TRAVELLING NATURALIST TRIP REPORT
New Forest 2005
Monday 4 - Thursday 7 July 2005
Leader:
Bob Ford
A great week with some very pleasant weather producing exceptionally close views of some difficult species including Silver-washed Fritillary, Wood Cricket and Redshank.
Monday July 4th
Weather: Dry and clear in the evening, wind light northerly
Our introduction to the New Forest was a dusk trip to Yew Tree Bottom to see Nightjars. We had to wait until it was nearly dark before one appeared but then we had a very close view as it hunted for moths. Looking at Jupiter through the telescope revealed 2 of its moons.
Tuesday July 5th
Weather: Heavy showers in the morning, light rain all afternoon.
After an excellent breakfast at the Forest Park Hotel we set out for Acres Down near the village of Emery Down. As we walked away from the bus the heavens opened forcing us to shelter under some trees. The rain soon slackened off though and we found a Willow Warbler giving good views in the birches as we climbed the hill. At the top we enjoyed the view of the forest under a layer of grey rain clouds. Walking out of the woods and onto the heathland gave us the opportunity to catch up on the typical heathland flora including Bog Asphodels, Dodder and all 3 Heathers. A Buzzard called but remained hidden; Meadow Pipits and Stonechats were more co-operative sitting on the tops of bushes. A family of Dartford Warblers teased us with fleeting views through the gorse and a group of 3 Wood Larks allowed us a quick look before they flew off. The pond produced the only addition to the Travelling Naturalist New Forest bird list in the shape of a pair of young Mandarin Ducks (thought at the time to be Wood Ducks).
Cross-leaved Heath
On the way back to the hotel we stopped off at Rhinefield Arboretum to see largest tree in the world - the Giant Redwood. We also saw some huge Douglas Firs and much smaller but just as beautiful plants including Hard Ferns, Slender St John’s Wort and Common Cow-wheat.
The afternoon trip was to the coast at Pennington, always a great bird-watching location. Even in the unremitting drizzle it lived up to its reputation with outstanding views of a series of normally shy birds including Redshank and Reed Warbler. A group of Bee Orchids were the first ever seen on this trip.
After a lengthy and much-appreciated dinner we wandered out just outside the hotel to look for owls. Eventually a Tawny Owl was found perched on a post in the allotments, but it was really too dark for a good look at it.
Wednesday July 6th
Weather: Warm, with long sunny spells and a strengthening westerly wind.
The walk from the Shatterford car park down to Bishop’s Dyke took even longer than normal with so much to see. First to stop us in our tracks were the Silver-studded Blues which were in abundance close to the car park. Next was a Curlew which flew in and allowed us to watch it as it walked around the heath. Then family after family of Stonechats appeared along the path – obviously a very good breeding season for them this year.
A tiny Toad was an interesting find and a very obliging model.
Reaching the trees of Denny Wood we heard a flock of loudly-calling birds overhead - the “chip – chip – chip” of Crossbills. Several times the flock flew over but we never did see them at rest. A Wood Lark was found perched uncharacteristically high on a dead tree. Dragonflies were well represented with a fine Golden-ringed giving us very good views in the woodland and later a male Keeled Skimmer even sat still long enough to photograph as did a female Large Red Damselfly.
Keeled Skimmer
Large Red Damselfly
After dinner we had the unique opportunity to go for an evening deer walk with 2 of the Forestry Commission’s Forest Rangers. A Roe Deer was located in the trees as we drove down the track. Out in the forest several Red Deer were soon found with their young in attendance. As we reached the hide overlooking Queens Meadow the herd of female Fallow Deer with their young were found looking very nervous. The reason was soon evident as a young buck appeared with a length of wiring wrapped around its antlers. The walk back to the bus was enlivened by calls of Nightjar, Tawny Owl and a raptor that was probably a Hobby. A Woodcock flew over on its roding flight around the forest.
Thursday July 7th
Weather: Warm sunny spells in a light wind.
Each year we try to explore a new area and this year we visited Pignall Enclosure just to the east of Brockenhurst. As hoped the absence of ponies allowed the flowers to grow that are required by butterflies to breed on. Silver-washed Fritillaries were numerous and a single Purple Hairstreak was a new addition to the list. Another remarkable sighting was a fat (probably pregnant) Wood Mouse which slowly walked across the path while we were watching a Spotted Flycatcher and some Bullfinches. We often hear Wood Crickets on these walks but today we were treated to a number of them walking around our feet and posing for photographs.
