WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

• Ecballium elaterium (Squirting Cucumber) 10th Jan, Horfield Common at ST58817645, a patch of several plants outside what's locally known as Horfield Castle (where they could be seen growing in a flower bed). They appear to have 'sprung' over the wall.

• Rumex acetosella ssp. pyrenaicus (Sheep's Sorrel), 5th Feb, at the base of a wall outside no. 49 Ash Rd, Bishopston at ST59127633; 18th May, growing between block paving in the front garden of 96 Radnor Rd, Bishopston at ST58907615. In both cases it probably somehow got introduced with sand or other materials.

• Sedum kimnachii (Lesser Mexican-stonecrop) 9 Feb, self-seeded at an allotment gate entrance on Ashley Hill, Bristol at ST59757497; 15th Feb, self-seeded from a larger pot plant growing behind, Horfield Parish Churchyard at ST59157672.

• Arabis procurrens (Prostrate Rock-cress), 11th Feb, self-seeded from a garden at the base of a wall, 18 Thornleigh Ave, Bishopston at ST59217607.

• Mentha aquatica x M. spicata = M. x piperita (Peppermint) 21 Mar, growing on a bank of accumulated loose soil below sandstone rock exposure of Redcliffe Caves at ST58837231. Also present were seedlings of Petroselinum crispum (Garden Parsley) and Brassica oleracea var. viridis (Kale) 'Red Russian'

• Prunus persica (Peach) 5th Apr, sapling found growing at the base of a newly planted street tree - presumably growing from a discarded stone, Gloucester Road, Bristol at ST59487676.; 21st Jul, young plant arisen from a discarded stone by the harbourside near the M Shed at ST58607231; 13th Oct., a m-tall sapling by the harbourside along Welsh Back at ST58937268.

• Veronica elliptica x V. speciosa = V. x franciscana (Hedge Hebe) 13 Apr, one plant self-seeded at the base of a wall on Howard Road, Henleaze, Bristol at ST57907594; 22nd Sep, one young plant self-seeded at the side of a gateway entrance, Radnor Rd, Bishopston at ST58887619.

• Malus trilobata (Lebanese Wild Apple) 23 Apr, in a 'mixed native hedge' planted about 10 years ago outside the S.E. corner of the tennis courts, Horfield Common, Bristol at ST59027635. It was probably confused with Acer campestre which it superficially resembles when not in flower but the leaves are larger, more deeply lobed and serrate and the fruits look not too dissimilar to Sorbus torminalis (Wild Service-tree).

• Salix cinerea ssp. cinerea (Grey Willow) 4 May, colonised the base of a fallen Lime tree - self-seeded from a nearby garden source, Horfield Common, Bristol at ST59027636.

• Veronica parviflora (Small-flowered Hebe) 5th May, several young plants self-seeded on a wall near to its garden source on Ash Road, Bristol at ST59277617. I found a larger plant in a wall on the other side of the road back in 2023 which shortly after disappeared and a smaller plant at the base of a wall on Effingham Road, St Andrews in 2022 at ST59237518.

• Euphorbia cyparissias (Cypress Spurge), 7th May, several plants self-seeded on a pavement on Waters Lane, Westbury-on-Trym at ST57257725. Also present, escaping from the garden source, was Oxalis incarnata (Pale Pink-sorrel) and saplings of Cercis siliquastrum (Judas-tree).

• Hebe Unidentified, 18th May, at the base of a wall outside 43 Bishop Road, Bishopston at ST58827579.

• Cruciata laevipes (Crosswort), 30th May, growing in three spots along a verge on Lime Trees Rd, behind Tesco Goldenhill but best seen at the end of the verge (ST58717662), very stunted and not looking the best due to the dry weather. Remarkably H.O. Stephens mentions it from "Hedgebanks about Horfield" in his Catalogue of Plants in the Neighbourhood of Bristol (1835) - back when Horfield was a rural landscape. It appears that after 190 years it still survives! Also present on the verge was Hordeum vulgare (Six-rowed Barley), Poa nemoralis (Wood Meadow-grass), a strong swathe of Tragopogon pratensis ssp. minor (Goat’s-beard), Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony) and Centaura debeauxii (Slender Knapweed); 20th Nov, two clumps growing between old railway tracks near the SS Great Britain at ST57987231 and ST58007230; 25th Dec, patch growing at the end of a lane off Brookland Rd, Goldenhill at ST58597637.

