14 of us met at Hubberholme to walk towards the Yockenthwaite hay meadows, the weather being fine, which eventually became sunny and warm. Over 100 species were recorded on the way. We are usually a well-prepared group but we hadn’t expected the midges which appeared, many of them, as soon as we stopped to look at the plants. Some people found old detterents at the bottom of rucksacks which they generously shared. One of the group did have a netted hat which we all envied.
There were many of the common plants growing amongst the Grasses. – Eyebright Euphrasia agg, Fairy Flax – Linum catharticum, Red and White Clover – Trifolium pratense and repens, Common Catsear- Hypochaeris radicata in some abundance, Yellow Rattle- Rhinanthus minor, and of course the Orchids.
A darker Common Spotted Orchid RK
We saw many Common Spotted – Dactylorhiza fuchsii, in all of the many variations of colour and lip shape, and Fragrants Gymnadenia , some quite short.
Fragrant Orchid
Greater Butterfly Orchid
We were very pleased to see the Greater Butterfly Orchid – Plantanthera chlorantha, in its usual place by the footbridge, still in bud. Thirteen different Grasses were noted and on a small rocky outcrop we found Wild Thyme – Thymus Drucei, Salad Burnet – Poterium sanguisorba, Mouse-ear Hawkweed –Pilosella officinarum, and Lady’s Bedstraw – Galium verum. It was good to see the mauve/blue of Wood Cranesbill- Geranium sylvaticum in several places, more delicate than the Meadow Cranesbill – G.pratense still in leaf.
Wood Cranesbill
All in all another very interesting and most enjoyable meeting – except for the midges!
Christine Bell
Photos Peter Kerr. RK Ruth Kerr
