A FLOWER STUDYA FLOWER STUDYININ

WOODBURY PARISHWOODBURY PARISH

SALLY ELLIOTTSALLY ELLIOTTANDAND

SYLVIA WICKENDENSYLVIA WICKENDEN

20082008 -- 20112011

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Just a few of the of the 200plus wild flowers found in

the survey.

Common spotted Orchid.

Greater and Lesser Stitchwort

Dog Rose Yellow Iris.

Rosebay Willowherb. Sweet Briar Rose.

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Contents

Introduction 4

Physical background 5

Soil tests 6

Relief map (simplified) 7

Geology map (simplified) 8

Parish map of four recording sites 9

Photos of main Parish habitats 10-14

Maps, photographs and lists of flowers of four recording sites 15-34

List of all flowers found in the Parish 35-39

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Introduction

Our survey of the wild flowers of Woodbury Parish was prompted by the apparent absenceof any previous recording, and the fear that, with climate warming and changes in humanactivity, there might be an increasing loss or change of species. We are not botanists, but aslovers of the countryside we are familiar with most local flowers, and have a collection ofreference books to help us identify species. Even so we have not always been able todifferentiate between the numerous members of the umbelliferae and some other families.

For practical reasons we decided to select four 30 m. stretches of road or lane at differentheights in the parish, and visit them at intervals between 2008 and 2011, to allow for wetter,drier or colder conditions, and the variations of each season.

Fairly recently the Exton end of the Exe Estuary Cycle and Walking Trail has opened,giving access to another habitat. We have also visited the top of Woodbury Common, aswell as noting any other species along the lanes. For reasons of access it has not beenpossible to deal adequately with fields and woodlands.

Our survey includes a brief description of the physical background of the parish, withmaps of relief and geology. One map shows the location of the stretches of lane wherewe did our recording with lists of the flowers found at each. Also included is analphabetical list of all the flowers we found. There are, too, photographs showing themain habitats within the parish.

Too frequent or mistimed cutting of verges by councils and landowners severely reducesthe chances of seed dispersal whereby species survive. We would urge that this practice isavoided.

Apart from their immense aesthetic and cultural value, wild flowers are a fundamentalelement of the ecosystem that maintains biodiversity. They are a rich source of food forinsects, including the essential pollinators. With their verge and bank habitat, they form agreen corridor link for wildlife, especially for small mammals, which reduces the impact ofurban encroachment.

We hope this project will help to promote an interest in and a greater awareness andappreciation of our truly wonderful native flora heritage.

Finally, we would welcome any additions to our flower list.

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Woodbury Parish: Physical Background

Woodbury Parish stretches from the crest of Woodbury common at a height of about 170m(550 ft) to the Exe estuary. Small streams have cut gentle valleys on their way down to theestuary from the Common, the largest being the Grindle Brook and Gilbrook

Most of the parish is underlain by Permian (295-250 million years BC) and Triassic (250­204 million years BC) marls and sandstones which were mostly formed in deserts. On top ofthese lie the Triassic Pebblebeds, in places 80-100 ft thick, which make up the top ofWoodbury Common. These were probably laid down by a river flowing from the south westcarrying chiefly quartzite, sandstone, and some tourmaline pebbles from long since vanishedlands now covered by sea. They are the source of the large, water-rounded pebbles (shown onthe Geology map as 'gravelly soils'), which can be a nuisance in fields and gardens aroundWoodbury. They were mostly washed down from the Common during the last Ice Age bymelt water from heavy winter snows.

The larger brooks have widened their valley floors a little and deposited alluvium on them.The valley gravels mark the tops of gentle hills which are the remains of river terraces of theRiver Exe.

