RETURN TO . . . Emsworth Wildlife - Homepage. . Havant Wildlife Group -main page GWYNNE JOHNSON A personal appreciation by Brian Fellows 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.