere. Most notably he corresponded with several
Australians including Ray Best in Sydney and Chris Goudey in Melbourne. Both have
subsequently written books on ferns. Chris was also instrumental in setting up the Fern

ociety of Victoria, and is now one of the leading fern growers in the world. Jimmy also
reached out to the other side of the world, to Seattle, where he established contact with
Judith Jones. This was a special relationship for Jimmy which lasted up to his death.
Judith made two or three visits to Britain enjoying ferny tours with Jimmy. Once Jimmy
went over to see Judith on her patch and enjoyed very wide ranging excursions into the
temperate forests of the Olympic Peninsula and the deserts of Arizona as well as the
gardens and hospitality of many American fern friends. The Hardy Fern Foundation
later sprung up in Seattle under the guidance of Sue Olsen, no doubt indirectly inspired
by Jimmy Dyce.

Curiously, few pteridophytes or fern cultivars have been named after Jimmy. Those
known to me are:

Equisetum x dycei. A hybrid horsetail (E. fluviatile x E. palustre) named in honour of
Jimmy on his eightieth birthday by Chris Page.

Dryopteris dilatata ‘Jimmy Dyce’. Found on Arran in 1969 by Jimmy and Fred
Jackson. It is an erect and slightly congested form. Very distinct as a cultivar but could
be a form of D. expansa.

Adiantum aleuticum ‘Dyce’s Dwarf’. This is an odd one which surfaced in America.
Jimmy saw it on his trip over there and disclaimed all knowledge of it!

Polystichum setiferum ‘Falcatum Dyce’. Pinnules leafy, incised and falcate. New fronds
golden in spring.

Polystichum. There will hopefully soon be a new taxon of Polystichum named after
Jimmy, but I cannot let the cat out of the bag here!

Jimmy found many other varieties in the wild while others arose spontaneously in his
garden. His interest was not confined to ferns. In Norfolk he found Calluna vulgaris
‘Jimmy Dyce’, a double form highly rated by heather enthusiasts. In his garden he
undertook breeding daffodils, maintaining contact with specialists such as Michael
Jefferson-Brown, having much success in selecting for the paler colours and producing
a range of very arresting cultivars. Some of these were given away but sadly most died
out under the brambles that eventually overran that part of his garden.

I know his greatest disappointment was that he never found either an Asplenium
scolopendrium ‘Crispum’ or a Polystichum setiferum ‘Divisilobum’. An extraordinary
fact given that variety hunting was his favourite pastime for many years, particularly in
the post-war years with Percy Greenfield and Rev. E.A. Elliot. Perhaps this was a
blessing in disguise as he was most unhappy with the International Code of
Nomenclature of Cultivated Plants published in 1959. This outlawed Latin cultivar
names published after 1959, destroying the highly developed system of nomenclature
so well established in the fern world. The 1959 Code and subsequent revisions have
been accepted very slowly by many of us in the Society; even now, 38 years later, some
illegal naming goes on. ‘Falcatum Dyce’ given above is illegal, but I don’t know what
else to call it! Right to the end Jimmy could not bring himself to accept the Code.

Jimmy wrote far too many articles and notes on Society business to attempt to list them
here, but he did have two books published by the Society: Fern Names and their
Meanings in 1988, and The Cultivation and Propagation of British Ferns in 1991,
revised edition 1993. The latter work has proved extremely useful, selling very well
with all profits to the Society; the fern names book has been less popular but is a much

94

Jimmy Dyce checking his book Fern Names and their Meanings at home at Loughton.

needed source of otherwise unavailable information. He left manuscripts for two other
books, one of which we hope will be published by the Society in the near future.

For many of us our friendships with Jimmy spread beyond the confines of the BPS. Ray
and Rita Coughlin joined him on at least one wine tasting trip to France. Wine, as well
as malt whisky, was one of his great passions. He was a very active member of the
Loughton Wine Circle. While I lived in France for the summer months during the early
seventies he always came out to visit, at different times with Dick Cartwright, Clive and
Alma Jermy, Joan Lorraine. Barry Thomas and Elizabeth Sheffield. Ferns were not
ignored but quite a lot of wine tasting and general tourism was on the programme!