Someone on the Brambles of Britain and Ireland Facebook group (Will Stewart) recently posted photos of Rubus spectabilis (Salmonberry) from the Forest of Dean at . https://www.facebook.com/groups/562600050579169/posts/2894926237346527/

• Rubus nemorosus, in a hedge on Oxleaze Lane, Dundry at ST56186697.

At the meeting point for the Dundry Hill meeting, some were curious about a bag of brambles I'd freshly collected from a nearby hedge on Oxleaze Lane [at ST56186697]. I said I didn't recognise it but it has very attractive large mauve flowers and dark pink styles. It turns out it is a named species - Rubus nemorosus, though not quite typical. I put this down to the fact that it was growing in a hedge on visibly wet ground. This species wasn't included in the Flora of the Bristol Region (2000) but is mentioned in historical texts as R. balfourianus - collected from Whitchurch in 1883 by W.H. Painter (BSBI Herbaria United); "By the canal at Claverton, Bath; C. C. Babington [1869]." (White, 1912). Also found at Wyck and Stapleton by Babington (1869); and Tockington Hill by I.M. Roper (Riddelsdell, 1948). R. nemorosus is a widespread species in Britain but with a noticeable absence of modern records from our area - its nearest sites being Mitcheldean in Gloucestershire, around Newport, Wales and Salisbury.

Continuing on bramble finds of the year:

• Rubus scaber (Scabrous Bramble) - found dominating a small wood near Portishead by David Hawkins back in March and revisited in the summer. A new and very exciting bramble edition to the region. White does mention it but the records are now referable to R. fuscicaulis.

• Rubus ulmifolius x R. 'Bristol glareosus' (Elm-leaved x Bristol Bramble), 10th Jul, Growing next to the parent species around a copse, The Royals, Blaise Castle Estate at ST56397840.

• Rubus gratus? x R. ulmifolius (Great? x Elm-leaved Bramble), 20th Jul, Farm Ln, Easter Compton at ST56968225, growing next to more typical R. ulmifolius, a very interesting-looking bramble with intermediate features though R. gratus has never been recorded in our region.

• Rubus radula (File-stemmed Bramble), 20th Jul, frequent in several spots around Spaniorum Hill. This is a rare species locally and was previously only known in the northern half of our region from Mount Skitham and Haw Wood about a mile from here.

• Rubus 'Spaniorum Hill tuberculatus' (Spaniorum Hill Tuberculed Bramble), 20th Jul, fertile patch found at Spaniorum Hill at ST56298126.

• Rubus intensior (Intense-prickled Bramble), 28th Jul, young non-flowering plant scrambling along the ground of an open front garden of 17 Dorian Rd, Southmead at ST59337734. A first record for the region for this predominantly northern species.

• Rubus rubritinctus x R. 'Bristol glareosus' (Red-tinted x Bristol Bramble), 31st Jul, BRERC's courtyard at ST56217874.

• Rubus 'Walton Moor' (Walton Moor Bramble) - an indetermined plant which appears to be a member of ser. Sprengeliani, 2nd Aug, small low bush, beside track, Gordano Valley National Nature Reserve at ST43467283 and present in a few other places in the local area.

• Rubus cardiophyllus x R. tuberculatus (Heart-leaved x Tubercled Bamble), 2nd Aug, Gordano Valley National Nature Reserve at ST44177322.

• Rubus adscitus (Bright Green Bramble), 9th Aug, small patch in secondary woodland next to Eastville Roundabout, underpass entrance (Tesco-side) at ST61107521. I originally thought it would be either R. bloxamii or R. multifidus. The former is mentioned in the Flora of the Bristol Region (2000) but the records have since been redetermined for the latter which differs subtly in the presence of red (instead of green) styles and has a more scrambling habit. It matches plants I discovered at Barn Wood, Stoke Park in 2023 which I had nicknamed R. 'Stoke Park' but after seeing it flower in 2026 I've been able to determined it as this named species.

• Rubus bartonii (Barton's Bramble), 22nd Sep., next to the railway bridge on Redland Grove at ST58417452.

• Rubus 'Arnos Vale' (Arnos Vale Bramble) - an indetermined member of ser. Micantes found at Arnos Vale Cemetery at ST60657157 which appears to match a plant I found at Ashton Court in 2021.

Other finds include:

• Chenopodium giganteum (Tree Spinach), 11th May, one plant on discarded garden spoil, Horfield Common at ST59077633.

• Escallonia rubra var. macrantha (Escallonia), 21st May, wild abandoned front garden of 1 Bishopthorpe Rd, Horfield at ST58747710.

