new roadside verges always worth checking for the unexpected

[lizard orchid]

Dear All,
If any of you come across a new road system in your county that may be covered in poppies, it might be worth further investigation incase of other goodies that can turn up.
I have just had confirmed martins ramping fumitory which has turned out to be new for Kent from a modified road system with bare disturbed soil in north Kent.
Here in Northamptonshire recently on another new road system near Northampton had a number of species that are rare for the county that have turned up in the open disturbed soils of the new road system including grass leaved orache, dense flowered fumitory, small cudweed, prickly poppy and corn spurrey.
Where road modifications have occurred on the A45 south of Northampton there was thorn apple, green nightshade and a single specimen of night flowering catchfly.
The sad thing with all of these sites is that in the second season they are usually sown with rye grass and mown tight like a bowling green as well as planted with trees. It would be good one day to see some areas of these new road systems rotivated or ploughed in places to bring up these interesting array of unusual and sometimes rare species. So for that one year oppertunity get out there and have a closer look where possible of course dodging the traffic.


Brian Laney, Northamptonshire.

[Wild-Woman]

I'm on the look-out all the time (living in N Kent where there is constant road upheavals) for new plants. I wrote in a recent thread about spikes of Pyrimidal Orchids on a new roundabout system close-by.
I sometimes wish it was safe and acceptable to have a closer inspection of the verges, especially along motorways, at roadside plants.
In Kent, being fairly close to the port of Dover and having HGV's thundering past, dropping new seeds from their tyres from abroad, it's always possible that a completely new species will turn up.
Sadly the council love mowing the verges, especially when the wild flowers are in full bloom- which makes me so cross.
Where there's flowers there will be insects which will attract birds etc too. So a whole habitat to be investigated. If only.......

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

I'm on the look-out all the time (living in N Kent where there is constant road upheavals) for new plants. I wrote in a recent thread about spikes of Pyrimidal Orchids on a new roundabout system close-by.
I sometimes wish it was safe and acceptable to have a closer inspection of the verges, especially along motorways, at roadside plants.
In Kent, being fairly close to the port of Dover and having HGV's thundering past, dropping new seeds from their tyres from abroad, it's always possible that a completely new species will turn up.
Sadly the council love mowing the verges, especially when the wild flowers are in full bloom- which makes me so cross.
Where there's flowers there will be insects which will attract birds etc too. So a whole habitat to be investigated. If only.......

A few years ago Jules (long enough to be off my driving licence now!) I was reported by a motorist (or seen by a camera?) one Sunday morning on the round-about between the M6 and the M58 which is technically part of the motorway at that point. I had returned to my car and driven away but a policeman appeared from nowhere, followed me well up the road, thro the lights and round the corner before stopping me ........ I was invited into his vehicle for a chat and not being a liar I told him what I had been doing - counting Bee Orchids ....... it earned me 3 points on my licence and a fine Had I said I had hit a dog and was looking for it I would probably have got away with it - had I denied it completely would I still have been done? Probably not unless I was on one of the cameras without realising it ........ in which case 'bang to rights'

Pauline

[The Woodman]

You have my sympathies there, Pauline. I'm trying to think of a reason and defence for the bee orchid situation but your dog idea could be adapted accordingly...."I just clipped a roe deer as it ran in front of me and was concerned that it might be injured, Officer"

Not many Barn Owls, Buzzards, Otters, Polecats or cadavers that appear to Pine Martens are left on the Cumbrian length of the M6! It's strange how my engine management light comes on when in the vicinity of an interesting specimen.

[Johnny81]

Grass-leaved Orache and reflexed salt marsh-grass were two finds for me yesterday on the A428, Northamptonshire. I would think most of the U.K's major road verges will need a re-survey!

