Just like botanists of old, we will brave the confounding mysteries of British public transport and journey to the wilds of Shirehampton to investigate Lamplighter’s Marsh.
There is a good stretch of saltmarsh here as well as scrub and ruderal habitat. We should see Pepper-saxifrage Silaum silaus, numerous grasses and potentially have a chance to compare Sea Pearlwort Sagina maritima and Slender Pearlwort S. filicaulis with the ubiquitous and familiar Procumbent Pearlwort S. procumbens – as well as perhaps trying to differentiate Slender Sandwort Arenaria leptoclados from Thyme-leaved Sandwort Arenaria serpyllifolia!
If travelling by train, please catch the 13:46 from Bristol Temple Meads (leaves Lawrence Hill at 13:49, Stapleton Road at 13:52, Montpelier at 13:56, Redland at 13:58, Clifton Down at 14:01 and Sea Mills at 14:05), alighting Shirehampton station. Turn left out of the station, down Station Road to the pub and the entrance to the nature reserve. Do check on the day to make sure of no cancellations or delays.
Otherwise, simply meet in the car park of the Lamplighter’s pub (there is plenty of parking in nearby streets, so no need to use the pub car park) at ST52687629 ///turkey.cove.dices BS11 9XA. We will probably gather near the slipway.
