Llanelli Naturalists Newsletter - October 2001 - No 67
Kath Cottingham

Leader Richard Pryce

Ten members met at Burry Port Harbour for this meeting, the first of the 2001 field season. They included Richard Pryce (RDP), Kath Cottingham, Ian and Thomas Morgan, Tony and Viv Lewis, Dr Philip Jones, Diana Hopkins and Andrew Stevens Whilst, I am sure, many had anticipated spring-like weather in April, it proved to be cold with a brisk north-west wind and squally showers. The party followed the Pembrey Canal (or to give it its correct and formal name the ‘Kidwelly and Llanelly Canal’ – (see Nicholson, 1996, p75) north-westwards from Burry Port Harbour. Almost immediately, Tony and Viv Lewis pointed out plants of Lesser Chickweed (Stellaria pallida) beside the pathway across the ‘lawns’ by the Burry Port West Dock. This is a low, insignificant, soon-desiccated species which the leader had overlooked in all his time as County Botanical Recorder and was only the fourth vice-county record and the first since at least 1967! Subsequent searching at other suitable sites by RDP revealed the species in six other locations including Ferryside, Pembrey Country Park and Llanelli Beach.

Close to the bridge at SN440006 the party started along the canal tow-path, passing a leafless but budding tree of White Willow (Salix alba) en route. With hindsight, the date for the field meeting was too early for aquatic plants and recent heavy rains rendered the canal-side path very muddy indeed. Curled Pondweed (Potomogeton crispus), Water Starwort (Callitriche stagnalis) and the winter-green, slightly glaucous and densely-packed floating leaves of Least Duckweed (Lemna minuta) were pointed out by the leader. An empty shell of the Great Ram’s-horn Snail (Planorbarius corneus)  was found on the canal bank by Ian Morgan, here at its only known Carmarthenshire locality. This is principally a species of still or slow moving water bodies in lowland England and rare in Wales (mostly confined to South-east Wales, the Llangollen Canal, etc)  A stonewort (Chara sp.) was found in large puddle by the tow-path and Almond Willow (Salix triandra) was in flower. A Chiffchaff was singing near the canal.

Due to the increasingly muddy conditions the party left the canal at SN433009 and followed the footpath southwards, passing stands of Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) and White Dead-nettle (Lamium album) just west of the Ashburnham Hotel SN434008.

The footpath continued south along the former tramway embankment across the golf-links and at Pembrey Harbour another snail of interest was seen, the Sandhill Snail (Theba pisana), an introduction from the Mediterranean which, although long known at (for example) Porthcawl and Tenby and indeed at Pendine Burrows where it has not been seen in recent years, was not noted at Pembrey until the 1990s. It is markedly confined to the sandy coasts of South-west Britain as it is very susceptible to winter frosts. In hot summer weather it literally covers stems of various plants at Pembrey such as Sea Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimus). This species is currently increasing in Britain and has colonised Pembrey and other Carmarthenshire coastal sites in recent years, including the new Machynys beaches, though it is still absent from Tywyn Burrows, perhaps as it prefers weedy, sandy sites with plenty of crucifers, rather than over-stabilised areas.

Walking back towards Burry Port Harbour along the landward side of the ‘Shoreline Dunes’, further populations of Pale Chickweed were discovered and young plants of Dwarf Mallow (Malva neglecta) were seen near the Yacht Club-house.

Reference: Nicholson, J. A. (1996) Pembrey & Burry Port – Further Historical Glimpses.