Full Contents as pdf File - Natural History Museum

Porlock. During the drive over to Porlock, Nick Hards and some of the party stopped to
inspect the ferns on the high moorland at Chetsford Water (21/847420). Oreopteris
limbosperma was particularly abundant there.
Joan met us at her gate and
ushered us onto the lawn at the
side of the house where she gave
us a talk on the recognition of
Polystichum setiferum and its
varieties. After a most interesting
talk and armed with maps of the
garden, we explored the various
ferns that Joan had kindly drawn
to our attention. It had been some
ten years since my last visit to
Greencombe and it had lost none
of its charm. Indeed, Joan had
added a new dimension to the
garden, which many of us found
quite a delightful surprise. At the
far end of the garden she had built
a small, round timber building.
Described as a Millennium Chapel,
a few seats were arranged around
the sides of the building and a
representation of the Holy Mother
and Child, exquisitely carved from
sweet chestnut, provided a focal
photo: P.J. Acock point for quiet contemplation. The
site chosen, with its wooded
Joan Loraine talks to members about her garden
surroundings, provided an ideal
site for peaceful reflection. I had always considered Greencombe as a truly remarkable garden
but this new addition gives a totally new and perhaps unique corner. At the end of our garden
tour, Joan kindly invited us into her home to enjoy tea with home-made scones and cakes.
Some of the party stopped in the car park at Lynmouth, from where a short walk along
the sea front enabled them to admire the Asplenium marinum on the sea wall and cliffs
(21/721498). During the ‘recce’ this species had also been found in the Valley of the
Rocks, to the seaward side of Castle Rock, where it was not found during the Society’s
previous visit. Returning to Lynton, we all gathered at the Bridge Inn for evening drinks
and supper at the end of a very successful and pleasant day.
Sunday dawned bright and clear and we all made our way the short distance to Watersmeet
(21/744486), arguably the most scenic part of Exmoor. We made our way down into the
gorge. Here we were able to add to the previous day’s list with Polystichum setiferum and
Hymenophyllum tunbrigense. In spite of diligent searching we were unable to find its
companion, H. wilsonii. Another item of interest was the occurrence of the gametophyte
stage of Trichomanes speciosum in a small cave opposite the Watersmeet tea rooms and
National Trust shop.
Loth as we were to leave such a ferny setting, we went on our way and stopped at a car park
on the high cliffs to take advantage of the panoramic view across the Severn estuary.
Descending into the Hebden Valley we made our way to the Hunters Inn where Paul had
thoughtfully reserved tables for our lunch.
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