Species lists Inverts Birds Mammals

Hillside House plant species list

This is a general list of mostly flowering plants on the plot at Hillside House. They are a mixture of wild species such as Carex acutiformis, obviously planted things like Griselinia, and others that could be wild or planted.

Bryophytes

Many thanks to Peter Cawley, who collected and identified moss specimens.

Bryophyte species recorded at Hillside House
species	English name	location	status/distribution
Pellia sp.			Needs checking when in fruit
Radula complanata	Even Scalewort	Dead, fallen Willow sp branch.	"Widely scattered. Usually only occurs in small patches."
Tortula muralis	Wall Screw-moss	Breeze block	"Very widespread - present in every 10k square in the county. Very common on walls, old concrete, limestone tombstones, etc. More rarely as an epiphyte."
Bryum capillare	Capillary Thread-moss	On top of breezeblock wall	"Very widespread - found in all squares [10k squares of Atlas]. Usually abundant on stone and brickwork, but also a frequent epiphyte."
Orthotrichium affine	Wood Bristle-moss	Ash trunk scar	"Very widespread. The commonest purely epiphytic member of the genus. Occurs most frequently on elder, but also on a variety of other trees, such as apple, willow, hawthorn and ash."
Bracythecium rutabulum	Rough-stalked Feather-moss	Breeze block	"Very widespread. Common throughout the county. It occurs in a wide variety of habitats - as an epiphyte, as well as on the ground. It is usually most obvious in winter, often surviving concealed under dense vascular cover during the summer months."
Hypnum cupressiforme	Cypress-leaved Plait-moss	Goat Willow	"Very widespread throughout the county, in a variety of habitats: chiefly as an epiphyte but also on stonework, and, particularly near the coast, on the ground."
Hypnum resupinatum	Supine Plait-moss	Crab Apple	"Very widespread. One of the commonest epiphytes in the county as it seems able to survive on substrates such as hawthorn which will support few other species. It also occurs on damp stonework etc."
Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus	Springy Turf-moss	Lawn/grass	"A common plant of old grasslands, usually on acidic ground, it appears to be intolerant of too much trampling."

Gymnosperms

Plants species (Gymnosperms) recorded at Hillside House
species	English name	category	status/comments
Pinus sylvestris	Scots pine	planted	Eight trees planted near main pond (2014, 2015).
Pinus nigra	"black" pine	planted	Four trees planted near main pond (2014, 2015).
Taxus baccata	yew	planted	Family Taxaceae. Three small trees by the house, also two hedges planted in late 2013. The hedges were moved in February 2019 to align correctly with the plot boundary, but are progressing well.

Angiosperms

Plants species (Angiosperms) recorded at Hillside House
species	English name	category	status/comments
Arum maculatum	lords and ladies	wild	Order Alismatales (Monocots). In H.H. garden, on the lawn etc.
Galanthus nivalis	snowdrop	"wild" (probably a denizen)	Order Asparagales. Large patches by big oak and opposite Hillside House.
Dactylorhiza praetermissa	southern marsh orchid	wild	Order Asparagales. On the meadow, SW corner, 2016. This same plant reappeared in 2017 but was eaten down by a herbivore. [Steve and Yvonne Pinnington from Norfolk Conservation Corps say that this is almost certainly a Southern Marsh Orchid.] From 2021, southern marsh orchid has started to appear on a grazing field just west of the meadow. The species was probably present previously but was obscured in tall rank grass.
Ophrys apifera	bee orchid	wild	Order Asparagales. Two plants in grassy area near big oak 2021. A couple of plants appeared in May 2020 but faded, probably owing to drought (leaves went black and shrivelled). First appeared in 2019, in grassy area next to Hillside House.
Iris pseudacorus	iris	wild	Order Asparagales. A patch by the pond, could have been planted there.
Ornithogalum umbellatum	star of bethlehem	wild (probably)	Order Liliales (Monocots). Several plants on the "grassy area" jus north of the main pond, on the meadow.
Juncus effusus	soft rush	wild	Order Poales. In scattered places on the meadow.
