Our field meetings programme for 2023 is set out below. To view and print a pdf copy, click here, and here for photographs of some recent and very enjoyable meetings.
Unless otherwise stated, meetings will start at 10.30. Please arrive by 10.15 so that we can make a prompt start. Each meeting will contain a strong educational component to help new or less experienced members. Bring a packed lunch for all-day meetings. Many will be on uneven or wet ground so please ensure that you wear appropriate footwear.
Unless otherwise stated, meetings will start at 10.30. Please arrive by 10.15 so that we can make a prompt start. Each meeting will contain a strong educational component to help new or less experienced members. Bring a packed lunch for all-day meetings. Many will be on uneven or wet ground so please ensure that you wear appropriate footwear.
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Thursday 27th April: Reigate, The Clears, Colley Copse. Meeting point: TQ 2453 5106
Leader: Caroline Bateman
For spring flora in privately-owned ancient woodland on Gault Clay. If time permits, we shall also record in nearby Colley Wood. There is very limited parking in The Clears so please park considerately at the west end of Manor Road and meet by the junction with Coppice Lane. N.B. Manor Road should be approached from the east via Somers Road (just north of the level crossing on the west side of the A217) and not via Coppice Road which is unmetalled and very rutted.
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Saturday 6th May: Pirbright Junction, Camping Ground/Hodge Brook. Meeting point: SU 9225 5623
Leader: Bill Stanworth
For dry acid grassland, some heath and damp woodland by brook. Meet at a small MOD car park on south side of B3012 Gapemouth Road. Potential further parking if needed by the railway bridge a short distance to the west (SU 9208 5618).
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Friday 12th May: Reigate Heath Sports Pitch. Meeting point: TQ 2386 5024
Leader: Susan Medcalf
For spring ephemerals of acid grassland. Use car parks on either side of Flanchford Road just south-west of the sports pitch.
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Sunday 28th May: Wishmoor Bottom (joint meeting with Berkshire). Meeting point: SU 8753 6206
Leaders: Isobel Girvan & Mick Crawley
For unusual wet valley mire and drier edges with highlights including Dryopteris cristata (Crested Buckler-fern) and spring ephemerals. Park on King’s Ride. This is a residential road so please be considerate when parking.
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Saturday 17th June: Headley Heath. Meeting point: TQ 2051 5383
Leader: Peter Wakeham
For recording in several areas of species-rich chalk grassland. Meet at the National Trust Headley Heath car park opposite the cricket ground in Headley Common Road. Parking free for NT members. Others will need to pay at the pay and display machine or by “paybyphone”. £4 for up to 4 hours; £6 for 5 hours and more.
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Sunday 25th June: Painshill Park Space4Nature Bioblitz. Meeting point: TQ 1027 6010
Leader: Space4Nature/SWT
For baseline recording of C18th landscaped gardens with a lake, woodland, vineyard and grassland. Meet at the main car park off Between Streets - the name of the road! Recorders will have free entry so if you wish to join the SBS recording group, please let Isobel Girvan know by Thursday 22 June at the latest. (isobel.girvan@surreywt.org.uk).
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Saturday 1st July: Crowhurst Place and Ardenrun Farm. Meeting point: TQ 3780 4597
Leaders: Hattie Baber & John Madden
For baseline recording of approximately 100ha (250 acres) of former farmland that is being ‘rewilded’. There is some ancient woodland with Sorbus torminalis (Wild Service-tree) and possible Pyrus pyraster (Wild Pear) as well as orchards and shaws to explore. The fields and meadows have patches of native species where Lathyrus nissolia (Grass Vetchling) and Hordeum secalinum (Meadow Barley) are widespread. Meet at Ardenrun Farm RH7 6LN. To get there, follow the long driveway (Ardenrun) east of Tandridge Lane, past Moat Farm where the track turns north to Ardenrun Farm.