The climate in Woodbury is mild and rainy without a dry season and without severe wintersor very hot summers. However, the weather varies greatly and since the parish is in the rainshadow of the Haldon Hills and Dartmoor it is usually somewhat drier than nearby areas.Annual rainfall is about 800mm (30 ins). In January the average daily maximumtemperatures are usually just above 7 °C and night minimums about 2.5 °C, with frosts quitecommon. In July the average daily maximum temperature is about 20 °C with a minimum ofabout 12.5 °C. Snowfalls are rarely great — in some years little more than a powdering.However, especially in recent years, there have been greater fluctuations. 2012 will beremembered for its very wet cool summer, and 2011 for a very cold spell in winter.

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Soil Tests

Common — west side verge alkaline 7.5

Common — east side verge neutral 6.0

Flower Lane acid 5.5

Stony Lane acid 5.5

Porters lane alkaline 7.5

These results were obtained from a simple garden soil test kit.

Those on the Common roadside verges may have been affected by outside influences suchas gritting, salting, and traffic. These results suggest that these soils have not had a biginfluence on local flora.

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WOODBURYPARISH

FROM THEEDGE OF

WOODBURYCOMMON

FROM NEARTHE TOP OF

CASTLELANE

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WOODBURYPARISH

LOOKING UP TOWOODBURY

CASTLE FROMWINDMILL HILL

LOOKINGTOWARDS THE

COMMONFROM GLOBE

HILL

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EXTON

EXTON ANDCYCLE/

WALKWAY TOEXMOUTHWET LANDHABITAT

CYCLE ANDWALKINGTRACK TO

EXMOUTH ONTHE EDGE OFWOODBURY

PARISH

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CRICKET FIELD POND

KINGCUPS BY POND

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Recording Site 1 — Edge of Common: 2008-2011

Jan/Feb Gorse, Dandelion

Mar/Apr Hogweed, Red Campion, Gorse, Dandelion, Dog Violet, Scurvy Grass,Common Chickweed, Sweet Violet

May/Jun Buttercup, White Clover, Herb Robert, Yarrow, Ribwort Plantain, PaleFlax, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Red Campion, Tormentil, Hop Trefoil, Hogweed,Hawkweed, Mouse-ear, Common Sorrel, Lesser Hawkbit, Gorse, Dandelion,Greater Plantain, Sweet Violet, Cow Parsley, Common Vetch, Wild Strawberry,Bluebell, Daisy, Lesser Stitchwort, Hawksbeard, False Strawberry, Cinquefoil,Milkwort, Wavy Bittercress, Hairy Bittercress, Germander Speedwell,Milkweed, Honeysuckle

Jul/Aug Buttercup, White Clover, Red Clover, Ragwort, Wood Sage, HempAgrimony, Herb Robert, Yarrow, Agrimony, Ribwort Plantain, Pale Flax,Fairy Flax, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Self Heal, Red Campion, Slender St John'sWort, Stinging Nettle, Hawkweed, Bramble, Heath Bedstraw, Mouse-ear,Common Sorrel, Hawkbit, Hogweed, Black Medick, Bell Heather,Tormentil, Hop Trefoil, Cow Parsley, Upright Chickweed, Knapweed,Creeping Thistle, Scurvy Grass, Dandelion, Greater Plantain, LesserStitchwort, Scentless Mayweed, Ling Heather, Smooth Hawkbit, AnnualPearlwort, Rough Hawkbit, Scarlet Pimpernel, Meadow Vetchling, WoodDock, Spear Thistle, Mugwort (Artemisia), Cornflower, Nipplewort

Sep/Oct Red Clover, Ragwort, Hemp Agrimony, Yarrow, Agrimony, Pale Flax,Ribwort Plantain, Red Campion, Slender St John's Wort, Bell Heather,Mouse-ear, Common Sorrel, Lesser Hawkbit, Knapweed, Gorse, Dandelion,Creeping Thistle, Daisy, Lesser Trefoil, Montbretia, Knotgrass, Pearlwort,Rough Hawkbit

Nov/Dec Red Clover, Yarrow, Buttercup, Red Campion, Lesser Hawkbit, Gorse,Dandelion, Greater Plantain, Mouse-ear, Rough Hawkbit

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Recording Site 2 — near Cannonwalls: 2008-2011

