FLORA REPORT

After last year's very disappointing season, 2002 has shown some improvement. We have two new species for the area:-

Rue-leaved saxifrage (Saxifraga tridactylites) which was spotted on the Flat Iron Market in Chorley. It usually prefers a calcareous habitat and apparently is spreading along railways.
Sheepsbit scabious (Jasione montana) seen at Birkacre. In addition, we have had a reappearance of two long lost species:-
Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) which has now appeared at Lower Burgh Meadows, and was last recorded at the ROF in 1983.
Marsh Stitchwort (Stellaria palustris) was last recorded in 1984, but has now appeared in Cuerden.

As we did last year, we list below first dates for flower burst for selected species in the area (dates in brackets are last year's dates for comparison):-

Name	Date and Location
Lesser Celandine	17th February - Birkacre (18th)
Coltsfoot	27th February - Birkacre (26th Jan)
Dandelion	27th February - Birkacre (8th March)
Dog Mercury	27th February - Birkacre (11th March)
Butterbur	27th February - Birkacre (24th March)
Ramsons	11th April - Birkacre (14th April)
Bluebell	31st March - Birkacre (16th April)
Mayflower
Red Campion	31st March - Birkacre (12th May)
Wood Sorrel	21st March - Birkacre (12th May)
Foxglove

As you will observe, all the above are for Birkacre. It would be interesting to receive records from other parts in order to make comparisons. Looking at the above, flower burst for spring flowers at least appears to have been earlier in 2002 than in 2001.

Please keep your eyes open for plants, even in the centre of Chorley, and also in your garden, as the most unlikely places could yield interesting species.

Thank you to the following stalwart recorders:-

D.Beattie, D.Downing, C.Smith and N.West - more names here would be very welcome.

FLORA REPORT

Carol Kellett