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Saturday 15th July: Blindley Heath. Meeting point: TQ 3705 4516
Leader: Jon Wilson
For general recording in damp Wealden Clay grassland with a small woodland area, several ponds and a stream. Notable species are Genista anglica (Petty Whin), Achillea ptarmica (Sneezewort), Menyanthes trifoliata (Bogbean) and a good number of sedges and grasses. Meet in the Red Barn pub car park corner of Ray Lane and Tandridge Lane and we have agreed to partake of their refreshments afterwards.
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Thursday 20th July: Effingham Common. Meeting point: TQ 1053 5524
Leader: Honor Gay
For general recording, following on from last year’s field meeting. Meet at Effingham Cricket Club off Effingham Common Road. The driveway is sign posted. Limited parking at the rear of the clubhouse, so car share if you can or come by train as it is a ten-minute walk from Effingham Junction train station.
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Wednesday 9th August: Basingstoke Canal. Meeting point: SU 9208 5618
Leader: George Hounsome
For botanical interest. Suitable for beginners. Meet at car park on the north side of Gapemouth Rd by the railway bridge, west of Pirbright. Waterproof footwear is advisable. Potential further parking is small MOD car park on south side of Gapemouth Road (SU 9225 5623).
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Thursday 24th August: Putney. Meeting point: TQ 2398 7509 [Note the 11.00am start]
Leader: Clare Million
For urban botany in a range of habitats. Meet outside Putney Station on the east side of Putney High Street at 11.00am. Parking could be difficult, so it is advisable to travel by public transport using off-peak tickets.
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Wednesday 27th September: Greenland Dock/North Greenwich. Meeting point: TQ 3562 7897 [Note the 11.00am start]
Leaders: Caroline Bateman & Geoffrey Kitchener
For a circular route (two to three miles on flat surfaced ground) with the Kent Botanical Recording Group. Meet at 11.00am at Surrey Quays Overground Station, Lower Road exit. Canada Water Station is a short walk away if this station is more convenient for travelling. Parking could be difficult, so it is recommended that you travel by public transport using off-peak tickets. During our circuit we expect to encounter an interesting variety of ruderals and aliens. For the pteridologists among us, some interesting ferns have been recorded on dock and river walls.
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Saturday 28th October: Surrey Botanical Society Social
Box Hill Village Hall, Box Hill Road, Tadworth, KT20 7JS. 2.00pm
Our end-of-season get-together, always enjoyable! Details to follow.
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Thursday 27th April: Reigate, The Clears, Colley Copse. Meeting point: TQ 2453 5106
Leader: Caroline Bateman
For spring flora in privately-owned ancient woodland on Gault Clay. If time permits, we shall also record in nearby Colley Wood. There is very limited parking in The Clears so please park considerately at the west end of Manor Road and meet by the junction with Coppice Lane. N.B. Manor Road should be approached from the east via Somers Road (just north of the level crossing on the west side of the A217) and not via Coppice Road which is unmetalled and very rutted.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Saturday 6th May: Pirbright Junction, Camping Ground/Hodge Brook. Meeting point: SU 9225 5623
Leader: Bill Stanworth
For dry acid grassland, some heath and damp woodland by brook. Meet at a small MOD car park on south side of B3012 Gapemouth Road. Potential further parking if needed by the railway bridge a short distance to the west (SU 9208 5618).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Friday 12th May: Reigate Heath Sports Pitch. Meeting point: TQ 2386 5024
Leader: Susan Medcalf
For spring ephemerals of acid grassland. Use car parks on either side of Flanchford Road just south-west of the sports pitch.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday 28th May: Wishmoor Bottom (joint meeting with Berkshire). Meeting point: SU 8753 6206
Leaders: Isobel Girvan & Mick Crawley
For unusual wet valley mire and drier edges with highlights including Dryopteris cristata (Crested Buckler-fern) and spring ephemerals. Park on King’s Ride. This is a residential road so please be considerate when parking.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Saturday 17th June: Headley Heath. Meeting point: TQ 2051 5383
Leader: Peter Wakeham
For recording in several areas of species-rich chalk grassland. Meet at the National Trust Headley Heath car park opposite the cricket ground in Headley Common Road. Parking free for NT members. Others will need to pay at the pay and display machine or by “paybyphone”. £4 for up to 4 hours; £6 for 5 hours and more.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday 25th June: Painshill Park Space4Nature Bioblitz. Meeting point: TQ 1027 6010
Leader: Space4Nature/SWT
For baseline recording of C18th landscaped gardens with a lake, woodland, vineyard and grassland. Meet at the main car park off Between Streets - the name of the road! Recorders will have free entry so if you wish to join the SBS recording group, please let Isobel Girvan know by Thursday 22 June at the latest. (isobel.girvan@surreywt.org.uk).
