Below- the MFS outing to Foel in May 2017, with Alwyn Hughes lecturing and MFS members observing.
Reports for 2017 to view a report, click on the title.
25th April- Field Trip to The Centre for Alternative Technology, Machynnlleth, organisers Sue Southam & Maureen Preem.
INDOOR WINTER PROGRAMME 2017
11th November- Talk with slides by James Shaw on monitoring, surveying, trapping and identifying moths.
1st December- Our annual Christmas lunch at the Lakeside Golf Course Restaurant, Garthmyl.
MFS – outing to Llandyssil 10th May 2016
Organisers – Sheila Turner and Steve Attwood-Wright
The day dawned cool and wet but this did not dampen the spirits of the Field Society members. We were provided with coffee and tea at our meeting point – the 1830’s new church of St Tyssil before walking through the village to the churchyard site of Old St Tyssils. Here we took our picnic lunch under the shade of the ancient Yew trees and made a Flora survey for the local community who are considering adopting the site as a nature reserve. We recorded over 70 species.
Shiela and Steve then led two parties on a circular route through the lanes to the south of the village which included a species rich green lane where we found Moschatel (Town Hall clock) Unfortunately we did not hear or see the Curlew spotted on the research walk three weeks earlier.
We were provided with an excellent tea back at the Church by local volunteers and a ‘Happy Birthday’ was sung for our vice chair Steve Attwood-Wright on the occasion of his 65th birthday. Steve gave the vote of thanks to the tea ladies and to local resident Claudia Jones who had shown us the routes taken.
S A-Wright
Correction to the text of the report.
Nantewyn means 'foaming white stream' in English.
Dyffryn Ardudwy 7th July 2015 led by Sheila Turner
Friog and Fairbourne, 19th May 2015 led by Michael and Sylvia Backhouse
http://www.montwt.co.uk/blog/CoedPendugwmDiaries
report for 2014 -2015
Osprey observatory, bog, flora and beach.
8 acre smallholding, rich pasture, orchids and butterflies
10 acres transformed over 10 years by the current owners. A derelict old long house and cattle barn into highly ecological and beautiful huse with stunning views. Wildflower meadows, native trees, a pond and an orchard all to explore and admire.
Coach trip. Flat or hill walks, rivers and streams, wildlife and plants.
The Special Features of Snowdonia
Talk and slide show by Dewi Davies, Senior Warden-North (word file)
January11th 2014 Indoor meeting.
Alastair Hotchkiss of the Ancient Tree Forum
'The Ancient Trees of Montgomeryshire' (Word file)
Simon Spencer
'The effect of modern farming on our native butterflies' (pdf)
Montgomeryshire Field Society Trip to Dolanog, April 24th 2014.
This, the first MFS outing of the season, was to the lovely village of Dolanog, and a fine day we had for it. Thirty-two of us explored several different and picturesque routes around the Vyrnwy valley.
The footpaths on Allt Dolanog gave the opportunity to enjoy splendid views in all directions, with an interesting boggy area just below the summit, where we found Cranberry, Marsh St John’s Wort and Marsh Violet amongst other damp-loving plants. This hill was the last place in Montgomeryshire to yield records of High Brown Fritillary butterflies, as recently as 2003, and the common land here is managed to protect the violets on which the caterpillars of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary feed. To hear the curlew and skylarks singing was a real treat, and the eye-catching white rumps of wheatears were further reminders that Spring was well and truly with us.
A riverside walk to the north-west involved some woodland and pastures. Two further walks flanked the Vyrnwy towards Pont Robert – the Ann Griffiths Way to the North of the river and Glyndwr’s Way to the South. A circular walk combining these was also possible for the keen walkers.
The walks along the river towards Pontrobert proved to be rich in bird life. Redstarts were seen by several people as were stock doves, grey wagtail and teal. Another less common summer visitor, which was more often heard than seen, was the wood warbler, present in good numbers on both sides. A pair of hares were observed frolicking by the old fisherman’s cottage – always a welcome sight.
Dolanog is renowned for its association with the Welsh hymn writer, Ann Griffiths, who spent most of her life here. Some members of our group enjoyed the chance to look around the chapel, which is a not only a memorial to Ann, but also an interesting and unusual example of an Arts and Crafts architectural style applied to a Non-Conformist chapel.
As the very pleasant outing drew to a close, and we all compared notes on the day, the ladies of Dolanog welcomed us with a good spread of tea, sandwiches, cake and conversation in the Old School House. We were very happy to make donations to a Ukrainian orphanage, for which they fund-raise on a regular basis.
Suitably refreshed, a few of us extended the day by following the wild daffodil-edged lanes to Tan-y-Rhyd chapel, where several old plant records include Adder’s-tongue and Hound’s-tongue. Although we didn’t spot these, the carpet of cowslips, wood anemones and wild daffodils in the graveyard made it a particularly special place, and one to revisit on another occasion.
