BSBI Welsh AGM

Last week was certainly a busy one for Welsh BSBI members with the Welsh AGM near Llangollen. Three days with field trips was a slightly daunting prospect given the weather forecast but as usual a good time was had despite the weather. 
On Wednesday I was persuaded at short notice to lead the walk along the canal to the basin at Trevor - not stunning botanically but we did find some interesting thistles - Carduus nutans, musk thistle, and Silybum marianum, milk thistle. And the weather was sunny enough for some members to buy icecreams at the canal basin. 

On Thursday I led a group around the Alyn Waters Country Park, which revealed some great displays of Orchis apifera, bee orchid and Listera ovata, twayblade. The weather was not dry, but mainly misty and drizzly, we had a good walk around much of the site (although there was still more to see) and the sun was trying to come out by the time we had to leave. 

The hotel seemed excellent (although I was not resident) and we enjoyed three-course dinners, plus on Thursday drinks at the expense of the late Commander John Topp, to whom we are most grateful! We also had a wonderful exhibition (and a workshop) on roses from Kate Thorne and were treated to a showing of the new exhibition on Inspirational Botanists (Welsh women) from the National Botanic Garden of Wales. 

Unfortunately I was not very active with my camera so no field pictures, but thanks to John Crellin for this of the exhibition.

Downy and dog roses - Photo John Crellin