We had a lovely day out at Swinsty with sunshine and short showers. We explored the beaches of the reservoir,looking for the specific plants that live on the reservoir shore. Plants like Red shank ( Persicaria maculosa) ,see title page; also Sneezewort ( Achillea ptarmica), Bur Marigold (Bidens tripartite) and Water pepper (Persicaria hydropiper.) You can see pictures of these in my report from last year.

One of our first finds was a Hemp plant ( Cannabis sativa), followed by Yellow foxtail (Setarvia pumila) , Wheat ( Triticum aestivum) and several Sunflowers. The source of these bird seed aliens was soon discovered; a family arrived on the shore and started feeding the ducks, something they do regularly!
Another mystery was the substantial areas of a leafy plant, eventually we found some in flower, Michaelmas daisys.

The magnifying loops were out to look at two warty plants. The seeds of Broad Leaved Dock ( Rumex obtusifolius), typically the fruit has one enlarged reddish wart. The leaves of Bristly Oxtongue (Pictish echoides) have bristles rising from prominent white swellings.

I have to mention the Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), as I like the name and the flower.

All in all a very satisfying day out.

Rosemary

(photos by Rosemary)

We met at Yockenthwaite Meadows and walked downstream along the river Wharfe. The initial plan had been to visit Waitby Greenriggs, but the speciality plants there had gone over due to the recent hot weather. So perhaps one for next year. Although the river was now full after recent rain, we had a dry warm relaxing day.

We caught the meadow just before the annual cut, the meadow is managed for nature.

Three semi parasitic plants were identified, Eyebright (Euphrasia officialise), Yellow rattle (Rhinathus minor) and Red Bartsia (Odonties verna). These are all partly parasitic on grasses and allow other wild flowers to thrive where the grass is depleted.

Marsh Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia densiflora

Common or Chalk Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia conopsea

One of the highlights were the fragrant orchids. Fragrant Common Orchid ( Gymnadenia conopsea) smelling of sweet oranges, pink flowers, 3 lobed lip and long spur. Fragrant Marsh Orchid ( Gymnadenia densiflora) smelling of cloves, 3 rounded lobes.

Also spotted was the Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and the tall Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera Chlorantha). 

Greater Butterfly Orchid Platanthera chlorantha

In all we identified over 100 plants.
Thank you to Jane for organising the trip. Our next trip is to Fewston Reservoir on Tuesday 5th August, I do hope you can join us.

Rosemary

Photos, Jane.

PS

The YouTube channel “Five minute families” is worth a look. It explains each plant family.

A group of six members of the Botany Group met on a warm, sunny day at the car park at Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Smardale reserve outside Kirkby Stephen.  We walked to the reserve seeing a lovely example of Giant Bellflower Campanula latifolia along the way.  Once in the reserve, we took the disused railway path.  The first section of the path was relatively quiet but we did see some fine examples of Common Figwort Scrophularia nodosa and Nipplewort Lapsana communis.

As we neared the sunny embankments closer to the viaduct, we began to see a larger range of plants and were particularly struck by the Stone Bramble Rubus saxatilis, creeping along the side of the path and showing its wonderful berries.  We also enjoyed seeing the Common Spotted Orchids Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Common Fragrant Orchids Gymnadenia conopsea flowering well along the banks.

Also noteworthy were lots of Wild Angelica Angelica sylvestris coming into flower and attracting a lot of insects.

Once across the viaduct, we enjoyed seeing lots of limestone-loving plants as well a lots of wonderful butterflies including Small Skippers and Small Tortoiseshells.  The path was lined with more Bloody Crane’s-bill as well as Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria, Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla recta, Betony Betonica officinalis and Common Restharrow Onosis reptans. Over lunch in a disused quarry, we sat among more orchids and butterflies enjoying the warm sunshine.

Having reached the meadows beyond the quarry, we then returned to the cars slowly enjoying the flowers and butterflies and trying to avoid the biting insects!  The birdlife was good too with both a Pied Flycatcher and a Redstart spotted.

The recce the previous week had also indicated that Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Waitby Greenriggs – next door to Smardale – was also looking particularly good.  So we all drove round to park near the site and headed down into the disused railway cutting.  The flowers and butterflies were glorious with lots of orchids along the path and up the slopes.  We headed into the second section of the site and climbed down to the bottom of the embankment where we saw a lot of Marsh Helleborines Epipactus palustris and a rare variant of a Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii var rhodochila.

We returned to the cars tired but having had a wonderful day in the sunshine.

Report and photographs by Jane Welsh

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.

In 1919, shortly after WWI, Bradford Health Authority built Grassington Hospital for TB patients.  It was a two-storey building with rooms opening directly onto balconies giving patients fresh Dales air.  In 1966, the sanatorium became redundant, mainly due to the availability of antibiotics.  The building then became a Geriatric Mental Hospital, eventually closing in 1984.  It lay derelict until 1996 when it was demolished for luxury housing.  The hay meadows survived and are now cared for by English Nature.

Nine members met at the site and began walking up the lane towards the paved footpath through the meadows.  Several grasses were seen on the way including Rough Meadow-grass Poa trivialis with its long pointed ligules, Cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata , Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis, Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus and Quaking Grass Briza media.  Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense was growing in a damp area by the road edge.

In the meadows, Melancholy Thistles Cirsium heterophyllum were in full flower and very impressive.

Also in the meadows, Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor, parasitic on grasses, was abundant.  Other meadow plants included Great Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis, Rough Hawkbit Leontodon hispidus, Devil’s bit Scabious Succisa pratensis, Field Scabious Knautia arvensis in bud, Pignut Conopodium majus, Eyebright Euphrasia officinalis, Red Clover Trifolium pratense, and a few Orange Hawkweed plants Pilosella aurantiacum.  Also seen were examples of Southern Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza praetermissa, a species which is moving North with climate change.  A single plant of Ragged Robin Silene floscuculi was observed followed by a large area of more Southern Marsh Orchids in full flower. We might have expected to see Northern Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza purpurella but the plants we saw did not have the distinctive diamond-shaped lips nor the distinctive double loops on the lips. Sadly we saw no Bee Orchids on this occasion.  Two rushes were noted: Soft Rush Juncus effusus which is smooth and Compact Rush Juncus conglomeratus with its rigid stem.

Lunch was taken in an area with trees and overlooking a field with more Southern Marsh Orchids.  Our short way back to the cars took us by Yellow Flag Iris Iris pseudacorus and more Melancholy Thistles.  After a very dry spell, followed by recent wet weather, we were able to enjoy a Dales hay meadow at its best.

Report by Pam Rutherford

Photos by Pam Rutherford and Paul Redshaw

Threshfield quarry closed in 2000 and since then nature has been reclaiming it. There are areas of woodland, ponds, calcareous grassland and hazel coppice. There were remains of an old lime kiln and Hudsons trucks and rail tracks.

We started on the lane, looking at the verge and hedgerow. We found an abundance of Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) in flower, white Sweet Violet ( Viola odorata) and yellow Celandine (Ficaria verna).

Walking through a well grazed field we noticed tiny Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor) and possible Harebell leaves (Campanula rotundifolia). 

Onward into the woodland area where there were plentiful Primroses (Primula vulgaris) . 

In all we identified more than 80 plants and grasses. We were excited to find woodland favourites Town Hall Clock (Adoxa moschatella) and Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia) as we walked back.

The weather stayed dry and it was a good opportunity to hone our ID skills, using our field keys and magnifying loupes. It was fun to catch up after the winter with a grand total of 14 botanists.

Our next trip is to Oxenber and Wharfe Woods on Tuesday 29 April.

Rosemary