• Verbena rigida (Slender Vervain), 11th Jun, one plant on a wall, Abbots Way, Horfield at ST59047685.

• Lupinus polyphyllus (Garden Lupin), 15th Jun, one or two plants past flowering, field at Castle Farm, Dundry Hill at ST54836674. There was another plant which annoyingly I didn't take a closer look at but from the photo its basal leaves appear to have died down and I wonder if it may have been a different species, perhaps L. nootkatensis but the stems didn't look particularly shaggy hairy for that. Definitely one to revisit.

• Phygelius capensis (Cape Figwort) 15th June, growing on a wall, Ashley Hill at ST59787477. It's also well-established on a wall further up the road at no. 300 (ST59727518) and I also found a young plant, 25th July, at the base of a fence in an alleyway off Pinewood Cl, Westbury-on-Trym at ST57567742.

• Catapodium rigidum ssp. majus (Fern-grass), 15th Jun, in local abundance at the base of a wall outside 272 Ashley Down Rd at ST59787533.

• Sibbaldia cuneifolia, 15th Jun, established on the gate entrance steps of 270 Ashley Down Rd at ST59787534. A third record for the British Isles. There is great confusion surrounding this species in Literature. Potentilla cuneata is what it's known as in the horticultural world but it has recently been moved to the genus Sibbaldia and so should be distributed as S. cuneata; however it appears that the horticultural world has messed things up and the plant in cultivation is not the same as the wild plant (which has much smaller flowers on dense corymbs) but is really referable to this similar sounding species (formerly P. cuneifolia).

• Lolium perenne f. cristatus (Perennial Rye-grass) - a mutant form with the inflorescence broad and congested, 15th June, one plant on a kerbside, Maple Rd at ST59277635.

• Hebe Unidentified (similar to 'E A Bowles' and 'Nantyderry'), 19th June, on a wall near to its garden source, Wellington Hill at ST58977679.

• Spiraea cana x S. x hypericifolia = S. x cinerea (Garland Spiraea), 21st June, several plants growing out of a stone wall in front of its garden source, Wickham Hill, Stapleton at ST61987622.

• Lunaria rediviva (Perennial Honesty), 21st Jun, one plant self-seeded at the base of a raised bed, Grow Wilder, Frenchay at ST62647698. *

• Symphyta officinale x S. orientale = S. x ferrariense (Common x White Comfrey), 21st Jun, patch growing on bank behind pond, Grow Wilder, Frenchay at ST62687707. I actually first discovered it here in 2023 but had it down as a white form of S. x uplandicum and forgot about it.

• Anthyllis vulneraria ssp. vulneraria var. langei (Kidney Vetch), 21st Jun, mass swathe occurring on wasteland outside Grow Wilder, Frenchay at ST62847713. It is a taller, more robust plant with stem-branches exceeding their subtending leaves (not so in var. vulneraria). I first found it here in 2023 though not determined to variety level due to it being outside of flowering season. Its population has increased since then. It is a plant of coasts and here is almost certainly an escape from Grow Wilder.

• Euphorbia stricta (Upright Spurge), 21st Jun, c.10 plants growing on a spoil heap, wasteland outside Grow Wilder, Frenchay at ST62777712; 29th Jun, several plants on wood chip near planters, The Ardargh, Horfield Common at ST58907642.

• Hylotelephium spectabile x H. telephium = H. × mottramianum 'Herbstfreude' (Autumn Stonecrop), 21st Jun, one clump to the side of Frenchay Park Rd at ST62277676.

• Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox), 21st June, the cultivar 'Fort Hill' growing on gravel amongst a sea of Creeping Cinquefoil in the front garden of 133 Filton Ave at ST59797685.

• Epilobium brunnescens ssp. brunnescens (New Zealand Willowherb), 28th Jun, found in abundance in a front garden over paving, moss and soil, 658 Muller Rd at ST60827530.

• Trifolium fragiferum ssp. fragiferum (Strawberry Clover), 10th Jul, Horfield Common at ST58997676. A strip of about 3m on one side of the path and a sparse patch of about 3sqm on the other. It is historically recorded from Horfield Common "Abundantly" (Swete, 1853) and W.E. Green (White, 1912). The fruiting heads were notably smaller than usual and well within range of ssp. bonannii (calyces 4-6mm, not 8-10mm and corollas exserted); however they were not slightly elongated and its small size might just be down to the ground conditions and the very dry year. Stace doesn't seem to think much of it anyway. Other than brief cultivation during WWII, the land is original. The site is managed on a 2 year cycle, (half is cut one year, the other half the next) and the plant has appeared where the disturbance was made from the mower exposing bare patches caused by ant hills. I walk past the spot twice a week on my way to BRERC and there is no possible way I've overlooked it before. Neil Talbot tells me it appeared at St Andrews Park in an area that was planted a few years ago but it's not the sort of thing that's usually included in meadow mixes.

