Anyone been to Boxhill?

[IanS]

hi All
As you all are so knowledgeable about plants in general, I thought I'd ask if anyone knows good locations at Boxhill to see interesting plants. Im off there next weekend for a quick visit, but dont know the area at all. Anyone on here been? If so where do you recommend for the best/most interesting plants?
Thanks!

Regards
Ian

[Alan]

Where is Boxhill Ian?

[IanS]

Surrey. Its a famous chalk wildlife area. Its been studied for years by biologists due to the very varied plant and animal life found there. Im rather looking forward to exploring it!

Ian

[John2]

Yo IanS i just did a quick google for Boxhill flowers & i found this Boxhill
Here's another link with some phone numbers for the Warden etc Phone Numbers
Hope it gives you some better info.
John

[Wild-Woman]

I'll ask my Mum-that was her patch as a kid and she used to play there. Funnily she knows wild flowers inside out.ww

[Tiggrx]

Did you manage to get to Boxhill Ian, and if so was it any good?
I am thinking of going there sometime over the next week as I have never been.
Aaron

[eeyore]

This might be useful http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...ace/w-boxhill/ just give the head warden a bell, I've always found NT wardens to be very happy to help, and knowledgable too

[IanS]

hi
Yes I got there a couple of weekends ago on my way back from a work conference in Bath!
I managed to see quite a few orchids probably hundreds in fact. Species out were:
Pyramidal
Bee
Common spotted
Twayblade
Fragrant
Man

Not bad for a two hour wander! I also found one of the helleborines coming up, but it had a long way before it would be flowering.
Other species at the site and surrounds include
Frog
Musk
Early purple
birds nest
fly
green winged
greater butterfly
white, broad and violet helleborines
autumn lady's tresses

You can buy a book all about the boxhill orchids in the shop at the top of the hill (hence the long list of species above!)
You can also find box growing in its only site in the UK. It was in flower when I was there a few weeks ago.

Best to chat to the warden there to tell you where to go. Im sure some of the species I saw a few weeks ago have now set seed, but there are others to find - if you can.
Speaking to one of the wardens he told me that there was also a surrey wildlife trust site not too far away which was ablaze with orchids, including many musks. Unfortunately I didnt have time to go there before having to catch a train back home. Maybe next year!

If you are into butterflies too then you can also see loads of rare species up there. Box hill is very famous for them and they have been studies there for 150 yrs or so. I saw a mabled white flying over the flower meadow but it didnt land so no picture! I did see various blues which I was trying to convince myself that they were Adonis blues but think they are probalby common blues!! as for the orchids the shop has a book on the butterflies too. I didnt buy that one though!

All in all I'd recommend a trip to Box Hill, its a beautifull place and full of interesting wildlife!
cheers
Ian

[Tiggrx]

Thanks, that's just what I needed to know. I may try and get out there tomorrow.

By the way you can also see wild Box in the Box Coombs near Chequers in Buckinghamshire

Aaron

[IanS]

Hmm was going to post a few pictures but it says:
You may not post attachments
strange!

Seems you have to add them to the Gallery first now.