The British Plant Gall Society
Follow us on Twitter at @britgalls
Site last updated on
11th April 2019
Affiliated to the British Entomological and Natural History Society (BENHS)
The Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, who manage this site, are eager to follow up our initial discovery We remind you that most of the site is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part has been declared a National Nature Reserve .The Reserve is not only of Biological interest, it also contains two Geological Conservation Review sites. (For more information Google Charnwood Lodge Nature Reserve). In terms of gall records, the site is still virtually virgin territory.
Access to the site is strictly restricted, so those wishing to participate should contact Chris Leach who will be leading the “Gall” elements of this event. Chris’s contact details are: 0116 2711991 or email: c.leach23@btinternet.com. He will provide both Directions and Access information to those notifying him of their intention of attending. The access point can also be found under Charnwood Lodge on the Internet. The gates are locked when LRWT members are not on site
Saturday 7th September 11 am.
Marbury Country Park, near Northwich, Cheshire.Leader -
Meet Main Car Park (Near Budworth Mere) at SJ651764. From M56 turn south at J10 onto A559 and right in about 3 miles to Gibb Hill and Comberbach and follow signs.
We were very impressed at a workshop held last year and think the sight is worthy of further exploration.
Sunday 8th September
Newmillerdam Country Park near Wakefield
Tom Higginbottom 01302 725978 tomhig@icloud.com
Please meet in the car park at Newmillerdam, SE 331157 OS Explorer 278 Post Code WF2 6QQ at 10:30 am Car park fee £1.70. Please bring a packed lunch. There are toilet facilities and a nearby pub.
Newmillerdam is located 3.5miles from Wakefield by the A61 Barnsley Road, the car park is beside the A61.There is a lake surrounded by good paths with broadleaved and coniferous woodland on the slopes.
The park is a local nature reserve which in the nineteenth century was owned by the Pilkington family and the site was managed for game. The site was not open to the public and gamekeepers protected it from poachers.
The Arboretum on the top of the hill offers an appealing venue for our gall explorations. There are a variety of different species of: Acers, Alder, Beech, Birch, Cherry, Oak, Pear, Sorbus etc. There are many trees of our usual indigenous species all growing in fairly open areas. We should also find galls on herbaceous plants growing in these habitats. All the unusual species are clearly labelled such as: Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple), Alnus cordata (Italian Alder), Corylus colurna (Turkish Hazel) Quercus coccinea (Scarlet Oak) Sorbus domestica (True Service Tree) etc. It would be interesting to discover galls on these trees. Once we have explored the Arboretum the final part of our walk will be beside the lake where we will find galls on the Alders, Sallows and the other waterside plants before we return to the car park.
Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd September.
AGM weekend Mid-
This year we are based in the Commodore Hotel, Llandindrod Wells. The cost is £195 per person. (not as previously advertised due to a miscalculation by the treasurer).
Further details will be available in due course but book the dates NOW!
A full itinerary will be available in the late Summer to all those who have booked up for the AGM
Saturday 28th September
The fifth of the annual visits to one of the “Magnificent Seven” Victorian Cemeteries of London. So far we have detected a most interesting variety of galls in these expansive areas with a great diversity of tree species, both native and exotic. Noteworthy galls have also been located in the grassland areas.
Cemetery no. 5 in 2019 will be Nunhead embedded in the southern London suburbs. Meet at 10.30 a.m. at the main entrance to the Cemetery in Linden Grove on the north-
Leader : Keith Palmer.
Sunday 6th October
Brocks Hill Environmental Centre (10am -
Washbrook Lane, Oadby, Leicester. [Grid ref: SP619997].
The BPGS Invertebrate group annual workshop.
“Gall Causers in Focus”
Whether you are an expert Cecidologist, a talented photographer or simply interested in galls, this year’s Workshop is designed to provide you with a further opportunity to see gall causers and their associated parasitoids
In addition to flagging this event, this note is also an invitation to you to make a contribution (a few slides perhaps, live/preserved specimens etc). Your contribution can take the form of a poster, a collection of specimen tubes, microscope slides, or a short presentation (Please let Chris Leach know so that the appropriate resources (time, display boards etc.) can be allocated).
We prefer participants to pre-
Booking
There is no charge this year except for your food but please book so we know how many to expect.
Details of venue and an updated programme will be sent to all registering.
Invertebrates Workshop. Contact Chris Leach on 0116 2711991, 07818 828454 or via email: c.leach23@btinternet.com
The Venue
Brocks Hill Country Park, Washbrook Lane, Oadby, Leicester LE2 5JJ . The entrance to Washbrook Lane is on the south side of the B582 Wigston to Oadby Road, at traffic lights and opposite Brabazon Road. Proceed along the lane [passing Parklands Leisure Centre on the right]. Brocks Hill Environment Centre is straight ahead. Anticipate that the car park will be quite busy.
Workshop organiser:-
Chris Leach ( c.leach23@btinternet.com or 0116 271 1991 )
The Cecidological Calendar for 2018
The BPGS has an extensive programme of field meetings each year. These events are an excellent way to learn more about galls, and beginners are very welcome.
PLEASE REFER BACK REGULARLY TO THIS PROGRAMME
FOR ANY AMENDMENTS, ADDITIONS, or MODIFICATIONS.
Note some events require pre-
Download the 2019 programme (pdf)
Sunday 18th August
Escomb village and by the River Wear, County Durham
Leader Steve Robbins
Contact: Tom Higginbottom 01302 725978 tomhig@icloud.com
Please meet by Escomb Parish Church NZ 188302 OS Explorer 305
Post Code DL14 7SY at 10:30 am.
There are no toilet facilities. Please bring a packed lunch.
The church is one of the most complete surviving Anglo-
Our gall explorations will begin by the church passing through neighbouring fields to a nearby lake. Then we will explore what was once an old iron slag area which should prove an interesting habitat for further gall discoveries. Eventually we make our way to the River Wear where we will search the trees and plants on the riverside for galls before we have lunch. We will return to Escomb by another path while continuing our searches.
Saturday 24th August
White Hill, Shoreham, Kent. Meet at 10.30 a.m.
This chalk down-
The Reserve is situated close to the A225 opposite Shoreham (Kent) Railway Station between Eynsford and Otford. Here there is a long lay-
Please bring a packed lunch.
Leader : Keith Palmer.
Sunday 1st September
Burley Wood, Oakham. A joint meeting of the BPGS and Rutland Natural History Society. Meet on the A606 road at SK 892093 at 1030 a.m.
Thursday 5th September (9:30am -
Charnwood Lodge Nature Reserve
Do we have a new gall?
We visited this site at the same time last year and recorded a large number of galls. Of special interest is a gall, found by Ian Farmer ,which does not match the description of any we can find in the literature. We have been monitoring this gall through the winter and we are hopeful of capturing any emergent. However, only the single specimen was found. We would like to use the expertise of BPGS members to help us find more of this gall during 2019 so that we can make a proper identification.