Silver-washed Fritillary
Wood Cricket
For our lunch stop we walked into Bolderwood amongst some very majestic Beeches. A fine Golden-ringed Dragonfly was found perched on a Bramble bush, allowing for close views through the telescope. Both Nuthatch and Treecreeper were seen here and a Stock Dove provided a constant “hoo-hoo” in the background. Returning to the bus, a Song Thrush alerted us to a large owl, either a Tawny or possibly the much rarer Long-eared, which flew up from the ground where it had probably been hoping to catch a fledgling thrush.
Next we stopped to see the herd of Fallow Deer bucks at the Bolderwood viewpoint. Today they were joined by a small flock of Stock Doves and a Hobby which gave a brief but impressive display of aerobatics high above them.
Our final excursion was to Wilverley Plain to look for Buzzards. Before we finally found one, we enjoyed finding a variety of new plants including the tiny Fairy Flax and the equally charming Mouse-ear Hawkweed.
Hope to see you all again soon, either back in the New Forest or in Dorset.
Bob Ford
***STOP PRESS!!!***
Dorset Break at the Moonfleet Hotel near Weymouth planned for May 8th – 11th 2006
click here for details
SPECIES LIST
* indicates the first record for this species
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Birds:
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|
Little Egret
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
Grey Heron
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Pennington/Keyhaven
|
|
Mute Swan
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
|
|
Canada Goose
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
Shelduck
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
|
|
Mallard
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
*Mandarin Duck
|
Acres Down
|
|
Sparrowhawk
|
Acres Down
|
|
Kestrel
|
Brockenhurst
|
|
Hobby
|
Bolderwood
|
|
Buzzard
|
Acres Down
|
|
Pheasant
|
Poundhill Inclosure
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|
Moorhen
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
Oystercatcher
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
Lapwing
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
|
|
Little Ringed Plover
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
|
|
Black-tailed Godwit
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
Woodcock
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Poundhill Inclosure
|
|
Curlew
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
|
|
Redshank
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
|
|
Black-headed Gull
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
Lesser Black-backed Gull
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
Herring Gull
|
Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
Great Black-backed Gull
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Pennington/Keyhaven
|
|
Little Tern
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
Common Tern
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
Wood Pigeon
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Acres Down
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|
Stock Dove
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Bolderwood
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|
Collared Dove
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Brockenhurst
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|
Green Woodpecker
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Denny Wood
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|
Great Spotted Woodpecker
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Brockenhurst
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|
Tawny Owl
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Brockenhurst
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Nightjar
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Yew Tree Bottom
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Skylark
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Denny Wood
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Wood Lark
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Acres Down
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|
Swift
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Denny Wood
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|
Sand Martin
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Denny Wood
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|
House Martin
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Denny Wood
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Meadow Pipit
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Acres Down
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|
Pied Wagtail
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Forest Park Hotel
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Wren
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Rhinefield
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Spotted Flycatcher
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Pignall Inclosure
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Robin
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Brockenhurst
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Redstart
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Denny Wood
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Stonechat
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Acres Down
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Blackbird
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Brockenhurst
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Song Thrush
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Acres Down
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Mistle Thrush
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Acres Down
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Reed Warbler
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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Dartford Warbler
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Acres Down
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Whitethroat
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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|
Blackcap (heard)
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Brockenhurst
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|
Chiffchaff (heard)
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Acres Down
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Willow Warbler
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Acres Down
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Goldcrest
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Acres Down
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Coal Tit
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Acres Down
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Blue Tit
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Acres Down
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Great Tit
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Acres Down
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Marsh Tit
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Pignall Inclosure
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Long-tailed Tit
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Acres Down
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Nuthatch
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Bolderwood
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Treecreeper
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Acres Down
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Jay
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Forest Park Hotel
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Magpie
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Acres Down
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Jackdaw
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Acres Down
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Rook
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Brockenhurst
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Carrion Crow
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Acres Down
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Starling
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Acres Down
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House Sparrow
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Hatchet Pond
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Chaffinch
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Acres Down
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Greenfinch
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Acres Down
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Goldfinch
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Acres Down
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Linnet
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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Crossbill
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Denny Wood
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Bullfinch
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Denny Wood
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Reed Bunting
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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Butterflies:
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Silver-washed Fritillary
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Denny Wood
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Meadow Brown
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Acres Down
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Gatekeeper
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Bolderwood
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Ringlet
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Denny Wood
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Brimstone
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Denny Wood
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Small White