Memories of individual Society field meetings with Jimmy are too numerous to be
retold here in detail. One recurring characteristic was the ‘aprés-fern’ in the hotel bar.
We have spent so many enjoyable evenings watching Jimmy drink his beloved malt
whisky and listening to tales of fern meetings past. It was on evenings like this that
Jimmy opened the door to the wonderful world of ferns and particularly the British
Pteridological Society to so many of us. Very appropriately Jimmy was awarded the

E by the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 1993 for his services to the British
Pteridological Society. It is hard to find a more fitting tribute to the life of a man who
did so much for the promotion of ferns.

References

Busby, A.R. (1991) Gleanings from the minute book 1891-1991, pp. 95-103 in J.M. Camus (ed.)
The history of British pteridology 1891-1991. British Pteridological Society, London.

Dyce, J.W. (1981) Presidential Notes. BPS Bulletin 2(3): 109-110. .

Dyce, J.W. (1982) Ferns, the fern society and — Jimmy Dyce. BPS Bulletin 2(4): 185-187.

Dyce, J.W. (1991) The British Pteridological Society — the first hundred years, pp. 83-93 in
J.M. Camus (ed.) The history of British pteridology 1891-1991. British Pteridological
Society, London. ; :

Hall, N.A. (1991) The presidents of the British Pteridological Society, pp. 119-126 in J.M. —
(ed.) The history of British pteridology 1891-199]. British Pteridological Society,

London.
Various (1985) pp. 49-58 in Pteridologist 1(2).

3

Selected list of publications of Jimmy Dyce
1952. Fern hunting in the West Country. Brit. Fern Gaz. 8: 45-48. (From this date until the
Newcastle Emlyn meeting in 1981 the majority of BPS meetings were written up by
Jimmy, these are too numerous to itemise here. He also published many other shorter
notes, and items on Society business in his capacity as Hon. Gen. Secretary.)
1963-1972. Editor, founder and main contributor to the BPS Newsletter.
1963. Variation in Polystichum in the British Isles. Brit. Fern Gaz. 9: 97-109.
1966. The B.P.S. Austrian excursion. Brit. Fern Gaz. 9: 288-295.
1966. Hardy fern varieties. Bull. of Hardy Plant Soc. 3(5): 138-141.
1966. Hardy ferns. Amateur Gardening, Vol. LXXXIII, No. 4266, 16th July, p. 22.
1966. Ferns for the garden. Amateur Gardening Annual, pp. 70-71.
1973-1978. Editor, founder and main contributor to the BPS Bulletin Vol. 1.
1977. Natural fern gardens. Oasis 2(1): 6-8.
1977. Natural fern gardens (Part II). Oasis 2(2): 10-12.
1977. Growing ferns from spores. Natural Science in Schools 14(2): 43-45.
1988. Fern names and their meanings. British Pteridological Society, London. Reprinted 1994.
1991. Obituary of Henry Schollick. BPS Bulletin 4(2): 86-87. (His last note in the Bulletin. )
1991. The British Pteridological Society — the first hundred years. & Appendix of officers 1891-
1991, pp. 83-93 in J.M. Camus (ed.) The history of British pteridology 1891-1991.
British Pteridological Society, London.
1991. The cultivation and propagation of British ferns. British Pteridological Society, London.
1992. Annotations by Dr. FW Stansfield on ‘British ferns and their varieties by CT Druery, 1910.
(Duplicated booklet)
1993. The cultivation and propagation of British ferns. Second edition. British Pteridological
ociety, London.
1994. More thoughts on Polystichum setiferum ‘Pulcherrimum’. Pteridologist 2(5): 222. (His last
note in the Prteridologist.)
Martin Rickard

JEAN R. HEALEY 1914-1997

Jean Healey, née Taylor, joined the British Pteridological Society in 1936 and remained
a member for 61 years, a record equalled by Jimmy Dyce and only beaten by Reginald
Kaye with 63 years of membership. At the time of her death in October she was our
longest serving member. Over those years she was a staunch supporter of the Society,
doing whatever she could to help out, including during the difficult years after the war.
Jean served on the committee from 1948 to 1966 and was made an honorary member of
our Society in 1981.

