The Norfolk Flora Group are a collection of enthusiastic volunteer botanists keen to map and survey the wild plants of the county. They meet very regularly to conduct field surveys but despite knowing a few of them (mostly through social media!) I had yet to meet up with them. That changed yesterday with a trip to the Earsham estate.
A working quarry was the unlikely meeting point but with very good reason. Parking up it was immediately obvious that vast areas of the site were a sea of the rare Pennyroyal! After everyone had arrived we were taken a few hundred yards further into the quarry for rarity number two - the impossibly rare Grass-poly which Meg has been surveying and found c200 plants! Also nearby of interest were loads of Panicled Willowherb, Marsh Yellow-cress, some probable Cornfield Knotgrass and rather less welcome New Zealand Pigmyweed which is being eradicated.
After that excitement it was off in small groups to survey a number of arable field margins. My time was fairly limited due to other commitments in the afternoon so I had to sneak off after an hour or so. It was great to finally meet up with the group however and put some faces to names.
Wow! What a fabulous selection of beautiful wild species...
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