UWFS Botany trip to Malham Boardwalk and Sinks 24 June 2025

Despite a rather dismal weather forecast, 13 members of the UWFS Botany group met at the Quarry car park near Malham Tarn to visit the boardwalk.   Luckily, the rain held off until later in the day and we were able to enjoy exploring the boardwalk.  The flora there is interesting because it combines bog plants with heath/acid-loving plants so there was a lot of variety.

Highlights included the swathes of Ragged Robin Silene flos-cuculi, Marsh Cinquefoil Comarum palustre, Lesser Spearwort Ranunculus flammula, Early Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp pulchella, a couple of Common Twayblades Neottia ovata hiding under a bush by the boardwalk and lots of Northern Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza purpurella.  We also saw a rare variant of the Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza traunsteineriodes var lapponica which likes damp, calcareous conditions.  In more acidic areas we found Common Spotted Orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii.  In the more open areas of bog, we found Round-leaved Sundew Drosera rotundifolia, Bog Asphodel Narthecium ossifragum just coming into flower as well as tiny plants of Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus.   Further along the boardwalk towards the old Field Study Centre, there was a lovely example of a white form of Early Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata var ochrantha opposite a small plant of Common Wintergreen Pyrola minor.  We also had a good day for identifying different grasses, sedges and rushes including Star Sedge Carex echinata, Sharp-flowered Rush Juncus acutiflorus and Deergrass Trichophorum cespitosum.

After lunch in the car park, we drove to the Malham Sinks car park.  First of all we explored the grassy area behind the car park and found Mountain Pansy Viola lutea and a couple of small examples of Mountain Everlasting Antennaria dioicia.  We then headed towards Malham Tarn to explore the marshy areas either side of the main Pennine Way path.  For once, the boggy areas were walkable and we were able to get close to some lovely examples of Northern Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza purpurella as well as a few hybrids including Dactylorhiza x venusta (Northern and Common Spotted hybrid).  There were a few remaining examples of Bird’s-eye Primrose Primula farinosa and patches of Watercress Nasturtium officinale.

The weather deteriorated and we battled our way through rain and wind back to the cars. All in all, a super day for botanising.

Report by Jane Welsh with lots of help from Paul Redshaw on the identification of the orchids we saw.  Nine varieties/subspecies seen.