Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - Summer 1992
Leaders: John Rees, George Hutchinson, Richard Pryce.
The leaders and eight members and guests assembled below the castle in the centre of the town in hot, cloudless but humid sunshine. John led the way to Fernhill (SN298108) where Mr.Reeve gladly permitted the small party access to his garden: an area of valleyside broadleaved woodland which had been augmented by the planting of several exotic species in the past. English Elm (Ulmus procera) and hybrids with Wych Elm (U. glabra), Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) were frequent but Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur), Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) and Yew (Taxus baccata) were also present. A degree of base enrichment was indicated by the presence of such species as Wood Sedge (Carex sylvatica), Soft Shield Fern (Polystichum setiferum) and Hart's Tongue Fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium) in the herb layer which also included Remote Sedge (Carex remata), Pendulous Sedge (C. pendula) and several exotics like Campanula poscharskyana and Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor). Growing at the bases of walls and hedgebanks in the vicinity of the house were Grey Sedge (Carex divulsa) and Prickly Sedge (C. muricata subsp. lamprocarpa) and garden weeds included Thale Cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) and the spurges Euphorbia peplus and E. helioscopica. In all 97 plant species were recorded here.
The group returned to Water Street and walked towards The Laques (SN297108). Several common plants were noted in the roadside stream including Hemlock Water-dropwort (Oenanthe crocata), Water-cress (Nasturtium officinale agg.) and Fool's Water-cress (Apium nodiflorum) whilst scarcer species were Giant Fescue (Festuca gigantea) and Water Betony (Scrophularia aquatica). A Chiffchaff cheerfully accompanied the party on its way and a Red Admiral and several Speckled Wood butterflies were seen.
Entry was made to the Hugden at its northwestern corner (SN295107). Most strips of this traditionally managed meadow, one of the three enclosures controlled by the Laugharne Corporation, had already been cut for hay due to the early, dry season but some steeper ground remained untouched. Here rank, mesotrophic grassland was dominated by False Oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) with some scrub encroachment of Bramble (Rubus fruiticosus agg.) and Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). The traditional management was reflected in the species-richness of the site. Scarce species seen included Common Restharrow (Ononis repens), Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis), Greater Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) and Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris). This site is noted for the abundance of Greater Butterfly Orchids (Platanthera chlorantha) but only about five plants were seen, the remainder having been cut with the hay. Other orchios noted were Common Twayblade (Listera ovata), Common Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Heath Spotted-orchid (D.maculata subsp.ericetorum) and the putative hybrid between these latter two species, D. x transiens.
Return to Laugharne was maqe through the cricket field (SN298106, where a disturbed area yielded one plant of Field Pansy (Viola arvensis) together with Parsley-piert (Aphanes microcarpa) and Thyme-leaved Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia). The sunken-lane of Stony Way afforded some shade on the remaining, rather wilted members of the party but all were most welcomely revived on arrivel at John's house where his wife had laid a superb tea of home-made sandwiches and cakes. After warmly thanking Jonn and his wife for their hospitality the meeting broke-up at about 6pm