Back in 1981 I cajoled Jean into putting her memories of ‘the old days’ into print. This
she duly did in the BPS Bulletin 1981 pp. 129-132. In this fascinating account she
described how her family nursery, Taylors of Bracknell, was born and how she grew up
knowing two of the greatest fern men of the century, T. Henwood and Dr
F.W. Stansfield. The nursery diversified into ferns in c.1922 and Jean took over the
ferns completely in 1935. She immediately sought help from the two great experts and
they alerted many members of the Society who rallied round giving her plants and
spores to set her on her way. Those who helped included Henwood, Stansfield,
Lovelady, Sheldon and Robert Bolton Snr. She told me that she asked our then
President, Cranfield, for a piece of Adiantum venustum but he refused her request!
A. venustum was a rare plant in those days. She issued several fern catalogues and lists.
Typically, the Additional Hardy Ferns list for October 1957 included mouth-watering
treasures such as Athyrium filix-femina ‘Victoriae’ for 21/-, Athyrium filix-femina
‘Plumosum Druery’ for 7/6, Athyrium filix-femina ‘Plumosum Stansfieldii’ for 5/-. Does
anyone know if this cultivar still exists? The nursery closed in about 1964 when the land
was sold off for development.

96

Jimmy Dyce and I called in on Jack and Jean in c.1980 to see their ferns and more
particularly their polypods. They were very generous as old age was even then creeping
up on them and they wanted to see their remaining ferns passed into younger hands.
They still had some treasures, not least Polypodium vulgare ‘Jean Healey’, raised by
Jack and named after his wife, and Polypodium cambricum ‘Barrowii’. This was the
only time I ever came across the latter variety in any of the fern collections I visited,
apart from a small plant in the middle of Robert Bolton’s wonderful collection some
years later. I can Well remember what a great thrill it was to find true ‘Barrowii’ at last
after so many false starts.

On that day Jean and Jack gave Jimmy well over £100 worth of fern books including

the Octavo Nature Printed British Ferns by Moore (1959). They would take no money,

insisting that they should be used however Jimmy saw fit. Jimmy accordingly slipped

these two volumes and several other books into BPS Booksales, thus making a useful

contribution to Society funds. Despite parting with their treasured books the Healeys

rs, interested in ferns and continued growing and propagating them right into the
S.

Ever since that visit we exchanged Christmas cards and I called on them whenever I
could. There was always plenty to talk about: as fern nurserymen themselves they took
an interest in the progress of our efforts at Chelsea Flower Show etc. Sadly, Jack
developed Alzheimer’s disease and died in March 1995. They will both be missed as
important links between the modern fern era and the pre-war days when the Victorian
growers were still around.

Martin Rickard

We were also sad to learn of the death of the following long standing members
to whose families we extend our sincere condolences:

Dr Hedley E, Bellringer joined the Society in 1969 and we were fortunate to enjoy
his company on several Society meetings.

Mrs Angela Hill was a member from 1972 to 1996 and delighted us with her
Aye on several occasions, | recall her telling me of her days as a tea planter’s wife
in Ceylon during the 1930s and Complaining about having to weed out the invasive
Adiantum.

Mrs Diana Ellenberg

joined the Society in 1979 and occasionally came to the
London meetings.

Mrs Alma Jermy was a Famil
was in 1965 when She we

several Scottish trips but latterly found hill
ole of helping with refreshments at indoor
sions for the spouses of overseas delegates at the
Edinburgh in 1983, and over a period of 30
Ny Visiting international pteridologists.

Matt Busby

years at Otford was a good hostess to ma

MEMBERSHIP LIST: ADDITIONS AND AMENDMENTS

NEW MEMBERS
* new members 1997; ** new members 1998; # members rejoined 1997; ## rejoined 1998

* Akers, Mr J.A., 20 New Street, Wordsley, West Midlands DY8 5RY

* Ashcroft, Mr C., School of Biological Sciences, 3.614 Stopford Building, Oxford Road,
Manchester, M13 OPT

** Barcelona, Miss J., Botany Department, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, USA

** Bennallick, Mr I.J., Lower Polmorla, St. Wenn, Bodmin, Cornwall PL30 5PE

** Bennett, Ms M., 49 Harris Drive, Aberdeen AB24 2TF

* Birkett, Mr M., 18 The Hollows, Auckley, Doncaster, South Yorks. DN9 3LB

* Bowyer, Mr J., 9 Heyfields Cottages, Tittensor Road, Tittensor, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffs. ST12
9HG

