Hillside House plant species list

Family Taxaceae (planted)

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.

Order Alismatales (Monocots).

In H.H. garden, on the lawn etc.

Order Asparagales.

Large patches by big oak and opposite Hillside House.

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.

Order Asparagales.

Following changes to a reduced mowing regime, bee orchids have appeared erratically in grassy places at Hillside House since 2019, often close to the house itself. Numbers so far have been quite small -- for example in 2024, there were four plants.

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).

Order Asparagales.

A patch by the pond may have been planted there many years ago.

Order Liliales (Monocots).

Several plants on the "grassy area" jus north of the main pond, on the meadow.

Order Poales.

In scattered places on the meadow.

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).

Order Poales.

On the meadow.

Order Poales.

Many plants in damp ground immediately north of the main pond.

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.

Order Poales.

In 2021, many plants on track by main pond.

Initially just a few plants in grassy area near A1065, after reduced mowing.

Order Poales.

Round the edge of the pond, also covering a large part of the meadow. On the meadow, cut in rotation by scythe.

Order Poales.

In patches near H.H. Flowers May-June.

Order Poales.

In patches near H.H., also on meadow etc. Flowers May-June.

Order Poales.

Large patch on 'lawn' near H.H. Flowers May onwards.

Order Poales.

Along edges of meadow.

Order Poales.

Top of bank by patio.

Order Ranunculales, Family Papaveraceae.

Comes up in one area by the shed, assumed planted.

Order Ranunculales, Family Papaveraceae.

Order Ranunculales.

In rank vegetation on the meadow.

Order Ranunculales.

Several plants introduced in 2016, probably planted in too much sun and may need moving.

Order Ranunculales.

Abundant in grass etc round Hillside House, near pond etc.

Order Ranunculales.

Abundant after reeds clear-cut on western side of meadow, 2016.

Order Ranunculales.

One just outside the boundary of H.H. plot, almost certainly planted by a previous owner of the house.

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.

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.

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.

Order Polygonales.

On concrete by H.H.

Order Polygonales.

Common on the western part of the meadow.

Order Polygonales.

Abundant, in various places, especially on the meadow and by Hillside House.

Order Polygonales.

(Either R.conglomeratus or R.sanguineus): Many plants on tracks round meadow, mainly in damper places.

Order Caryophyllales, Family Amaranthaceae.

(Probably this species). By the hedgebank created 2015/16, on disturbed soil.

Order Caryophyllales, Family Caryophyllaceae.

Less common than M. dioicum, present near H.H.

Order Caryophyllales, Family Caryophyllaceae.

Common along pathsides etc, H.H.

Order Caryophyllales, Family Caryophyllaceae. Formerly Lychnis flos-cuculi.

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.

Order Caryophyllales, Family Caryophyllaceae.

In rank vegetation on the meadow, western edge. Species need confirming.

Order Caryophyllales, Family Caryophyllaceae.

In grass in various places round the plot.

Order Saxifragales.

One near the A1065 at Hillside House, spreading by suckering, thriving but under control.

Order Geraniales.

In H.H. garden.

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.

Order Celastrales.

A native in UK. Several were rescued from the Woodland Trust plantings and moved around to various places on the meadow.

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.

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.

Order Malpighiales, family Salicaceae.

Several round the perimeter of the meadow, also two by pond. One may be infected by an unidentified disease.

Order Malpighiales, family Salicaceae.

Only one, by the pond.

Order Malpighiales, family Salicaceae.

Species needs checking. Two mature trees near the pond, one pruned in 2017.

Order Malpighiales.

In grassy, shady places near H.H.

Order Malpighiales, family Clusiaceae.

Species need checking. In boggy area eastern end of meadow.

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.

Order Oxalidales.

In H.H. garden, on patio.

Order Fabales.

(Probably this species) In grass in eastern part of meadow (poplar planting area).

Order Fabales.

Planted in 2016 and thriving inside wire-netting fence.

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.

Order Fabales.

In grass on plot, close to H.H. Attracts bumblebees and provides food for woodpigeon.

Order Fabales.

In grass on tracks on the meadow.

Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae.

In ditch along western edge of meadow etc.

Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae.

Right next to H.H., fairly common.

Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae.

At least 8 plants by Carr Stream 2017-05-13.

A similar number present in spring 2020.

Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae.

In ditch along eastern edge of meadow etc, probably dogrose.