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Saturday 1st July: Crowhurst Place and Ardenrun Farm. Meeting point: TQ 3780 4597
Leaders: Hattie Baber & John Madden
For baseline recording of approximately 100ha (250 acres) of former farmland that is being ‘rewilded’. There is some ancient woodland with Sorbus torminalis (Wild Service-tree) and possible Pyrus pyraster (Wild Pear) as well as orchards and shaws to explore. The fields and meadows have patches of native species where Lathyrus nissolia (Grass Vetchling) and Hordeum secalinum (Meadow Barley) are widespread. Meet at Ardenrun Farm RH7 6LN. To get there, follow the long driveway (Ardenrun) east of Tandridge Lane, past Moat Farm where the track turns north to Ardenrun Farm.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Saturday 15th July: Blindley Heath. Meeting point: TQ 3705 4516
Leader: Jon Wilson
For general recording in damp Wealden Clay grassland with a small woodland area, several ponds and a stream. Notable species are Genista anglica (Petty Whin), Achillea ptarmica (Sneezewort), Menyanthes trifoliata (Bogbean) and a good number of sedges and grasses. Meet in the Red Barn pub car park corner of Ray Lane and Tandridge Lane and we have agreed to partake of their refreshments afterwards.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday 20th July: Effingham Common. Meeting point: TQ 1053 5524
Leader: Honor Gay
For general recording, following on from last year’s field meeting. Meet at Effingham Cricket Club off Effingham Common Road. The driveway is sign posted. Limited parking at the rear of the clubhouse, so car share if you can or come by train as it is a ten-minute walk from Effingham Junction train station.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 9th August: Basingstoke Canal. Meeting point: SU 9208 5618
Leader: George Hounsome
For botanical interest. Suitable for beginners. Meet at car park on the north side of Gapemouth Rd by the railway bridge, west of Pirbright. Waterproof footwear is advisable. Potential further parking is small MOD car park on south side of Gapemouth Road (SU 9225 5623).
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Thursday 24th August: Putney. Meeting point: TQ 2398 7509 [Note the 11.00am start]
Leader: Clare Million
For urban botany in a range of habitats. Meet outside Putney Station on the east side of Putney High Street at 11.00am. Parking could be difficult, so it is advisable to travel by public transport using off-peak tickets.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 27th September: Greenland Dock/North Greenwich. Meeting point: TQ 3562 7897 [Note the 11.00am start]
Leaders: Caroline Bateman & Geoffrey Kitchener
For a circular route (two to three miles on flat surfaced ground) with the Kent Botanical Recording Group. Meet at 11.00am at Surrey Quays Overground Station, Lower Road exit. Canada Water Station is a short walk away if this station is more convenient for travelling. Parking could be difficult, so it is recommended that you travel by public transport using off-peak tickets. During our circuit we expect to encounter an interesting variety of ruderals and aliens. For the pteridologists among us, some interesting ferns have been recorded on dock and river walls.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Saturday 28th October: Surrey Botanical Society Social
Box Hill Village Hall, Box Hill Road, Tadworth, KT20 7JS. 2.00pm
Our end-of-season get-together, always enjoyable! Details to follow.
All those attending field meetings do so at their own risk.