JOHN Horsey, who many of will know from local lectures and RHS-type courses, based at Cannington and Yeovil College, gave members a wide ranging talk on Dorset Heathland and Heathers at the February meeting.

From the early days of the conservation movement John has been involved with the preservation of the heathland and habitats in Dorset.

The boggy heathland is characterised by the low nutrient loving plants such as cotton grass, dwarf gorse and insect eating plants, and, of course, marsh orchids and the green winged orchid amongst others. Heathland is rich in insects, reptiles and spiders, hosting many of the British (over 120) species of the latter; damsel flies, butterflies, grasshoppers, lizards and snakes may all be observed. Fires can be very destructive for all these creatures, but some controlled burning (swathing) is desirable.

Heathers seem to be a love or hate plant; however their presence need not be a blanket effect interspersed with the occasional conifer as was the vogue in the 1970s. A bright pink patch of winter flowering heather such as erica vagans 'Mrs Maxwell' brightens up a winter garden; erica carnea are lime tolerant and mostly winter flowering and are pretty in winter baskets or tubs. To give colour later in the year try companion planting with and alpine clematis, which will grow up through the heather. Heathers are low maintenance plants that enjoy a good cut back after flowering to keep them tight'.

The next meeting (Hellebores) is on March 1, at 7.30pm in the Victory Hall, Horton; new members will be invited to fill any vacancies at the March meeting. The topic that evening will The Plant Hunters'.