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Sunday 2nd July saw the gathering of folks from across the Island with an interest in species recording and identification for an afternoon of fieldwork and workshop sessions to explore and examine the diverse and surprising flora and fauna of The Bay at the first IWNHAS Summer Recorders Event.

With Dinosaur Isle as our base, we set off on three different fieldwork sessions to collect grasses, sedges & rushes with Colin Pope, Insects with Ian Boyd and check the overnight moth trap with Iain Outlaw. (more…)

Just a few days left until the very first IW Summer Recorders Event takes place at Dinosaur Isle, Sandown on Sunday 2nd July 2pm – 5pm, so please register and book your place asap.

This is a great opportunity to brush up your species identification skills as we explore the surrounding habitats to collect specimens and return to Dinosaur Isle to examine and identify them. (more…)

This Friday 2nd June sees the 7th Annual BioBlitz being held this year in Parkhurst Forest, Newport 10 – 4pm and brings amateur and specialist wildlife spotters together to record our treasured natural heritage. (more…)

Eight of the botany group gathered at the top of Appley Steps to start the hunt for native and naturalised plants (not planted in gardens) which were in flower. The definition of ‘in flower’ requires the anthers to be visible. A male Hazel (Corylus avellana) catkin fully open had already been observed and at our feet was a plant of Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea) in bloom. We set off along the cliff top and round Rylstone Gardens to find more species, including Greater Periwinkle (Vinca major). (more…)

The BSBI’s New Year Plant hunt takes place from 1st-4th January 2017. Further details can be found here

Locally, we are planning to go out as a group on Wednesday 4th January, meeting at 2pm at the top of Appley Steps near Rylstone Gardens in Shanklin (grid reference SZ 585808). Parking is available in nearby streets. We will take a circular route including part of the Esplanade, the cliff footpath and the cliff top to see how many native or naturalised plants we can find in flower.

Please note the walk will include steep ascents and descents; strong footwear recommended.

There has been a lot of media attention over the past couple of years to one of the latest introduced threats to our native trees. Chalara or ash die back has not spread across the country as rapidly as first predicted but it has slowly been spreading and now it has reached the Island.  (more…)

Half a dozen members of the botany section volunteered to go to the Brickfields site to record plants as part of this years Bioblitz at Newtown. Part of the attraction was the promise of a boat trip to this site which is inaccessible by other means. At just after eight am on 2nd June we assembled at Shalfleet Quay where we were met by the harbourmaster who was to take us to the site.We had not bargained for the bitterly cold weather as we waited to don our buoyancy aids.

The harbourmaster explained that the landing stage at Brickfields was damaged in  the winter and that landing would be difficult, so we were going to be taken by launch to a buoy close by and that we would then transfer by a smaller boat (a dory) to the site.

Dactylorhiza fuchsii (photo:Dave Trevan)

All this seemed very exciting to those of us not accustomed to being on the water.Once under  way we forgot about the cold and enjoyed the trip.

The Brickfields site was warm and tranquil in comparison, and it was exciting to go to an area that no one else visits or records.

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Geranium maderense on Undercliff Drive,looking towards St. Lawrence (Photo:Dave Trevan)

It is worth taking a visit to Ventnor at the moment to see the truly amazing planting of the “Giant Cranesbill” (Geranium maderense) that have been planted opposite Ventnor Botanic Garden.The species is also called the “Madeiran Storksbill” or “Giant Herb Robert”.

This magnificent planting comprising several hundred plants, is in full flower at the moment and I would guess is the largest planting of this magnificent species to be seen in this country if not the world! (more…)

On 2nd April 11 members of the botany group met to carry out this year’s translocation.

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