Jan/Feb Celandine

Mar/Apr Dandelion, Germander Speedwell, Bittercress, Primrose, Celandine, Dog'sMercury, Wood Anemone, Ground Ivy, False Strawberry, Dog Violet, CowParsley, Bluebell, Stitchwort, Herb Robert, Bush Vetch, Red Campion,Garlic Mustard, Pink Purslane, Shining Leaved Cranesbill

May/Jun Dandelion, Germander Speedwell, Celandine, Dog's Mercury, Stitchwort,Wood Anemone, Ground Ivy, Buttercup, Bluebell, Herb Robert, GooseGrass, White Deadnettle, Red Campion, Cow Parsley, Wild Carrot, RedDeadnettle, Pink Purslane, Bush Vetch, Stinging Nettle, Herb Bennet,Pennywort, Brooklime, Garlic Mustard, Fool's Parsley, Hemlock WaterDropwort, Dock

Jul/Aug Buttercup, Herb Robert, Red Campion, Cow Parsley, Pink Purslane,Common Sorrel, Meadow Vetchling, Bramble, Hedge Bedstraw, BushVetch, Honeysuckle, Stinging Nettle, Herb Bennet, Nipplewort, Bramble,Lesser Willowherb, Smooth Hawkbit, Fat Hen, Self Heal, Meadowsweet,Prickly Sowthistle, Woody Nightshade, Common Hawkweed, HedgeWoundwort, Wood Avens, Tormentil, Creeping Cinquefoil, Bistort,Knotgrass

Sep/Oct Cow Parsley, Herb Robert, Red Campion, Dandelion, White Deadnettle,Pink Purslane, Bush Vetch, Honeysuckle, Stinging Nettle, CommonSorrel, Nipplewort, Greater Willowherb, Pale Persicaria, Bramble,Hogweed, Herb Bennet, Hedge Bedstraw, Meadowsweet, Greater BurnetSaxifrage, Greater Plantain, Prickly Sowthistle

No/Dec Herb Robert, Red Campion, White Deadnettle, Bush Vetch, Nipplewort

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Recording Site 3 — Stony Lane: 2008-2011

Jan/Feb Dandelion, Buttercup

Mar/Apr Dandelion, Periwinkle, Stitchwort, Cow Parsley, Bush Vetch, Primrose,Celandine, False Strawberry, Bittercress, Bugle, Bluebell, Ground Ivy,Sweet Violet, Garlic Mustard, Germander Speedwell, Dogs Mercury, LesserStitchwort, Common Chickweed

May/Jun Bramble, Honeysuckle, Herb Robert, Nipplewort, Common Sorrel, RedCampion, Stinging Nettle, Meadow Vetchling, Goose Grass, Hogweed,Buttercup, Field Rose, Pennywort, Bush Vetch, Dandelion, Stitchwort, CowParsley, Hedge Bedstraw, Ground Ivy, Bluebell, Herb Bennet, Crosswort,Germander Speedwell, Hawkbit, Garlic Mustard, Foxglove, Ribwort Plantain

Jul/Aug Hypericum-Pulchrum (Slender St John's Wort), Hedge Bedstraw,Bramble, Honeysuckle, Wood Sage, Herb Robert, Nipplewort, Common Sorrel,Red Campion, Stinging Nettle, Meadow Vetchling, Goose Grass, Hogweed,Buttercup, Dog Rose, Pennywort, Bindweed, Trailing St John's Wort, HerbBennet, Garlic Mustard, Groundsel, Yarrow, Scentless Mayweed

Sep/Oct Hedge Bedstraw, Bramble, Honeysuckle, Herb Robert, Nipplewort,Stinging Nettle, Hogweed, Dandelion, Stitchwort, Prickly Oxtongue,Prickly Sowthistle, Black Nightshade

Nov/Dec Bush Vetch, Herb Robert, Bramble, Red Campion

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Recording Site 4 — Porters Lane: 2008-2011