Juncus articulatus	jointed rush	wild	Order Poales. A patch on the eastern side of the meadow (SE quadrant), near ragged robin. Identified by Dave Weaver 08/07/2018 (separated from J.acutiflorus and J.subnodulus).
Carex acutiformis	lesser pond sedge	wild	Order Poales. On the meadow.
Carex hirta	hairy sedge	wild	Order Poales. Many plants in damp ground immediately north of the main pond.
Carex pendula	drooping sedge	wild	Order Poales. A large clump on the meadow, just north of the pond, also a few small plants on top of eastern boundary wall and elsewhere.
Carex divulsa	grey sedge	wild	Order Poales. In 2021, many plants on track by main pond. Initially just a few plants in grassy area near A1065, after reduced mowing.
Phragmites communis	reed	wild	Order Poales. Round the edge of the pond, also covering a large part of the meadow. On the meadow, cut in rotation by scythe.
Festuca rubra	fescue	wild	Order Poales. In patches near H.H. Flowers May-June.
Poa pratensis	smooth meadow grass	wild	Order Poales. In patches near H.H., also on meadow etc. Flowers May-June.
Holcus lanatus	Yorkshire fog	wild	Order Poales. Large patch on 'lawn' near H.H. Flowers May onwards.
Phleum pratense	timothy	wild	Order Poales. Along edges of meadow.
Brachypodium sylvaticum	brome	wild	Order Poales. Top of bank by patio.
Papaver somniferum	opium poppy	planted (probably)	Order Ranunculales, Family Papaveraceae. Comes up in one area by the shed, assumed planted.
Fumaria officinalis	fumitory	wild	Order Ranunculales, Family Papaveraceae. In the border by Hillside House. Not so common now, this is an important food plant for the declining turtle dove.
Caltha palustris	marsh marigold	wild	Order Ranunculales. In rank vegetation on the meadow.
Helleborus foetidus	stinking hellebore	planted	Order Ranunculales. Several plants introduced in 2016, probably planted in too much sun and may need moving.
Ranunculus repens	creeping buttercup	wild	Order Ranunculales. Abundant in grass etc round Hillside House, near pond etc.
Ranunculus ficaria	lesser celandine	wild	Order Ranunculales. Abundant after reeds clear-cut on western side of meadow, 2016.
Berberis vulgaris	barberry	planted (probably)	Order Ranunculales. One just outside the boundary of H.H. plot, almost certainly planted by a previous owner of the house.
Buxus sempervirens	box	planted (probably)	Order Proteales. One near Hillside House, about 5 metres tall, in good condition as of 2019. Elsewhere box has been seriously affected by a moth and native box woods are under threat.
Acer pseudo-plantanus	sycamore	wild?	Order Proteales. A mature multi-stemmed tree by the shed was removed in early 2018 (to make way for a new shed). Seedlings from sycamores in the nearby spinney appear on the plot and need to be controlled.
Acer campestris	field maple	planted	Order Proteales. Approximately 15 originally planted on eastern part of the meadow have now been moved to the north-west corner. After transplanting plants seem prone to losing the main leading shoot, perhaps indicating infection.
Polygonum aviculare	knotgrass	wild	Order Polygonales. On concrete by H.H.
Polygonum persicaria	redleg	wild	Order Polygonales. Common on the western part of the meadow.
Rumex obtusifolius	dock	wild	Order Polygonales. Abundant, in various places, especially on the meadow and by Hillside House.
Rumex conglomeratus	dock	wild	Order Polygonales. (Either R.conglomeratus or R.sanguineus): Many plants on tracks round meadow, mainly in damper places.
Chenopodium polyspermum	many-seeded goosefoot	wild	Order Caryophyllales, Family Amaranthaceae. (Probably this species). By the hedgebank created 2015/16, on disturbed soil.
Melandrium album (Silene alba)	white campion	wild	Order Caryophyllales, Family Caryophyllaceae. Less common than M. dioicum, present near H.H.
Melandrium dioicum (Silene dioica)	red campion	wild	Order Caryophyllales, Family Caryophyllaceae. Common along pathsides etc, H.H.