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Acres Down
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Silver-studded Blue
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Acres Down
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Purple Hairstreak
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Pignall Inclosure
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Small Skipper
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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Large Skipper
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Denny Wood
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Damselflies/Dragonflies:
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Large Red Damselfly
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Denny Wood
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Common Blue Damselfly
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Denny Wood
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Beautiful Demoiselle
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Pignall Inclosure
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Common Darter
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Denny Wood
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Emperor
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Acres Down
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Golden-ringed Dragonfly
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Bolderwood
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Keeled Skimmer
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Denny Wood
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Other Insects:
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Wood Cricket
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Pignall Inclosure
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Pond Skater
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Denny Wood
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Whirligig Beetle
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Denny Wood
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Soldier Beetle
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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*Leptura 6-guttata (a longhorn beetle)
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Denny Wood
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Devil's Coach-horse
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Bolderwood
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Sand Wasp
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Denny Wood
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Hornet
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Denny Wood
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Solitary Bee
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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Wood Ant
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Denny Wood
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Mammals:
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Fox
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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Rabbit
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Pennington/Keyhaven
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Grey Squirrel
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Forest Park Hotel
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Fallow Deer
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Poundhill Inclosure
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Roe Deer
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Poundhill Inclosure
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Red Deer
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Poundhill Inclosure
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*Wood Mouse
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Pignall Inclosure
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Pipistrelle
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Poundhill Inclosure
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Amphibians:
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Toad
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Denny Wood
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Plants:
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Hard Fern
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Rhinefield
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Bracken
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Acres Down
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Douglas Fir
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Rhinefield
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Giant Redwood
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Rhinefield
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*Corsican Pine
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Poundhill Inclosure
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*Lodgepole Pine
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Poundhill Inclosure
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Scots Pine
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Widespread
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*Atlas Cedar
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Bolderwood
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*Cedar of Lebanon
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Keyhaven
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*Larch
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Denny Wood
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Ash
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Brockenhurst
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Sycamore
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Brockenhurst
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*Alder
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Poundhill Inclosure
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Birch
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Widespread
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Beech
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Widespread
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Sweet Chestnut
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Bolderwood
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Pedunculate Oak
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Widespread
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*Turkey Oak
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Poundhill Inclosure
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Alder Buckthorn
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Acres Down
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Bog Myrtle
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Denny Wood
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Creeping Buttercup
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Brockenhurst
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*Hairy Buttercup
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Pennington
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Lesser Spearwort
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Widespread
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Round-leaved Sundew
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Acres Down
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*Hairy Bittercress
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Brockenhurst
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Milkwort
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Brockenhurst
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Sea Campion
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Keyhaven
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Sea Spurrey
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Keyhaven
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*Lesser Stitchwort
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Denny Wood
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Chickweed
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Keyhaven
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Sea Beet
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Keyhaven
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*Mossy Stonecrop
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Denny Wood
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Glasswort
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Keyhaven
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Common Orache
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Keyhaven
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Hastate Orache
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Keyhaven
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Sea Purslane
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Keyhaven
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Annual Seablite
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Keyhaven
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Marsh St John's Wort
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Acres Down
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Slender St John's Wort
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Rhinefield
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Rose of Sharon
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Rhinefield
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Musk Mallow
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Brockenhurst
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Mallow
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Pennington
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Purging (Fairy) Flax
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Wilverley Plain
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Cut-leaved Cranesbill
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Acres Down
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Holly
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Widespread
