We were going to cancel the meeting but several members telephoned during the Saturday afternoon to book a place. Ten members including two who had traveled from Gidea Park Essex, met in the car park on Outney Common Bungay to record the flora of tetrad TM3290.

On the grazing marsh on the Suffolk side of the river we found a rather rich ditch that included Ranuculus aquatilis (common water crowfoot), Apium nodiflorum (fool’s watercress), Ranunculus sceleratus (celery leaved buttercup) and Cardamine pratensis (cuckooflower), which was growing by the bank. As we crossed the bridge over the Waveney into Norfolk we paused to see the flowers of Fraxinus excelsior (ash) that are normally so high in the canopy that they are overlooked. Here were many spring favorites like Adoxa moschatellina (muscatel), Ranunculus ficaria (lesser celandine) and by the river Caltha palustris (marsh marigold). The meadow flora was poor but included Alopecurus pratensis (meadow foxtail) and several Saxifraga granulata (meadow saxifrage).

Once up onto the hills proper, the most dominant species was Claytonia perfoliata (spring beauty) and, further on Mercurialis perennis (dog’s mercury). Along the hedge bank we found the remnants of Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite) and several Daphne laureola (spurge–laurel). On the path we found Viola reichenbachiana (early dog violet) and non-flowering plants of Viola odorata (sweet violet). We all thought we had escaped the pernicious Smymium olusatrum (alexanders) but we did come across one plant. Iris foetidissima (stinking iris) had naturalized here as had Helleborus foetidus (stinking hellebore). The latter hosted the very rareleaf mine of the fly Phytomyza hellebori. In the dell we adjourned for lunch and found some very interesting plants indeed. Allium ursinum (ramsons) was present along with a fine Populus x jackii (balm of Gilead). Symphytum grandiflorum (creeping comfrey) Symphytum orientale (white comfrey) and Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot) covered the path down to the marsh.

After our break we continued on towards the lake and recorded some rather large Malus sylvestris (crab apple). Other trees of note were some fine Carpinus betulus (hornbeam), Prunus padus (bird cherry) and P. avium (wild cherry). There was also some nice bright Veronica persica (common field speedwell) and V. chamaedrys (germander speedwell). After leaving the tetrad informal recording began and we found three species of Geranium along a very productive grass verge. In flower were Geranium dissectum (cut leaved cranesbill), G. molle (doves foot cranesbill) and G. rotundifolium (round leaved cranesbill). G. pratense (meadow cranesbill) was in leaf only. Also along here, and into EarshamVillage, we found Anthriscus caucalis (bur chervil) and Chaerophyllum temulentum (rough chervil).

Once in EarshamVillage we found an unkempt front garden covered in Muscari neglectum (grape hyacinth) and along nearby paths both Euphorbia lathyris (caper spurge) and E. peplus (petty spurge). As we walked along the old road to Bungay we found a single Medicago sativa (Lucerne). In the town itself we saw Cybalaria muralis (ivy leaved toadflax) and Corydalis lutea (yellow corydalis). Otherwise of note was a troop of mushrooms Clitoplius prunulus (the miller), Auricularia auricularia judae (ear fungus), Daldinea concentrica (cramp balls) and Daedaleopsis confragosa (blushing bracket).

Fauna observed included several small tortoiseshells, one small white, four holly blues, one brimstone and two peacocks. A grass snake and a common toad were seen along with several Coccinella 7 punctata (seven spot ladybirds), one Adalia bipunctata (two spot ladybird) and several Palomena prasina (common green shield bug), a single Sehirus bicolor (pied shield bug) plus an ichneumon fly species. Of the mammals we recorded rabbit, a large fresh dead brown rat and a muntjac deer grazing on winter wheat. Finally the entire group heard a cuckoo - the first of the year for us all.

It was good to see that there are some active members within the SNS who are willing to attend meetings in north Suffolk. I hope there are many reading this who wished they had attended.107 taxa were recorded and the group walked ten miles.