** Bryant, Col. J.H., The Tynings, Church Lane, Stoulton, Worcester WR7 4RE
* Carmichael, Dr D.S., Ridgway House, Colyton, Devon EX13 6RP
* Cole, Mr M_E., 1 Caradon Close, Goldsworth Park, Woking, Surrey GU21 3DU

* Cowley, Mr R. E. 53 Tanfields, New Church Farm, Skelmersdale, Lancs. WN8 8NS
* Doody, Mr D.M., Rock Cottage, Nunney, Frome, Somerset BA11 4NL
* Durkin, Mr J.L., 25 May Avenue, Winlaton Hill, Blaydon, Tyne & Wear NE21 6SF
* Earnshaw, Dr M., 22 Hague Street, Whitfield, Glossop, Derbys. SK13 8NS
* Faulkner, Mr J., 102 St. Johns Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 5N
Forsgate, Mr M.B., 58 Shalstone Road, Mortlake, London, SW14 7HR
** Forster, Mr S., Rote-Kreuz-Str. 40, Weinbéhla, D-01689, Germany
‘ :

## Gordon, Dr L. S., 24 Fort Nugent Drive, Harbo our Vi iew, Kingston 17, Jam

** Hamilton, Mr M.D.S., Holly Lodge, 222 Stanley Road, Teddington, Middx TWH 8UE

* Hammond, Mr P., 37 Hanover Road, London, N15 4DL

* Ivanova, D., Institute of Botany, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Str. ‘Akad. G. Boncev’,
Blok 23, Sofia, 1113, Bul

# Iwatsuki, Dr K., Faculty of Science, Rikkyo University, 3-34-1 Nishi-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku,
Tokyo, 171, Japan

* Jones, Mr R.E., 14 Post Office Road, Derringham, Norfolk PG32 6HP

* Keating, Miss Z., The Old Manse, School Hill, Mevagissey, Cornwall PL26 6TQ

* Kelly, Mr G.J., c/o Atlanta Hse, Main Street, Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland

* Kilpatrick, Miss FJ.A., 5 Billing Street, London, SW10 9UR

* Leedell, Mr P.I., 7 The Oaks, Masham, North Yorks. HG

Hi

** Millais, Mr J.F., Crosswater Farm, Churt, Farnham, Surrey GU10 2JN

** Moss, Mrs E.J., “Westering’, Luckington Road, Acton Turville, Badminton, Gloucs. GL9 1HG

** Nagalingum, Miss N., School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052,

Australia

** Noonan, Mr J., 12 Vernon Road, Chester, Cheshire CH1 4JS

* Oglesby, Dr A.I., 20 School Lane, Copmanthorpe, York, North Yorks. YO2 3SG

** Ottway, Mr B., An Luslann, Coill Bracket. Maigh Cuilinn, Co. Galway, Ireland

* “Page, Dr 3.D., The Old Stables, Newbridge Green, Upton-Upon-Severn, Worcs. WR8 0QP

* Parker, Mrs J., 30 Tytherington Drive, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 2HJ

# Peace, Mrs R., Yew Tree Cottage, Ham, Marlborough, a! Lge 3RB

* Peeters, Mr H., Rue du Chateau 84A, Bousval, 1470, Be

* Peterson, Mr TS., 63 Landor Road, Leamington Spa, Whitnash, Warwicks. CV31 2JY
Phillips, Mr A.R., 7 Connaught Road 5SP

zi
o
=
“g
eg
a
w
Be
x
peg

* Pretty, Mrs S. J, Lankelly House, Lankelly, ere gains PL23 1HN

** Raymond, Dr S. & Mrs G., Low Green, Lindale, Grange Over Sands, Cumbria LA11 6ND
* Read, Mr C.W.M., 67 St Leonards Gardens, Hove, East Sussex BN3 4QA

* Roberts, Mr FJ., Eden Croft, Wetheral Pasture, Carlisle, Cumbria CA4 83HU

*
** Rogers, Cllr. K., 8 Birch Coppice, Droitwich Spa, Worcs. WR9 TQA
* Sage, Mr M.D., 81 Eastern Avenue, Pinner, Middx. HAS INW

98

as eg Mr M.C., 105 Burringham Road, Scunthorpe, Lincs. DN17 2DF
= J., 6 Hitchwood Cottages, Preston, Hitchin, Herts. SG4 7RY