• Clinopodium vulgare (Wild Basil), 19th Jul, several fine plants growing at the base of a wall, 7 Clare Ave, Redland at ST58477543. Not an unusual record for the region but a very unusual find for the urban habitat. Presumably a garden escape. There was a herb garden nearby but no sign of the plant or from looking at past years of Google Maps street view.

• Oxalis dillenii (Sussex Yellow-sorrel), 21st Jul, one clump at the base of a wall, Ash Rd, Bishopston at ST59237621; 31st Aug, Cromwell Rd, Montpellier at ST58887473; and 13th Oct, a small patch in the corner of a grassy raised bed, The Bearpit at ST59057356.

• Mirabilis jalapa (Marvel-of-Peru), 21st Jul, one plant (red form) at the base of a wall just outside its garden source, 166 Cheltenham Rd at ST59067431 - spotted whilst looking out of the bus and revisited on 18th Sep.

• Cucurbita moschata (Squash), 21st Jul, a heavily crushed young plant outside the Arnolfini Cafe Bar beside the harbour at ST58607239. A first record for the region.

• Salvia hispanica (Chia), 26th Jul, one bird-sown plant on an island crossing, Muller Rd at ST60287565 and another beside the lake at Eastville Park, 23rd Aug at ST61717551.

• Visnaga daucoides (Toothpick-plant), 26th Jul, one large plant and several smaller ones growing on block paving of a driveway (either birdseed alien or garden escape from next door), 89 Bromley Rd at ST59727613.

• Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora ‘Bampton' (Vervain 'Bampton'), 26th Jul, one self-sown plant on a Kerbside, Selborne Rd at ST59607618 and in more abundance over a block-paved driveway of 172 Wellington Hill at ST58377722. I've seen this plant a few times in Bristol now. It is becoming increasingly popular in gardens and should be expected to become more frequent.

• Ami majus (Bullwort), 26th Jul, one plant self-seeded at the base of a wall, Tortworth Rd at ST59507626.

• Leontodon hispidus x L. saxatilis = L. x vegetus (Rough x Lesser Hawkbit), 27th Jul, a clump on a gravestone near the two parents, Horfield Parish Churchyard at ST59147672.

• Allium oleraceum var. complanatum (Field Garlic) 27th Jul, patch of about 1sqm with 37 flowering spikes, Horfield Parish Churchyard at ST59157674. I first discovered it here in 2021 but this is the first year it's been able to flower as the site usually gets mown.

• Passiflora caerulea (Blue Passionflower), 27th Jul, Church Rd, Bishopston at ST59207663.

• Fuchsia magellanica (Fuchsia), 27th Jul, one plant growing out of a stone wall between 28 and 30 Church Rd, Bishopston at ST59257639.

• Festuca glauca (Glaucous Fescue), 30th Jul, one clump self-seeded on garden path by gateway entrance of 94 Wellington Hill, Horfield at ST58797698.

• Cucurbita pepo (Marrow), 2nd Aug, round-fruited cultivar on a manure heap, Gordano Valley National Nature Reserve at ST44127316.

• Portulaca oleracea ssp. oleracea (Common Purslane), 6th Aug, one plant (probably a birdseed alien) on a kerbside at the bottom of Church Rd, coming onto Gloucester Rd (Shell side) at ST59357634.

• Fumaria capreolata ssp. babingtonii (White Ramping-fumitory), 7th Aug, two plants appeared on recently cleared ground on a wooded roadside, Henbury Rd at ST56767806.

• Griselinia littoralis (New Zealand Broadleaf), 10th Aug, in a hedge, Lime Trees Rd, Goldenhill at ST58607652.

• Hedera colchica (Persian Ivy), 10th Aug, well-established beside a cycle path off Lime Trees Rd, Goldenhill at ST58507654.

• Persicaria capitata (Pink-headed Persicaria), 16th Aug, gate entrance of 20 Cornwall Rd, Bishopston at ST58667566. It appears to have already been recorded here in 2016 according to NBN although it says 'self-seeded gutter weed' implying it was a different individual.

• Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Ragweed), 23rd Aug, one fine bird-sown plant at the base of a fallen Hornbeam tree, Eastville Park at ST61597543. Coincidentally on the exact same day, Maico Weites found a plant in front of the Matthew, Bristol Harbour.

• Amaranthus bouchonii (Indehiscent Amaranth), 23rd Aug, one bird-sown plant beside the lake at Eastville Park at ST61657548.

• Amaranthus powellii (Powell's Amaranth), 23rd Aug, one bird-sown plant growing amongst the last species beside the lake at Eastville Park at ST61657548.

• Lepidium virginicum (Least Pepperwort), 23rd Aug, two bird-sown plants on a block-paved driveway of 89 Bromley Rd at ST59727613 and another, 31st Aug, Gloucester Rd at ST58947491.

• Chenopodium suecicum (Swedish Goosefoot), 31st Aug, one plant at the base of a wall on Cromwell Rd, Montpellier at ST58887472.

• Genista monspessulana (Montpellier Broom), 31st Aug, one young plant self-seeded at the base of a wall, Station Rd, Shirehampton at ST52767633. A second record for the region.

• Ceanothus thyrsiflorus (Bluebush), 31st Aug, a young self-seeded plant at the base of a wall, Kersteman Rd, Redland at ST58577512. This plant is commonly grown in gardens but I've never before seen it escape. It was destroyed with weedkiller soon after.

• Thunbergia alata (Black-eyed Susan Vine), 10th Sep, outside the Mouse pub, Water's Ln, Westbury-on-Trym at ST57337725. A first record for the region and a second for the British Isles.

• Sorbus mougeotii (Mougeot's Whitebeam), 13th Sep, a single mature planted specimen, Eastville Park at ST61717534.

• Nepeta racemosa (Eastern Cat-mint), 18th Sep., several plants self-seeded on cobbles near to planter source, Bathurst Basin at ST58787223; 19th Sep., self-seeded from planter, The Ardargh, Horfield Common at ST58917641.

• Chenopodium bushianum (Soyabean Goosefoot), 18th Sep, occurring on mass outside Sainsbury's on Elton Road, joining Gloucester Road, Redland, Bristol at ST58857482; 22nd Nov, several plants on newly made ground outside a junction box on the side of Muller Road, Eastville Park at ST61407517.

• Salvia microphylla (Baby Sage) 18th Sep., the cultivar 'Royal Bumble', 3 plants self-seeded (one on kerbside and two at base of wall) from nearby front garden source, Monk Rd., Bishopston at ST58797584.

• Geranium nodosum (Knotted Crane's-bill), 18th Sep., self-seeded over crazy paving and by a gateway entrance of 60 and 62 Monk Rd, Bishopston at ST58807589.

• Ceratostigma plumbaginoides (Blue Leadwood), 22nd Sep., escaped onto front garden path below its flower bed source, 18 Kersteman Rd, Redland at ST58467503.

• Veronica elliptica x V. speciosa = V. x franciscana (Hedge Hebe), 22nd Sep., one young plant self-seeded at the side of a gateway entrance, 95 Radnor Rd, Bishopston at ST58887619.

• Phlomis russeliana (Turkish Sage), 25th Sep., one clump self-seeded under railings from a nearby flower bed, Castle Park Harbourside at ST59217306.

• Cucurbita maxima (Pumpkin), 25th Sep., a large fruit-bearing plant of the cultivar 'Tonda Padana' - presumably brought in with top soil, Temple Meads at ST59617249.

• Verbena incompta (Purpletop Vervain), 28th Sep., one plant on kerbside, Vale St., Totterdown at ST60327148.

• Sedum lydium (Least Stonecrop), 28th Sep., well-established on a grave, Arnos Vale Cemetery at ST60837152.

• Nemesia denticulata (Toothed Aloha), 6th Oct., a line of plants of various colours at the base of a building on Broad St., Bristol City Centre at ST58817310.

• Chenopodium probstii (Probst's Goosefoot), 16th Oct., one plant where garden soil was dumped, Horfield Common at ST59077633.

• Cerinthe major (Greater Honeywort), 17th Oct, 4 plants growing as a garden relic in a wild front garden amongst Great Horsetail and Annual Mercury at 92 Church Rd, Bishopston at ST59217659.

• Stachys arvensis (Field Woundwort), 25th Dec, single plant in flower at base of wall outside no. 12 Phoenix Grove, Henleaze at ST58387626.

• Viola odorata var. praecox (Sweet Violet), 27th Dec, wooded bank next to bus stop on Eastgate Road, Eastville at ST60957524.