THE WIMBLEDON EXCURSION
On Saturday 20th June a number of Queketts gathered at the Information Centre on Wimbledon Common for an excursion and meeting organised and led by Dennis Fullwood. Dennis described it thus:
'The area is some 1140 acres, a large part of which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It has a very varied range of habitats from mature woodland, prime heath land, grasslands with a mix of long and short sward, scrub, ponds, streams, bogs, and one river, the Beverley Brook. Pond dippers will not be disappointed as there are nine ponds and meres on the common.'
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Space was somewhat limited but soon several microscopes were setup, and the room began to fill. Fortunatel there were several trips made to parts of particular interest, so the room was never too crowded. |
There was a walk a walk to look at mosses and liverworts, led by Dr Alan Harrington from the Natural History Museum, which unfortunately I missed. Dennis tells me that over 80 species have been recorded on the Common, and there is more to come.
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Maurice Moss show the Conservator some of the results of a pond dip. |
One of the more unusual displays was set up by Norman Chapman, who is a keen apiarist. He had mounted a pair of combes in a plastic case:
| Visitors enjoyed watching the activities inside the hive, and Norman was able to point out the Queen on occasion. |  |
