The Lyons Share

I've been back to the New Forest today to discuss management of Holly so that we can gain experience for the proposed management at Ebernoe Common, Neil Sanderson was our guide and was, as ever, very helpful and informative. I managed a few ticks, best for me was a number of these smart hoverflies, Sericomyia lappona feeding on Bramble flowers in the woods near Pig Bush car park. On the edge of the wood, Neil was able to show me the leaves of Soft-leaved Sedge that I could not find two weeks ago but looked for. Probably because it was hardly in flower!

Nearby we also stumbled upon a Lesser Butterfly Orchid. I might not have seen this since I was a kid.

Neil also pointed a number of rare lichens that I could not possibly hope to re-identify so I won't be adding them to my list however, this Usnea ceratina is pretty distinctive and can't tolerate much pollution. We also saw the acid loving version of the moss Thuidium assimile which is called Thuidium delicatulum. I end the day on 3430 species.