Leader: Martin Rickard greatly assisted by Andy Byfield. Email: h.m.rickard@btinternet.com, Home tel. 01885 410729, mobile: 07389 708605. I am not comfortable with the mobile, only use it in an emergency!
Weekend meeting to look at the native ferns (species and cultivars) and lycophytes, largely of eastern Dartmoor, but some options further afield may be on offer if weather allows.
Date: 16th to 19th Sept. Meet at Cromwell Arms, Bovey Tracey, Devon (GR SX 817786) Friday 16th evening.
Centre: Bovey Tracey. There are many small hotels , B & B`s, camp sites in and around Bovey Tracey. The Cromwell Arms in the centre of town will be our centre and is probably the largest locally. It is a moderate sized inn used during our excursion in 2020 when numbers were limited by covid. Unfortunately the hotel does no longer do breakfast. Substitutes can be found locally. There are currently rooms available for our visit, but I have not actually reserved any, it will be first come first served.
Transport will be by our own cars. Parking is often very difficult therefore it is essential we try to share cars as much as possible

Friday evening:
Arrive in time for supper, meet rest of group in bar of Cromwell Arms. Eat there or at one of many other restaurants, pubs etc, locally. This will be an opportunity to explain the weekend’s plan.

Saturday morning:
Meet in car park behind the Cromwell Arms at 9.30 am. Packed lunch optional, the cafe at Canonteign has a good mixed menu.
Look for Asplenium septentrionale in its sole south western UK site. Park at GR SX 817819. We looked for it in 2020 and could not find it, but Andy has seen it recently so I expect to be lucky.
If time check Kennick and Tottesford Reservoirs for Isoetes echinospora (GR SX 806838), and/or Blackingstone Rock (GR SX 776856) for Asplenium bilottii and possible hybrid.

Saturday afternoon:
Lunch and early afternoon at Canonteign Falls– fern garden GR SX 839824.Explore the long established large fernery, and recent fern plantings under Julian Reed`s guidance. Plants provided by Fibrex Nursery and Julian Reed`s continental contacts. Rarer plants in protected situations will also be visited
Check for P.cambricum cultivars and hybrids on Chudleigh Rocks. Park at, or near, GR SX 864788.
If possible a group supper will be organised.

Sunday morning:
Meet in car park behind the Cromwell Arms at 9.30 am.
If weather is good: Travel into central Dartmoor and botanise in Wistman`s Wood and on high tors (GR SX 61-77-). Packed lunch necessary. This will be a relatively energetic walk. Possible species include both hymenophyllums, Phegopteris connectilis, Huperzia selago, and maybe even Lycopodium clavatum, .along with more common upland species like Oreopteris limbosperma.

Latish afternoon:
On way back to Bovey Tracy check lane banks near Holne for possible Asplenium onopteris.(GR SX 72-70-).
If time visit below Buckfast Church ruin. Park at GR SX 744 668. Polypodium cambricum, P.interjectum and P.x shivasiae. Look out for P.vulgare and P.x font-queri.(GR SX 743666).

Sunday morning inclement weather: Packed lunch or maybe a dry cafe somewhere!
Explore the Dart and Webburn river valleys. Park cars at New Bridge car park (GR SX 712709).Expect Osmunda regalis, Hymenophyllum tunbrigense etc.

Afternoon inclement weather:
Check lane banks near Holne for possible Asplenium onopteris.(GR SX 72-70-)
If time, on return to hotel, visit below Buckfast Church ruin. Park at GR SX 744 668. Polypodium cambricum, P.interjectum and P.x shivasiae. Look out for P.vulgare and P.x font-queri.(GR SX 743666).

Monday morning:
Depart or visit Anstey`s Cove near Torquay for Adiantum capillus-veneris.(GR SX 935646)