Jan/Feb Hogweed, Red Deadnettle, Dandelion, Celandine, Snowdrop, Ground Ivy

Mar/Apr Stitchwort, Herb Robert, Red Campion, Buttercup, Red Deadnettle,Dandelion, Celandine, White Deadnettle, Cow Parsley, Snowdrop, GarlicMustard. Dock, Periwinkle, Common Wintercress, Ground Ivy

May/Jun Common Sorrel, Herb Robert, Stitchwort, Red Campion, Red Clover,Hogweed, Stinging Nettle, Buttercup, Hedge Woundwort, Crosswort, HedgeBedstraw, Cow Parsley, Wild Carrot, Goose Grass, Garlic Mustard, Dock, WaterDropwort, Fumitory, Dandelion, Forget-me-not, Shepherd's Purse, Cut-leaved(Geranium) Cranesbill

Jul/Aug Slender St John's Wort, Sorrel, Hedge Bedstraw, Bramble, HedgeWoundwort, Herb Robert, Hawkweed, Stitchwort, Tufted Vetch, Crosswort,Red Campion, Bindweed, Red Clover, Hogweed, Cut-leaved Cranesbill,Stinging Nettle, Nipplewort, Buttercup, Creeping Thistle, Lesser Stitchwort,Herb Bennet, Hogweed, Fat Hen, Prickly Sowthistle, Cow Parsley,Dandelion, Teazle, Convolvulus, Scentless Mayweed, Yarrow,Greater Plantain, Common Wintercress, Spear Thistle

Sep/Oct Hedge Bedstraw, Bramble, Hedge Woundwort, Herb Robert, Red Clover,Red Campion, Stinging Nettle, Nipplewort, Dandelion, Fumitory, Clematis,Lesser Willowherb, Bistort, Forget-me-not, Teazle, Fat Hen,Upright Goosefoot, Smooth Sowthistle, Red Deadnettle, White Deadnettle,Convolvulus, Honeysuckle, Scentless Mayweed, Pearlwort, Groundsel

Nov/Dec Hedge Woundwort, Red Campion, Bramble, Herb Robert, Cow Parsley,Red Deadnettle, Dandelion, White Deadnettle

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List of all Flowers Found in the Parish of Woodbury

Agrimony

Agrimony, hemp

Alkanet, green

Anemone, wood

Artemisia (Mugwort)

Aster, sea

Balsam, Indian

Bedstraw, hedge

Bedstraw, heath

Bedstraw, marsh

Betony

Bindweed, hedge

Bindweed, field

Birdsfoot Trefoil

Bistort

Bittercress, hairy

Bittercress, wavy

Blackthorn

Bluebell

Bramble

Brooklime

Brookweed

Bryony, black Bugle

Burdock, greater

Burdock, lesser

Bush Vetch

Buttercup, creeping

Buttercup, meadow

Campion, bladder

Campion, red

Campion, white

Carrot, wild

Celandine

Centaury, common

Chervil, rough

Chickweed, common

Chickweed, upright

Cinquefoil, creeping

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Cleavers (Goose Grass)

Clematis (Travellers' Joy or Old Man's Beard)

Clover, red

Clover, white

Coltsfoot

Convolvulus, field (bindweed),

Convolvulus, hedge (bindweed),

Cornflower

Cow Parsley

Cowslip

Cranesbill, cut-leaved (geranium)

Cranesbill, dove's foot

Cranesbill, shining-leaved

Creeping Thistle

Crosswort

Cuckoo-flower

Cuckoo Pint

Dandelion

Daisy, Ox-eye

Deadnettle, red

Deadnettle, white

Dock, broadleaved

Dog's Mercury

Enchanters' Nightshade

Fat Hen

Figwort

Flax, fairy

Flax, pale

Forget-me-not

Fox and Cubs

Foxglove

Fumitory, common ramping

Garlic Mustard (Jack-by-the-hedge)

Geranium, cut-leaved

Geranium, Dove's Foot

Goats-beard, greater

Goosefoot, upright

Goose Grass (cleavers)