Lychnis flos-cuculi	ragged robin	wild	Order Caryophyllales, Family Caryophyllaceae. In the eastern and western parts of the meadow in rank vegetation. Appearing on tracks May/June 2020. Ragged-robin is present also on grazing meadows adjacent to the plot, and is more evident since 2019 when Raynham Estate renovated these fields for cattle.
Cerastium fontanum(?)	mouse-ear	wild	Order Caryophyllales, Family Caryophyllaceae. In rank vegetation on the meadow, western edge. Species need confirming.
Stellaria graminea	lesser stitchwort	wild	Order Caryophyllales, Family Caryophyllaceae. In grass in various places round the plot.
Hamamelis sp.	witch-hazel	planted	Order Saxifragales. One near the A1065 at Hillside House, spreading by suckering, thriving but under control.
Geranium robertianum	herb robert	wild	Order Geraniales. In H.H. garden.
Geranium molle	cranesbill	wild	Order Geraniales. On concrete area between H.H. and shed. Species not certain, record not accepted by irecord and Norfolk County Recorder. This is one of the food-plants of brown argus butterflies and one was seen on G.molle plants 2021-08-02.
Euonymus europaeus	spindle-tree	planted	Order Celastrales. A native in UK. Several were rescued from the Woodland Trust plantings and moved around to various places on the meadow.
Mercurialis perennis	dog's mercury	wild	Order Malpighiales, Family Euphorbiaceae. Present in the spinney next to the A1065, also some by the old shed. Dog's mercury is an ancient woodland indicator, though Rackham says its value as such is variable. In Suffolk, for example, it is often present in old hedgerows not obviously connected to ancient woods.
Populus nigra betulifolia	'native' black poplar	planted	Order Malpighiales, family Salicaceae. Being planted on the meadow.. Affected by several insects (aphids, psyllids, poplar hawkmoth caterpillars), also an ochre-yellow rust in late summer.
Salix caprea	goat willow	wild?	Order Malpighiales, family Salicaceae. Several round the perimeter of the meadow, also two by pond. One may be infected by an unidentified disease.
Salix cinerea	grey willow	wild?	Order Malpighiales, family Salicaceae. Only one, by the pond.
Salix alba	white willow (probably cultivar)	wild?	Order Malpighiales, family Salicaceae. Species needs checking. Two mature trees near the pond, one pruned in 2017.
Viola odorata	sweet violet	wild	Order Malpighiales. In grassy, shady places near H.H.
Hypericum sp.	St John's wort	wild	Order Malpighiales, family Clusiaceae. Species need checking. In boggy area eastern end of meadow.
Cistus decumbens	rockrose	garden plant	Order Malpighiales, Family Cistaceae. Four planted in 2014, have been less attractive to insects than expected. Initially growing well in light soil and full sun, now weakening, perhaps owing to damage by voles.
Oxalis corniculata	sleeping beauty	wild	Order Oxalidales. In H.H. garden, on patio.
Lotus uliginosus	marsh bird's-foot trefoil	wild	Order Fabales. (Probably this species) In grass in eastern part of meadow (poplar planting area).
Ulex europaeus	gorse	garden plant	Order Fabales. Planted in 2016 and thriving inside wire-netting fence.
Cytisus scoparius	common broom	garden plant	Order Fabales. Planted in 2014. Attacked by rabbits in original location and moved successfully to new site inside wire-netting fence. Abundant flowers, needs pruning after flowering (in June/July). Blackcaps, goldcrests etc often forage among the foliage.
Trifolium repens	white clover	wild	Order Fabales. In grass on plot, close to H.H. Attracts bumblebees and provides food for woodpigeon.
Trifolium pratense	red clover	wild	Order Fabales. In grass on tracks on the meadow.
Rubus fruticosus	bramble	wild	Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae. In ditch along western edge of meadow etc.
Geum urbanum	wood avens, herb Bennett	wild	Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae. Right next to H.H., fairly common.
Geum rivale	water avens	wild(?)	Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae. At least 8 plants by Carr Stream 2017-05-13. A similar number present in spring 2020.
