This talk was presented by Jill Fry, a botanist who has had long associations with Thursley Common, where her husband was at one time warden, and also with the wealden areas south of there. Over the years she has recorded, notably in the Chiddingfold woods, and built up a large collection of photographs of plant and butterfly species in particular.
A significant influence upon natural life within the woodlands is the shelter provided from the most extreme winter weather. This advances the arrival of flowers in the early part of the year, and also aids survival of insects. In the woodlands there is sufficient light to encourage plant development. Wild daffodils are found flowering in mid-February, as well as lesser celandines and the expected snowdrops. At this time too, moschatel, a native of old woodlands, can be seen, and, in wetter areas, golden saxifrage and marsh marigold.
March and April bring out the butterflies, the comma from hibernation and the speckled from pupation. In coppiced areas anemones and wood goldilocks flower, and, where denser woodland has been cleared, large numbers of primrose and English bluebell. Where bramble has been cleared down to underlying clay violets are quick to regenerate. Other flowers seen at this time are the conspicuous bugle, and the familiar stitchwort, lady’s smock and wood sorrel.
May is notably the time for orchids to appear, among them the early purple and the common spotted. However the greater butterfly orchid, which used to be found, is disappearing. Among butterflies, green hairstreak, wood white and small pearlbordered fritillary can be seen, Chiddingfold woods being one of the best areas in Surrey for these species. Regrettably the pearl-bordered fritillary is now uncommon. The hawthorn encountered in the area is the Midland hawthorn, characterised by less indented leaves than those of the generally more common hawthorn.
As the year advances foxgloves flower, notably where the ground has been disturbed, and at the margins of woods, field rose. Betony is generally less common now than in the past, but 2009 proved a good year. Butterflies at this time include large and small skippers, silver-washed fritillary, the second brood of brimstones, gatekeeper, ringlet, purple hairstreak, and purple emperor with their habit of appearing at a regular time daily on pine trees. One species that Jill failed to see in 2010, however, was the Essex skipper. Late in the year commas from a second brood are there, feeding on ivy.
Jill’s talk was marked by the large number of interesting photographs shown, many more than referred to here. The subject was of great interest to me, as it was about an unfamiliar area, and one, I suspect, not well known to a number of the members of our society.
David Morgan