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LYNTON, DEVON – 12-14 September A.R. Busby
Some twenty-eight members assembled at the Bridge Inn, Lynton on the Friday evening to
be briefed on the weekend’s meeting by the leader, Paul Ripley. He circulated a handout
providing details of the sites to be visited. We were fortunate to be blessed with the most
gorgeous September weather although the fern growers amongst us were agreeing how
desperate we were for some rain.
Saturday came and our first port of call was at Ashcombe, Simonsbath at 21/774394.
Close to the car park were the public conveniences, which gave us our first glimpse of
the ferns in the area. On the walls we found Asplenium trichomanes, A. ruta-muraria,
A. scolopendrium, Polypodium vulgare and a couple of small plants of Cystopteris
fragilis. More hart’s tongue was found along the small brook that ran through the car
park.
We made our way alongside the brook and quickly found large areas of bracken,
Pteridium aquilinum. It was also pleasing to see Polypodium vulgare growing as it
should be seen, as an epiphyte on the branches of the trees. Throughout the woodland we
found Dryopteris filix-mas, Athyrium filix-femina, Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris dilatata
and D. affinis agg. D. affinis subsp. borreri was quite abundant in this area, as it was
throughout the area we visited over the weekend. This gave us the opportunity to discuss
and examine its distinguishing features. Nick Hards concluded that D. affinis subsp.
affinis was also present at this site although it was not seen at any other place we visited.
In the more open areas we found Oreopteris limbosperma and a strong candidate for
D. affinis subsp. cambrensis, a frond of which was taken for further study. Polypodium
vulgare was also very evident and we quickly realised that both P. vulgare and
P. interjectum were present. The consensus of opinion was that P. vulgare tended to be
on the trees (although it also occurred on walls) and P. interjectum was mainly found on
the walls.
Retracing our steps to the car park, Paul led us on to another site close by the road some
three-quarters of a mile away at Lime Combe (21/765394). Here we were shown a small
but well grown plant of beech fern, Phegopteris connectilis. This was a good find
because it is not at all common in that area. During our ramble to this site we passed a
low retaining wall thickly furnished with more Asplenium trichomanes with several
A. adiantum-nigrum amongst it.
Pteris cretica in Joan Loraine’s garden, Porlock
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photo: J.M. Ide
By now it was midday and
Paul’s excellent planning
found us outside Boevey’s
Restaurant so we were able
to take lunch. Polypodium
vulgare and P. interjectum
were found growing
together at one place on the
surrounding walls, which
gave a good opportunity to
compare them.
After lunch we made our way
across moorland for what we
considered to be the highlight
of the weekend, a visit to
Joan Loraine’s garden at