Rosa sp.	rose	wild	Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae. In ditch along eastern edge of meadow etc.
Pyracantha sp.	(NA)	garden plant	Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae. Two old, quite large plants by the (old) shed provide berries for blackbirds etc. New plants put in during 2015 are doing well.
Prunus spinosa	blackthorn	wild?	Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae. Two large thickets on the meadow are occupied by wrens, dunnocks, bullfinches etc. year-round and breeding warblers (chiffchaff and blackcap) in the summer. These patches provide food for tits, thrushes etc. Work to encourage nightingales on one of these patches is partly complete (as of 2020).
Prunus laurocerasus	cherry laurel	garden plant	Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae. Planted as a hedge and to create shrubberies. Fast-growing, evergreen, and providing roosting and nesting habitat for several species. Provides an excellent resource for wildlife.
Crataegus monogyna	hawthorn	wild?	Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae. Several old trees along the edges of the plot. Possibly wild, probably planted 19th century (an indicator of "planned countryside" according to Rackham).
Sorbus aucuparia	rowan	planted	Order Rosales. At least a dozen were planted pre-2013. Most have been moved to the edges of the plot. One mature tree by the pond is an important food source for blackbirds and blackcaps.
Malus sylvestris	crab-apple	wild?	Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae. Three 'Red Sentinel' trees were obtained from Del’s Nursery (at Sculthorpe) and planted near to the pond in 2018. Thrushes cleared these trees of fruit by March. This variety is particularly valuable for encouraging thrushes as the red fruit lasts well into the winter, even early spring. By contrast, a single mature tree with yellow fruit in the north-east corner of the meadow attracts fewer winter thrushes than expected. Sometimes blackbirds and redwings feed on the fruit of this tree.
Filipendula ulmaria	meadowsweet	wild	Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae. Abundant in rank vegetation on the meadow, especially the west side.
Epilobium hirsutum	great willowherb	wild	Order Rosales, Family Onagraceae. In various places on the plot, especially along ditches. Elephant hawkmoth caterpillar found on plants 2016.
Epilobium lanceolatum	willowherb	wild	Order Rosales, Family Onagraceae. In H.H. garden.
Hippophae rhamnoides	sea-buckthorn	planted	Order Rosales, Family Eleagnaceae. Approx. 25 planted in 2016, along eastern and western edges of the plot. Doing well so far.
Ulmus glabra	wych elm	wild	Order Rosales. In various places, e.g. next to H.H.
Urtica dioica	nettle	wild	Order Rosales, Family Urticaceae. Abundant -- an important food plant for some commoner (Nymphalid) butterflies.
Bryonia dioica	white bryony	wild	Order Cucurbitales. by the shed etc.
Alnus glutinosus	alder	planted	Order Fagales. Some were planted pre-2013 on eastern side of the meadow, now mostly moved to the edges of the plot and thriving. Prone to losing the top twigs during summer gales, especially in years of fast growth.
Carpinus betula	hornbeam	planted	Order Fagales. A process of moving trees from the meadow is progressing well. As of 2021, a few remain to be translocated. In 2021, a tree on the west side of the plot has started to produce seed for the first time. This tree was moved in 2015. Trees on the plot were supplied to a previous owner of Hillside House by Woodland Trust and may previously have been in ground that was too damp. Hornbeam might be worth considering as a partial replacement for ash, as it grows well on East Anglian soils and the species would be compatible in landscape terms. Hornbeam is an important species for the scarce hawfinch.
Corylus avellana	hazel	planted	Order Fagales. Some supplied by Woodland Trust have been moved to plot edges. There do not seem to be any wild trees on the plot.
Quercus robur	pedunculate oak	planted?	Order Fagales. A mature tree just south of the pond is one of the largest trees on the plot. This tree still has plenty of leaf but also has a worrying number of bare twigs. It was probably pollarded many decades ago. The girth at breast-height is 2.41m (in 2021). The age of this tree by two different calibrations would be 100 years (Woodland Trust) or 128 years (1.88cm per year, Hungerford Virtual Museum).
