1,000 wild plant species in Montgomeryshire... and counting!

Eager Montgomeryshire Field Society members have been busy over recent years recording all the wild plant species in the county, so that their results can be included in Atlas 2020, the third comprehensive Atlas of British and Irish flora which will be published next year by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland.

2019 is the last year for recording to take place, and to date more than 1,000 different species of  flowering plants and ferns have been identified.

Every corner of the county has been explored and MFS members have been seen clinging to rock faces, wading through rushing rivers, scrambling up ravines and battling with bramble and nettle thickets in search of both common and rarer plant species.

The strange title, Montgomeryshire Field Society,  is a bit misleading – it has little to do with 'fields' in particular, although they are sometimes visited.

Its aim is actually to survey and report on the state of the flora and fauna in all of Montgomeryshire's many habitats, and its members are from all walks of life and have a wide range of interests and abilities.

But they all have one thing in common – a love of nature, and of our wonderful local landscapes.

Monthly field visits in the summer give members a chance not only to search out a wealth of plants and animals, but also to learn from others in the group who have more expertise. A programme of talks in the winter is a good way of continuing to learn when the weather is less clement, and substantial afternoon teas are a common and popular feature of both summer and winter events.

So many similar field clubs have not survived, but the MFS lives on, giving its members the chance to meet friendly and enthusiastic folk, who encourage and share their knowledge of all areas of natural history.

For the first talk of the autumn season, the society is delighted to welcome  wildlife and landscape photographer, Andrew Fusek Peters, who will wax lyrical about 'Beauty from the Borderlands' on Saturday, November 23.

If you think you may be interested in attending this or other talks, or in learning more about the society, do visit our website:  www.montgomeryshirefieldsociety.yolasite.com                      

or contact Lizzie Beare (secretary) at lizzie3beares@phonecoop.coop or Liz Wilson (treasurer) on 07765 833368 or maltliz@aol.com

 

 

PICTURED: Montgomeryshire Field Society members, from left, Sue Southam, Lizzie Beare and County Botany Recorder Dr Kate Thorne recording Musk Mallow at Cyfronydd Station.