* Smith, Mr B.D., Rivendell, Back Lane, Lound, Suffolk NR32 5NE
. :
*
*

Smith, Mr K. n mness ey 6 3JP
Soltau, Mrs G.J.U., 21 Alton “i Oxton, Birkenhead, Merseyside L43 6UB-
t r F i

rt r &
* WVulcz, Mr L., RMB 51180, Beech Forest, Victoria 3249, Austre lia
* Wagstaff, Dr M., Cherry Tree Cottage, Gaer Fawr, Llangwm, Usk, Monmouthshire NP5 1HJ
* Williams, Mr D.E., Ashbank, Nantwich Road, Church Minshull, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5

** Yesilyurt, Mr & Mrs E., Garden Flat, 49 Avonmore Road, London W14 8RT
Wornick, Mr W.K., P.O. Box 101, Highland View, Alstead, New Hampshire USA

CHANGES OF ADDRESS / AMENDMENTS

Barnard, Mr T.C., Rowan House, 6 Gibbons Close, Sandhurst, Berks. GU47 9BB

Bond, Mr J.D., Georgia Lodge, Buckhurst Road, Cheapside, Ascot, Berks. SL5 7RP

Boyd, Mr P.D.A., Hill Cottage, Meadowtown, eens Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY5 ODZ

Bray, Mr R.J., clo T. Bray, 7 Canon Frome Court, nr. Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2TD

British Council, Resource Centre, ISM, Medlock Street, Manchester, M15 4AA

Brown, Dr D.H., 38 Laurie Crescent, Henleaze, Bristol, Avon BS9 4TA

Clough, Mr P & Mrs. A.G., Higher Trengrove, Constantine, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 5QS

Cubas, Dr P., Departamento de Biologia Vegetal II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad
Complutense, Madrid 28040, Spain

Dickson, Mrs J.D., 1 Beechwood Avenue, Milber, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 4LJ

Dickson, Dr J.H., Institute of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Divn of Environmental & Evolution.
Biol., Room 401, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, Strathclyde G12 8QQ, Scotland

Dunne, Mr I.B., 37 Upper Brownhill Road, Maybush, Southampton, Hants. S016 5NG

Glaves, Dr P., c/o University of Greenwich, Grenville Building, Chatham Maritime, Kent

Hamilla, Dr D.S., c/o IEMC, 802 Wabash Ave., Chesterton, Indiana 46304, U.S.A.

arris, Miss M., 3 Downsview Gardens, Dorking, Surr
James, Mr R.J., 21a Grove Hill, Highworth, Swindon, Wilts. SN6 7JL
Keatley, Mr W.H., Heddon Hall, Parracombe, Dev 1

Kirkham, Mr L., 6 Queens Row, Lon = Road, Barlaston, Stoke on Trent, Staffs. ST12 9AJ
Mundy, Dr N.I., 29 Manor Court, Avenue Road, Leamington Spa, Warwicks. CV31 3NL
Murphy, Mr A.J., 63 Dulvorton eyes RUISLIP. Middx. HA4 9AF
National Museum of Natural Science, | Kuan Chien Road, Taichung, Taiwan, Repub. of China
Neuroth, Herrn R.N., Tiergartenstrasse 24, Montabaur, D-56410, German
Nicholson, Mr B., 37 Amderley Drive, Eaton, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 6HZ
Phillips, Mr S., 15 Cruachan Cottages, adn Argyll PA35 1JG, Scotland
Phipps, Miss R.M., 8 Target Close, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2LR
Pigott, Mr A.C. & Mrs M., Kersey’s Farm, Mendlesham, Stowmarket, lye IP14 SRB
Pride, Mrs R.M., 37 Bevishall Paston ables igh nat te Cambs.
Pritchard, Mrs D.L., 1 Bartlet’s Close, Martinstown, Dorchester, Dorset on 9LE

, Mr 4 Ja

Regan RG. ckson Avenue, = et Derby, Derbys. DE3 SAR
Schieb, Mr C.-J., Peter-Franzen- Str. 19, Koeln 50827, Germany