Cardamine flexuosa	cress	wild	Order Brassicales. Present in abundance in places on the east side of the meadow.
Coronopus didymus	cress	introduced	Order Brassicales. In cracks between concrete sections by shed. Record accepted by irecord.
Alliaria petiolata	garlic mustard	wild	Order Brassicales. Near the pond.
Thelycrania sanguinea	dogwood	planted	Order Cornales (asterids). Some were planted pre-2013 near the northern edge of the meadow, doing well. Found locally as a wild plant (along the Wensum for example).
Primula vulgaris	primrose	wild?	Order Ericales, Family Primulaceae. Grows in the lawn by H.H.
Anagallis arvensis	scarlet pimpernel	wild	Order Ericales, Family Primulaceae. Grows by H.H.
Myosotis sp.	forget-me-not	wild	Order Solanales, Family Boraginaceae. Abundant in grass round Hillside House, near pond etc. Species TBD.
Symphytum officinale	comfrey	wild(?)	Order Solanales, Family Boraginaceae. Along the east side of the plot not far from the main pond. Attracts bees, espcially bumblebees.
Solanum dulcamara	bittersweet	wild	Order Solanales, Family Solanaceae. On the meadow.
Galium aparine	goosegrass	wild	Order Gentianales, Family Rubiaceae. In rank vegetation on the meadow (mainly eastern side).
Fraxinus excelsior	ash	planted/wild	Order Lamiales, Family Oleaceae. Originally there were several ash trees on the plot, including about eight small trees by the pond. By 2017, some infected trees had been removed, and though the six or seven mature trees that remained were in fair condition, at least three clearly showed early signs of die-back. During the dry summer of 2018, certain trees that looked previously to be in decline have rallied, and may be fending off the disease. Only time will tell. A large round-topped tree north-west of the main pond was almost symptom-free with plenty of healthy foliage. A younger tree right next to the pond (pictured) had definite signs of disease as early as 2015 or 2016, but also now has good foliage. Update 2022 -- the younger tree on the south-east side of the pond was badly damaged in a rainstorm on 2022-08-16. Much of the crown snapped off and caused a big clear-up problem. For safety reasons the remains of this tree were taken down a few days later. The foliage was a mixture of completely healthy-looking growth and die-back affected twigs. The damage to this tree was caused by a brief storm, immediately after a long period of drought. The tissues of the tree appear to have been weakened by the combination of dieback and drought. Ash is one of the commoner tree species in the area and in the coming years die-back disease will have a serious but inevitable effect on the landscape around South Raynham. Norfolk was one of the first places where ash die-back was detected and is now one of the worst-affected counties. Eventually the disease is expected to spread widely across the country. In continental Europe, die-back has killed something like 90-95% of ash in badly affected areas. A small proportion of trees may survive long-term.
Mentha sp.	mint	wild	Order Lamiales, Family Lamiaceae. By the pond etc.
Prunella vulgaris	self-heal	wild	Order Lamiales, Family Lamiaceae. Grows in the lawn by H.H.
Glechoma hederacea	ground ivy	wild	Order Lamiales, Family Lamiaceae. Abundant, especially just south of the pond in ground grazed by rabbits.
Lamium album	deadnettle	wild	Order Lamiales, Family Lamiaceae. Grows by H.H.
Galeopsis tetrahit	hemp-nettle	wild	Order Lamiales, Family Lamiaceae. In rank vegetation on the eastern side of the meadow. Since an oblong segment of the meadow was cut and raked by Norfolk Conservation Corps in January 2019, hemp-nettle is one of the plants that has become dominant in this area, along with bindweed (Convolvulus). The small white flowers visible in the picture are those of hemp-nettle. With further mowing other herbaceous plants may colonise this patch.
Verbascum thapsus	common mullein	wild	Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae. Odd plants. Mullein moth on one in 2015.
Scrophularia sp.	figwort	wild	Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae. By the pond etc.
Veronica arvensis	speedwell	wild	Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae. In gaps on concrete by H.H. (Small striking blue flowers).
Veronica persica	speedwell	ancient introduction or denizen	Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae. present in grassy places near H.H.