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*Petty Whin
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Denny Wood
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Gorse
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Widespread
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Common Birdsfoot
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Denny Wood
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White Clover
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Widespread
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Red Clover
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Brockenhurst
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Lesser Trefoil
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Keyhaven
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Hop Trefoil
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Pennington
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Black Medick
|
Pennington
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Haresfoot Clover
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Keyhaven
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Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil
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Brockenhurst
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Birdsfoot Trefoil
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Pennington
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Common Vetch
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Pennington
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Tufted Vetch
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Keyhaven
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Bramble
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Widespread
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Creeping Cinquefoil
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Pennington
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Tormentil
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Widespread
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Wood Sorrel
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Denny Wood
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Dog Rose
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Widespread
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Hawthorn
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Widespread
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Ivy
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Brockenhurst
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Marsh Pennywort
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Denny Wood
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Hogweed
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Pennington
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Carrot
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Keyhaven
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Wood Spurge
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Brockenhurst
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Japanese Knotweed
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Brockenhurst
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Sheep's Sorrel
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Widespread
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Water Pepper
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Acres Down
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Fiddle Dock
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Pennington
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|
Broad-leaved Dock
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Brockenhurst
|
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Curled Dock
|
Keyhaven
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Nettle
|
Widespread
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Creeping Willow
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Brockenhurst
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Sallow
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Acres Down
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Thrift
|
Keyhaven
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|
Sea Lavender
|
Keyhaven
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|
*Broad-leaved Willowherb
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Widespread
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Yellow Pimpernel
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Denny Wood
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Bog Pimpernel
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Denny Wood
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Scarlet Pimpernel
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Keyhaven
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Enchanter's Nightshade
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Brockenhurst
|
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Centaury
|
Widespread
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Water Forget-me-not
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Brockenhurst
|
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*Field Forget-me-not
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Pennington
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Vervain
|
Pennington
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Hedge Bindweed
|
Pennington
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*Field Bindweed
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Pennington
|
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Foxglove
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Widespread
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|
Common Figwort
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Yew Tree Bottom
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*Water Figwort
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Acres Down
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Water Speedwell
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Brockenhurst
|
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Eyebright
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WPennington
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Lousewort
|
Widespread
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Common Cow-wheat
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Rhinefield
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Cross-leaved Heath
|
Widespread
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|
Ling
|
Widespread
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Bell Heather
|
Widespread
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Bilberry
|
Acres Down
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Lesser Skullcap
|
Denny Wood
|
|
Self-heal
|
Widespread
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Hedge Woundwort
|
Brockenhurst
|
|
Wood Sage
|
Acres Down
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|
Greater Plantain
|
Keyhaven
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Ribwort Plantain
|
Keyhaven
|
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Buckshorn Plantain
|
Keyhaven
|
|
Heath Bedstraw
|
Widespread
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Marsh Bedstraw
|
Widespread
|
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*Woody Nightshade
|
Pennington
|
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Elder
|
Keyhaven
|
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Honeysuckle
|
Widespread
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|
Dodder
|
Acres Down
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*Field Poppy
|
Pennington
|
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*Long-headed Poppy
|
Pennington
|
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Teasel
|
Pennington
|
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*Common Valerian
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Poundhill Inclosure
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|
Devilsbit Scabious
|
Brockenhurst
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Marsh Ragwort
|
Brockenhurst
|
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Ragwort
|
Brockenhurst
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Groundsel
|
Brockenhurst
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*Heath Groundsel
|
Brockenhurst
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Sticky Groundsel
|
Keyhaven
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Daisy
|
Brockenhurst
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Yarrow
|
Pennington
|
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Sneezewort
|
Denny Wood
|
|
Lawn Chamomile
|
Brockenhurst
|
|
Sea Mayweed
|
Keyhaven
|
|
*Scentless Mayweed
|
Widespread
|
|
Marsh Cudweed
|
Acres Down
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|
Small Cudweed
|
Denny Wood
|
|
Oxeye Daisy
|
Keyhaven
|
|
Spear Thistle
|
Pennington
|
|
Marsh Thistle
|
Widespread
|
|
Creeping Thistle
|
Pennington
|
|
Bristly Ox-tongue
|
Keyhaven
|
|
*Hawkweed Ox-tongue
|
Keyhaven
|
|
Perennial Sow-thistle
|
Keyhaven
|
|
Prickly Sow-thistle
|
Keyhaven
|
|
*Smooth Sow-thistle
|
Keyhaven
|
|
Mouse-ear Hawkweed
|
Wilverley Plain
|
|
Common Cats-ear
|
Widespread
|
|
Dandelion
|
Brockenhurst
|
|
Bog Asphodel
|
Acres Down
|
|
Butcher's Broom
|
Denny Wood
|
|
Heath Spotted Orchid
|
Poundhill Inclosure
|
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*Bee Orchid
|
Pennington
|
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Bur-reed
|
Denny Wood
|
|
Common Pondweed
|
Denny Wood
|
|
*Field Horsetail
|
Pennington
|
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Reed
|
Pennington
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Wall Barley
|
Keyhaven
|
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Cotton Grass
|
Acres Down
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White Beak-sedge
|
Acres Down
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© The Travelling Naturalist 2005
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