BBS Southern Group meetings

The British Bryological Society’s Southern Group meets about once a month during October to March to record bryophytes in Hampshire and occasionally parts of neighbouring counties, including the Isle of Wight, Dorset and West Sussex (often combining forces with our neighbouring groups). Because some meetings are arranged at short notice and may be cancelled due to bad weather we operate an email contact list for the group, so please get in touch if you would like to be put on this list to receive advance notification of meetings. Beginners are welcome. Meetings start at 10.00 or 10.30 (check details before attending), end at around 3–4 pm and usually take place on weekends. Wellington boots (as well as rainproofs, food, drink, etc.) are advisable for most meetings but stout walking boots may be preferable for those on dry or hilly ground. Don’t forget to bring a hand lens. If you are coming to a meeting for the first time, please take a moment to read the BBS health and safety information.

Winter 2025/26 NEXT MEETING

Wildern Nature Park, Hedge End (VC11), Saturday 24 January 2026, 10.00am-3pm

Leader: John Norton. An interesting wetland LNR owned by Hedge End Town Council with areas of semi-natural woodland, willow carr, marsh, ponds, streams and associated habitats. It has been well recorded by a keen group of local residents, including Terry Crow who has kindly offered to show us around. It has a rich vascular plant flora, an exceptional list of invertebrates and supports a wide range of other flora and fauna. I had a superficial look at the bryophytes in May 2023 and added a few records since but have not carried out a comprehensive survey. There are only 43 bryophyte taxa recorded to date including three Sphagna (S. fimbriatum, S. palustre and S. subnitens) and Aulacomnium palustre, so there is scope to find one or two more Sphagna and boost the overall species list.

Meet at the free car park which serves the cricket ground at Turnpike Way, Hedge End, SU48671321, at 10.00am. This is only a short distance from J7 of the M27 motorway. Take the B3036 exit from the motorway roundabout, which is just before the southbound sliproad onto the motorway (and easy to miss). After 300m turn left onto Turnpike Way, proceed 650m and look for a gap in the trees to access the car park on the right. Bring a packed lunch; wellies essential!

FUTURE MEETINGS

Beaulieu River, King's Hat, New Forest (VC11)

This was due to take place in December 2025 but was cancelled due to a period of heavy rain. We hope to reschedule some time in early spring 2026.

Leader: John Norton. The New Forest supports some extensive stretches of ancient alder woodland along the floodplains of the main rivers, much of which has never been properly explored by bryologists. This important habitat is threatened by the possibility of unofficial beaver reintroductions, climate change and potentially tree diseases, so now would be a good time to undertake some survey work to better understand its bryology. There is a good chance of finding new colonies of the European Vulnerable Pallavicinia lyellii which occurs on the river 4km upstream and no doubt there will be good diversity of other liverworts in the humid environment. If it turns out that the woodland is not particularly exciting we can spend more time looking at the adjacent wet heath and pond habitats.

Meet at King's Hat car park, SU386054, at 10.00 am. We will aim to explore the area either side of the footbridge (SU38490530) and then walk north through the wood or up the west side to the crossing at SU38020599. Wellingtons essential. Please book with John Norton beforehand. The going might be treacherous, especially if there has been a lot of rain, so we will need to keep together in close proximity.

REPORTS OF PAST MEETINGS

Summaries of past meetings are included in the downloadable Flora News bryophyte reports. Fuller reports of some recent meetings have been posted on the BBS website (click on Events and under Categories: Local, Southern Group full link).