Gorse

Green Alkanet

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Ground Elder

Ground Ivy

Groundsel

Hawkbit, lesser

Hawkbit, rough

Hawkbit, smooth

Hawkweed, common

Hawksbeard, beaked

Heath Milkwort

Heath Speedwell

Heather (Ling)

Heather-bell

Heather, cross-leaved

Hedge Woundwort

Hellebore, winter

Hemlock

Hemlock Water Dropwort

Herb Bennet

Herb Robert

Hogweed

Honeysuckle

Horehound, black

Iris, yellow

Ivy

Ivy-leaved Toadflax

Jack-by-the-hedge (Garlic Mustard)

Kingcup

Knapweed

Knotgrass

Lesser Stitchwort

Lesser Willowherb

Loosestrife, purple

Mare's-tail

Mayweed, scentless

Meadowsweet

Meadow Vetchling

Medick, black

Milkweed

Milkwort, heath

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Mint, water

Montbretia

Mouse-ear

Mugwort (Artemisia)

Mullein, great

Musk Mallow

Nettle, stinging

Nightshade, black

Nightshade, enchanter's

Nightshade, woody

Nipplewort

Orchid, common spotted

Orchid, early purple

Ox-eye Daisy

Oxtongue, prickly

Pale Persicaria

Pearlwort, annual

Pennywort

Periwinkle

Pimpernel, scarlet

Pink Purslane

Plantain, greater

Plantain, ribwort

Poppy, common

Primrose

Queen Anne's Lace

Ragged Robin

Ragwort

Ramsons (wild garlic)

Red Campion

Rose, dog

Rose, field

Rose, sweetbriar

St John's Wort, slender (Hypericum-Pulchrum)

St John's Wort, trailing

Salsify

Scabious, field

Scentless Mayweed

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Scurvy Grass, common

Sea Aster

Self-heal

Shepherd's Purse

Shining Cranesbill

Snowdrop

Sorrel, common

Sorrel, red

Sowthistle, prickly

Sowthistle, smooth

Spear Thistle

Speedwell, germander

Speedwell, heath

Speedwell, thyme-leaved

Spurge, wood

Spurrey, sand

Stinging Nettle

Stitchwort, greater

Stitchwort, lesser

Strawberry, false

Strawberry, wild

Sweetbriar

Teazle

Thistle, creeping

Thistle, marsh

Thistle, spear

Toadflax, common

Toadflax, ivy-leaved

Toadflax, purple

Tormentil

Trefoil, bird's foot

Trefoil, hop

Trefoil, lesser

Umbelliferae:Alexanders

Cow Parsley

Fool's Paradise

Greater Burnet Saxifrage

Hedge Parsley

Hemlock

Hemlock Dropwort

Hemlock, water

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Hogweed

Water Parsnip

Wild Carrot

Yarrow

Upright Goosefoot

Vetch, bush

Vetch, common

Vetch, meadow vetchling

Vetch, tufted

Violet, dog

Violet, purple

Violet, sweet

Water Dropwort

Water Mint

Water Parsnip

Wild Carrot

Willowherb, greater

Willowherb, lesser

Willowherb, rosebay

Wintercress, common

Winter Hellebore

Wood Anemone

Wood Avens

Wood Dock

Wood Sage

Wood Spurge

Woody Nightshade

Woundwort, field

Woundwort, hedge

Yarrow

Yellow Iris

Unusual additions:August 2006 — growing in a field border in Woodbury: Watermelon Nightshade,

(Solanum Citrullifolium), Native of Iowa-Kansas, Texas, Mexico.

End of May 2013 — growing on a roadside bank in Woodbury, Fringe Cup,(Tellima Grandiflora), Native of Western North America.

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VIEW FROM SANCTUARY LANE TOWARDS THE BEACON AND CASTLE RIDGEFloral diversity in a June hedgerow

VIEW FROM THE TOP OF LOWER MALLOCKS LANECow Parsley in May