Veronica officinalis	speedwell	wild	Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae. Present in H.H. lawn.
Veronica serpyllifolia ssp.serpyllifolia	thyme-leaved speedwell	wild	Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae. In H.H. lawn, June 2020.
Veronica anagallis-aquatica	speedwell	wild	Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae. In Carr Stream opposite top blackthorn.
Buddleja davidii	"butterfly bush"	garden plant	Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae. One by the shed attracts butterflies.
Ilex aquifolium	holly	garden plant	Order Aquifoliales, Family Aquifoliaceae. A variegated tree was already present in 2013, and had (unfortunately) been lopped at about 3m height. This tree is now growing well and attracts blackbirds, mistle thrushes and tits. Some 'J.C. van Tol' and 4 'Alaska' have also been planted near the A1065. Eventually these should serve to screen the garden from the road but the berries will also provide food for birds in the winter. The J.C. van Tol have grown extremely slowly and were probably a poor choice -- wild type seem to grow much quicker.
Hedera helix	ivy	wild	Order Aquifoliales, Family Aquifoliaceae. Lopped cypress trees near A1065 are covered in ivy. Some will be propagated and planted out in other parts of the plot.
Angelica sylvestris	angelica	wild	Order Apiales, Family Apiaceae (umbellifers). In rank vegetation on the meadow.
Heracleum sphondylium	hogweed	wild	Order Apiales, Family Apiaceae (umbellifers). In rank vegetation near the pond, on the meadow, etc.
Aegopodium podograria	ground elder	wild	Order Apiales, Family Apiaceae (umbellifers). In various places round the plot.
Anthriscus sylvestris	cow parsley	wild	Order Apiales, Family Apiaceae (umbellifers). Near H.H. and on meadow, by Carr Stream.
Griselinia littoralis	(NA)	garden plant	Order Apiales, Family Griseliniaceae. Two plants planted 2014. One was left unprotected and was badly damaged by rabbits. Now both are in a wire-netting pen and thriving. This genus has an interesting distribution, being found in New Zealand and in South America (but not apparently in Australia: the antarctic flora).
Sambucus nigra	elder	wild	Order Dipsacales, Family Adoxaceae. Numerous round the plot. Provide food for blackbirds, thrushes, blackcaps etc. Some need pruning to extend their lives.
Senecio jacobaea	common ragwort	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. An extensive patch by the pond. Good for hoverflies, butterflies, and cinnabar moth.
Senecio vulgaris	groundsel	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. In borders, H.H. garden.
Tussilago farfara	coltsfoot	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. By house, H.H. garden.
Senecio sp.	(NA)	garden plant	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. As for Grisellinia.
Bellis perennis	daisy	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. Needs checking.
Eupatorium cannabinum	hemp agrimony	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. Needs checking.
Arctium minus	burdock	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. Extensive patches. Good for goldfinches and marsh tits. Attracts a range of insects in summer, including many Syritta pipiens (Diptera), a kind of hoverfly. Although the species name is minus, some of the plants grow to at least 2 metres height. Aphids feed on the top stems and attract ants (thought to be Myrmica rubra).
Arctium lappa	greater burdock	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. Plant pictured grew near shed July 2018 (among many Arctium minus plants). Others are to be found by the SW corner of the meadow. European burdocks are typically split into three (or more) species but some modern sources lump them all into a single Arctium minus complex. Plant shown had larger, brighter flower-heads and solid leaf petioles. Molecular evidence indicates the split between A. minus and A. lappa occurred around 3 million years ago.
Carduus crispus	welted thistle	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. Many plants mostly along the edge of the plot. In tractor ruts along tracks.
Cirsium vulgare	spear thistle	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. Many plants, especially by pond. Attracts bumblebees and butterflies.
Cirsium palustre	marsh thistle	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. Many plants, with some good patches on the meadow on west side.
Cirsium arvense	creeping thistle	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. Several patches on the meadow, also turns up elsewhere.
Sonchus asper	prickly sow-thistle	wild	Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae. Plenty of plants on tracks on the meadow, also present near H.H. In flower in June. Vigorous, basal auricles clasping.