Frog Orchid
Duck Street. Photo Christine Bell.
Twelve members assembled at Duck Street to meet the owner of the disused quarry, now preserved as a nature reserve, where interesting vegetation has developed over the years. A spectacular sight was the abundance of Common Twayblades Neottia ovata, at various stages of development. In other areas there were some excellent specimens of Frog Orchid Coeloglossum viride, varying in colour from yellow-green to redbrown (in drier areas).Venturing on to a higher area of the quarry we found Early Purple Orchids as well as Mossy Saxifrage Saxifraga hypnoides. The group examined a good specimen of Northern Dock Rumex longifolius, with its strongly crisped edges. There was a profusion of Water Avens Geum rivale, some of which showed proliferation, when a
very attractive ‘double-like’ flower is produced. According to Kew, this is due to drought conditions followed by heavy rain. It was good to see several specimens of Hairy Rockcress Arabis hirsuta.
After having lunch in the quarry the group walked to nearby Cock Hill, a disused mining area with acidic conditions, a good contrast from the morning’s experience. Growing in a mine entrance were several ferns, Brittle Bladder Fern Cystopteris fragilis, Male Fern Dryopteris filixmas, Scaly Male Fern D. affinis, Hart’s Tongue Fern and Lady Fern Athyrium filix-femina. In the outlet stream from the mine entrance a healthy stand of Watercress Nasturtium officinale was growing as well as Brooklime Veronica beccabunga. Nearby two small 5 petalled white flowers were examined, one being Spring sandwort (Leadwort), with distinctive pink/burgundy anthers Minuartia verna, and the other, Bog Stitchwort Stellaria alsine. In the wetter areas around the site Shade Horsetail Equisetum pratense and several sedges were observed. As a bonus the group spotted a frog and 2 kites were seen circling the area.
Jean Kendrew.