Schmitt, Mr L., Hof: : chweiler, D-55743, German

Sharpe, M., 88 East Pittston Road, Dresden, Maine 0434 A
Turner, Mr L., oad, ourne, Worcester, Worcs. WRI 1QR
Watson, Mr R.A., Parkfield, The Heads, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5E
Winkler, Dr ie eille Str., Paarl 764 th Africa

Non Par
Zink, Dr M.J., ‘Hackstr. 19, Kaiserslautern, D-67657, Germany

MEETINGS PROGRAMME 1998

Meetings Secretary: PJ. Acock
Meetings Sub-Committee: R.G. Ackers, N.J. Hards, A.M. Leonard, P.H. Ripley
Sat 7 March Indoor Meeting — The work of Pteridologists
Location: Chelsea Physic Garden
eader: Graham Ackers

Sat 23 - Mon 25 May Long Weekend Field Meeting — Hastings, East Sussex
entre: Fairlight Lodge Hotel, Hastings
Leaders: Mark Border, Paul Ripley, Steve Munyard

Sat 13 June Day Visit — Wisley, Woking, Surrey
Location: Royal Horticultural bt Garden, Wisley
Leader: Andrew Leonard Time: 10.30
Sat 18 July Day Indoor Meeting & Fern Show — Coventry
Location: Warwick University, Dept. of Science
Education, Canley, Coventry
Leader: Matt Busby Time: 11.00

Fri 31 July -Sun2 Aug. Long Weekend Field Meeting — Brecon Beacons
Centre: StoneCroft Hostel, Llanwrtyd Wells
Leader: Ray Woods

Thurs 20 - Sat 22 August Southport Flower Show: BPS Stand
Further Info.: Matt Busby

Thurs 10 - Sun 13 Sept. | Long Weekend Field Meeting & AGM - Lake District
(Annual General Meeting at 2 p.m. Sat. 12th September)

Centre: aterhead Hotel, Coniston, Cumbria
Leader: Mike Porter
Sat 16 January 1999 Members’ Day — Reading, Berkshire

For further details of these and other meetings of interest to members, including information
on accommodation, please see the separate Meetings Programme sheet. This can be sent to
overseas members on request.

REGIONAL MEETINGS
For details of additional meetings in the following areas, please contact the regional
organisers, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope.

Midlands A.R. Busby, 16 Kirby Comer Road, Canley, Coventry CV4 8GD
Leeds & District B. Wright, 130 Prince Rupert Drive, Tockwith, York YOS5 8PU
South-East England _P.H. Ripley, North Lodge, Dene Park Gardens, Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge,

Kent TN11 9NS
East Anglia B.R. Stevenson, Willow Cottage, Cowling, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9QB
North-West England Mrs M. Garstang, Overbeck, Pennybridge, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 7RQ
Cornwall Miss R.J. Murphy, Shang-ri-la, Reskadinnick, Camborne, Cornwall

BH

Wessex No further meetings due to lack of support.

Wi Wh iN

3058

REGINALD cane aa
Silverdale, Lancashire LA5 0TY
Stock a very comprehensive collection of
BRITISH FERNS AND THEIR CULTIVARS
Catalogue on request

FIBREX NURSERIES Ltd
Honeybourne Road, Pebworth, nr Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire CV37 8XT
Hardy and tender ferns
Begonias, Gloxinias, Hederas, Hydrangeas, Primroses, Arum Lilies
and plants for the cool greenhouse
Catalogue on request

RICKARDS HARDY FERNS Ltd
Hardy and half hardy ferns
Kyre Park, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire WR15 8RP
Please send stamped addressed envelope for list

FANCY FRONDS
Specialising in North American and British hardy ferns
Judith Jones
1911 4th AvenueWest, Seattle, Washington 98119, USA
Send two International Reply Coupons for catalogue

HARDY FERNS
R.N. Timm
The Fern Nursery, Grimsby Road, Binbrook, Lincolnshire LN3 6DH
Please send stamped addressed envelope for list

MRS J.K. MARSTON
Specialist Fern Grower
A wide range of hardy and greenhouse ferns, especially Adiantums
Culag, Green Lane, Nafferton, nr Driffield, East Yorkshire YO25 OLF
Send £1 for catalogue

MONKSILVER NURSERY
pe Road, Cottenham, Cambridge CB4 4TW
Hardy British and foreign ferns
(together with over 700 choice herbaceous and woody plants)
Please send six first class stamps for catalogue