CROW (Conserve Reading on Wednesdays)
Wednesday, 20th June 2012
Hosehill Lake, Theale ~ Plant transects and meadow management

For a number of years regular counts have been made of the plants growing in the meadow and on the butterfly bank in order to measure the effectiveness of the management of the site. Of particular interest is the impact of the grazing of the meadow by ponies for part of the year.

As well as counting, we also did some management of the meadow, removing a certain amount of the dock which was becoming excessive.

Counting is done in one metre squares (transects).

Each transect is marked out .....

..... then all the plants within the transect must then be counted.

Among the plants found where a number of orchids such as this common spotted .....

..... and this pyramidal .....

..... as well as a bee orchid - if only he can remember where they saw it!

In addition to the plants, plenty of bugs were to be seen .....

..... including these common blue damselflies.

Male (on left) and female common blue.

Male common blue.

White plume moth.

With the count of the meadow complete, we're off to the butterfly bank to repeat the process.