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.

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).

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.

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).

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.

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.

Order Rosales, Family Rosaceae.

Abundant in rank vegetation on the meadow, especially the west side.

Order Rosales, Family Onagraceae.

In various places on the plot, especially along ditches. Elephant hawkmoth caterpillar found on plants 2016.

Order Rosales, Family Onagraceae.

In H.H. garden.

Order Rosales, Family Eleagnaceae.

Approx. 25 planted in 2016, along eastern and western edges of the plot. Doing well so far.

Order Rosales.

In various places, e.g. next to H.H.

Order Rosales, Family Urticaceae.

Abundant -- an important food plant for some commoner (Nymphalid) butterflies.

Order Cucurbitales.

by the shed etc.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Order Brassicales.

Present in abundance in places on the east side of the meadow.

Order Brassicales.

In cracks between concrete sections by shed. Record accepted by irecord.

Order Brassicales.

Near the pond.

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).

Order Ericales, Family Primulaceae.

Grows in the lawn by H.H.

Order Ericales, Family Primulaceae.

Grows by H.H.

Order Solanales, Family Boraginaceae.

Abundant in grass round Hillside House, near pond etc. Species TBD.

Order Solanales, Family Boraginaceae.

Along the east side of the plot not far from the main pond. Attracts bees, espcially bumblebees.

Order Solanales, Family Solanaceae.

On the meadow.

Order Gentianales, Family Rubiaceae.

In rank vegetation on the meadow (mainly eastern side).

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, some showed clear early signs of die-back.

During the dry summer of 2018, certain trees that looked previously to be in decline had rallied, perhaps fending off the disease. The tree “ash2”, a large round-topped tree north-west of the main pond (pictured) was almost symptom-free with plenty of healthy foliage. This tree looked much the same in 2024.

A younger tree right next to the pond had definite signs of disease as early as 2015 or 2016, but still had healthy foliage. In 2022 this young tree 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 the 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 die-back disease is spreading across the country. Norfolk was one of the first places where die-back was detected and is now one of the worst-affected counties. Ash is one of the commoner tree species in the South Raynham area, and in the coming years losses from die-back will have a serious but inevitable effect on the landscape here.

In continental Europe, die-back has killed something like 90-95% of ash in badly affected areas. We can only hope that a small proportion of trees in the UK and Ireland will prove resistant to the disease.

Order Lamiales, Family Lamiaceae.

By the pond etc.

Order Lamiales, Family Lamiaceae.

Grows in the lawn by H.H.

Order Lamiales, Family Lamiaceae.

Abundant, especially just south of the pond in ground grazed by rabbits.

Order Lamiales, Family Lamiaceae.

Grows by H.H.

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.

Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae.

Odd plants. Mullein moth on one in 2015.

Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae.

By the pond etc.

Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae.

In gaps on concrete by Hillside House. (Small striking blue flowers).

Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae.

present in grassy places near Hillside House.

Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae.

Present in Hillside House lawn.

Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae.

In Hillside House lawn, June 2020.

Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae.

In Carr Stream opposite Top Blackthorn.

Order Lamiales, Family Scrophulariaceae.

One by the shed attracts butterflies.

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.

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.

Order Apiales, Family Apiaceae (umbellifers).

In rank vegetation on the meadow.

Order Apiales, Family Apiaceae (umbellifers).

In rank vegetation near the pond, on the meadow, etc.

Order Apiales, Family Apiaceae (umbellifers).

In various places round the plot.

Order Apiales, Family Apiaceae (umbellifers).

Near H.H. and on meadow, by Carr Stream.

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).

Order Dipsacales, Family Adoxaceae.

Numerous round the plot. Provide food for blackbirds, thrushes, blackcaps etc. Some need pruning to extend their lives.

Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae.

An extensive patch by the pond. Good for hoverflies, butterflies, and cinnabar moth.

Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae.

In borders, H.H. garden.

Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae.

By house, H.H. garden.

Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae.

As for Grisellinia.

Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae.

Needs checking.

Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae.

Needs checking.

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).

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.

Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae.

Many plants mostly along the edge of the plot. In tractor ruts along tracks.

Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae.

Many plants, especially by pond. Attracts bumblebees and butterflies.

Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae.

Many plants, with some good patches on the meadow on west side.

Order Asterales, Family Asteraceae.

Several patches on the meadow, also turns up elsewhere.

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.