Castle Cauldwell, Co. Fermanagh (v.c. H33)

Friday 6 September

Leaders: Robert Northridge, Jen Ferrar.

We will walk around the shore of LL Erne which was exposed when the level of the lake was lowered on the 1800s and which is now wooded and has been colonised by interesting plants.

We hope to see the endemic Irish Whitebeam (Sorbus hibernica), native Yew trees (Taxus baccata), Spindle (Euonymus europaeus), Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) and the only known specimen in Ireland of the hybrid willow, Salix x friesiana. We should find some spikes of the rare Yellow Birds’-nest (Monotropa hypopitys), a few Birds’-nest Orchids (Neottia nidus-avis) which will be past their best, and see the rare Mackay’s Horsetail (Equisetum x trachyodon).

If time permits, we will also visit Lough Scolban, a few kilometers to the NW of Castle Cauldwell to look for aquatic plants.

This field trip is suitable for beginner to experienced botanists and is limited to ten people.

Meet at the car park in Castle Cauldwell Forest (GR H016603) at 10.30am. We should finish between 3.30 and 4.00.

Bring packed lunches, wear suitable footwear and be prepared for wet weather. There are no toilets at the site.

Leader: Robert Northridge, BSBI Vice-county Recorder for Fermanagh. (robhannort@aol.com and 07734390289)