Gwynne Johnson was
an important member of the Havant Wildlife Group and an
insipiration to us all. Sadly, she died well, before her
time, on 12th December, 2004. We all miss her greatly.
Here is my personal appreciation of Gwynne with some
photos of her in the field.
Gwynne
examining a Fescue grass on Oxenbourne Down -
6.7.02.
Gwynne Johnson died
on Sunday 12th December, 2004. Dear Gwynne had been ill
for a long time with cancer. Gwynne was well known as an
expert and very enthusiastic amateur naturalist. With her
husband, Nigel, she was very active in the Hampshire
Wildlife Trust and carried out many botanical surveys.
She and Nigel also devoted a great deal of love and
attention to creating a wonderful garden at their home in
Soberton. I so recall those lovely walks around their
garden. But Gwynne was much more than a naturalist, she
was also a warm and generous human being and a great
friend to many.
Gwynne
puzzling over a plant during a group walk in Stansted
Forest - 31.5.03
I knew Gwynne mainly
through the Havant Wildlife Group, when we met on Monday
evenings for talks and discussions and on Saturday
mornings for walks in the local countryside. We shall all
miss her greatly, for her immense kindness and her ever
willingness to help on all things to do with nature. But
plants were her love and speciality, and not just pretty
wild flowers, for Gwynne was also keen for us all to
appreciate the less glamorous aspects of the botanical
world, namely, grasses, sedges, rushes and even mosses.
We all loved her so much. Personally, I have learned more
about plants from Gwynne than any other person. Gwynne
was a joy to walk with and, I must admit, I frequently
hogged her attention when out on walks, though I am sure
I am not the only one to do this.
Gwynne
and Nigel with other members of the group at Northney,
Hayling Island - 24.5.03
Gwynne came over to Brook
Meadow on several occasions to help find and identify
difficult plants. She made a number of contributions to
our plant list including Whorl-grass, Green-ribbed Sedge
and Marsh and Sea Arrowgrass, which continue to escape me
on Brook Meadow. But I know they are there because Gwynne
found them. Goodbye, Gwynne. Thank you for everything.
Gwynne
examining a rayed form of Groundsel at Warblington -
27.9.03
Gwynne
pondering over grasses with Hilary and
Heather
Gwynne
looking closely at Wild Tyme on Oxenbourne Down -
6.7.02
Rowan
Plantation in memory of Gwynne
The Havant Wildlife
Group, of which Gwynne was an important member and sadly
missed, donated 15 Rowan saplings to be planted on Brook
Meadow in memory of Gwynne. They were planted by the
Conservation Group in an open area on the east side of
the north meadow in April 2005. However, some of them had
to be replaced (suitably protected by plastic tubes)
after the small trees were nibbled by browsing deer.
Gwynne would have been amused! A total of 20 trees were
finally planted.
Here
is the plantation in its early stages in May 2005
Here is
part of the plantation in June 2011 with trees growing
well and looking healthy with berries.