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by PMG

A few years ago Jules (long enough to be off my driving licence now!) I was reported by a motorist (or seen by a camera?) one Sunday morning on the round-about between the M6 and the M58 which is technically part of the motorway at that point. I had returned to my car and driven away but a policeman appeared from nowhere, followed me well up the road, thro the lights and round the corner before stopping me ........ I was invited into his vehicle for a chat and not being a liar I told him what I had been doing - counting Bee Orchids ....... it earned me 3 points on my licence and a fine Had I said I had hit a dog and was looking for it I would probably have got away with it - had I denied it completely would I still have been done? Probably not unless I was on one of the cameras without realising it ........ in which case 'bang to rights'

Pauline

Flippin heck Pauline- you would have thought he'd let you off that one. After seeing what some people get away with on the roads! I'm stunned.
I can see it's a dangerous occupation stopping on a major road but just a word in your ear would have been enough surely.

Anyway- back to the orchids.....how many did you count?

With roadsides - you can see why some plants do well. For instance, lots of the soil in Kent has underlying chalk and when it's used as banks, sloping pretty sharply facing the south- well you've got yourself a great bit of warm, south-facing chalk downland albeit artificial. So it's easy to see some of the chalkland butterflies making use of the flowers for nectar.

Don't really get the row upon row of silver birch saplings in tubes though. Are they trying to hurry along succession?

[PMG]

I counted 37 and had made myself some little markers and was putting them in ...... it was very early Sunday morning and I was on my way to work .... yes he could have let me off with a warning but I suppose as I admitted it - it was too good a chance to up his booking count by one and an easy one at that!

Pauline

[diggleken]

Reminds me years ago (early 90's) of crawling at about 1mph on the M62 slip motorway to observe a Red Kite at Worsley, manchester, on the way back from birding at Pennington Flash Pauline!
Went into the GM bird report that year - they were very scarce then............
Cant say I advise going so slow though on a motorway !
Cheers
Ken

[lizard orchid]

Motorway services are also good places for plants. Had early meadow grass (Poa infirma) new for Warwickshire in Warwick Services this year. I carried my plant book with me as the areas where the grass was, was where the car parking areas were. Four people came and chatted and all wished me well in my plant hunting. Makes a change from the usual mikky takers.
However did get stopped on Leicester Forest East Services on the M1 as got picked up by a camera. Two chaps came over, one flashed a badge and both asked what I was doing. I told them and they both said O.K. Probably thought the nutters out again! Anyway got a new spot there for Leicestershire for bucks horn plantain. In the rare plant register for Leics and Rutland bucks horn plantain was only in about three sites. I think I have found it in at least an extra 6 sites now for them including by main roads near major roundabout junctions.
So if you stop in any motorway services anywhere in the UK it is always worth a look at what is about. I am looking forward to checking a few more.
Yes, been stopped a few times by the police when recording in villages and roadsides. I think I have been stopped 4 times so far this year. I wonder if I can make double figures by the end of the botanical season.
Regarding the martins ramping fumitory it was in three spots along the A299 east of Monkton nature reserve. Also had along there maple leaved goosefoot and prickly poppy.
Agree on some of the motorway verges looking good. Shame we cannot get a closer look. I see some sections of the M5 and M40 being cut at the right time of year and the cuttings being removed. That needs doing right across most of the UK motorway network as well as many roadsides also right across the country.

Brian Laney, Northamptonshire.

[lizard orchid]

Originally Posted by Johnny81

Grass-leaved Orache and reflexed salt marsh-grass were two finds for me yesterday on the A428, Northamptonshire. I would think most of the U.K's major road verges will need a re-survey!

Thats another new site for us for grass-leaved orache. I am finding reflexed salt marsh grass all over Northamptonshire where I have been surveying. It will be interesting to see what other salt tolerant plants will turn up in Northamptonshire next.
Look out for the aliens summer cypress and cockspur grass. I have seen them from the car a few years back along the A14 and A45. Populations of both these species seen to flutuate each year in Northamptonshire.
Had a single plant of dittander on one part of the A14 last year.

Brian Laney, Northamptonshire.