Many thanks to those who sent in records. More details will be published in forthcoming newsletters and on this page when we have collated all the data.
For One Day - One Record this year, we are concentrating on some invasive plants with particular implications for wetlands and watercourses.
Please stick to public footpaths! Identification notes to help are below.
Remember to send your records to us! You can either submit them via our on-line recording form or you can also download and print our One Day One Record Invasive Plants recording form, which comes complete with all the ID notes below.
For more photographs of the species concerned, we suggest searching for the different species names with Google Image Search.
Himalayan (or Indian) Balsam is an annual herb that germinates from seed in February/March and dies back each winter.
The stems are reddish and the plant grows to between 1 and 2m tall. The long lance-shaped leaves with toothed edges are arranged in pairs, or three to node and are mid to dark-green.
The purplish-pink flowers which appear in July-September are large and distinctive.
Seeds are produced in October from a capsule; hundreds of seeds explode out for a considerable distance.
Himalayan Balsam prefers to grow in wet ground so is often found along river banks and smaller watercourses and in damp hollows in woodland.
Amongst the problems this plant causes are:
Take care: Touching, or brushing against this plant can result in blistering and painful dermatitis.
The plant exudes a clear watery sap, which sensitises the skin to ultraviolet radiation.
Giant Hogweed looks similar to a large, coarse Cow Parsley or Hogweed. My rule of thumb is - if you have to ask ‘is this Giant Hogweed?’ then it probably isn’t. Giant Hogweed grows absolutely huge, with huge leaves and huge flower flower-heads and ex- tremely thick stems.
Giant Hogweed is perennial, beginning to grow in March/ April and dying back in the winter months. Giant Hogweed grows to full height over four years, flowers and then dies. The stem is hollow, up to 10cm across, sparsely hairy, green but developing red/purple spots or blotches during summer. Eventual height 3-5m (that’s 10 to 16 feet in old money).
The leaves are dark green and compound with deeply cut, ragged-edged lobes. The lower leaves are up to 2.5m long and 1m across.
There are many small flowers forming one large umbrella-like flower head up to 50cm wide. Flowers appear in June/July.
Giant Hogweed often grows in wet areas but also alongside roads and on disturbed ground.
Amongst the problems Giant Hogweed causes are:
Japanese Knotweed is a perennial plant growing in dense stands. The stems emerge in spring as a fleshy shoot of red or green and grow to a maximum height of 2-3 metres. The mature stem is green with red/purple specks; and hollow with distinct nodes like bamboo. Japanese Knotweed dies back in winter but stems can persist as upright, brown, hollow stalks.
The leaves appear triangular when the stem is developing, but the unfurled leaves are basically oval with a squared-off base and a pointed tip. Minute greenish-white flowers are carried on long strands and appear in August to October.
Japanese Knotweed is found on river banks, road- sides and disturbed ground.
Amongst the problems Japanese Knotweed cause are:
Please send in records of any of these plants.
If you need help in identifying any wildlife then the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery on Queen Street, Bristol may be able to help you. Phone 0117 922 3571 to make an appointment.
The One Day One Record events are designed to stimulate recording and boost the number of records for certain species in the BRERC recording area. So far this year we have had days dedicated to Song Thrushes and Hedgehogs, whilst last year there were days for Amphibians, Reptiles and the aquatic plant Water Forget-me-not.
Of course, we welcome records of any species at any time, and you don't have to send in just one record. The aim is to set people an achievable target and to show them the value of recording wildlife.
We encourage people to send in their records via our on-line recording form. This is a quick and convenient way of sending in one or two records.