Fortunately we beat the weather forecast and had a dry mild day with sunny intervals. It
was interesting to visit after last year’s very scorched scene and see many of the usual
species once again looking happy.
The blue Aquilegia vulgaris haze of the recce had disappeared and left no overall colour
but much freshness after the recent rain. The Common Spotted Orchids Dactylorhiza
fuchsii were prominent almost looking like Pyramid or Fragrant Orchids until the long
lower middle spurred lobe was noticed. Next were the Greater Butterfly Orchids
Platanthera chlorantha with their long spur and diverging pollen-masses, both species
present near the entrance and in relative abundance through the site.
It was good to see the following not as often seen species, Kidney Vetch Anthyllis
vulnereria, Lesser Stitchwort Stellaria graminea, and two Cranesbills, Cut-leaved
Cranesbill Geranium dissectum and Long-stalked Cranesbill Geranium columbinum.
Common Gromwell Lithospermum officinale is a quite tall plant with small creamish green
flowers, last years seed heads often still present as little silvery balls.
The main disappointment was the missing Fly Orchid Ophrys insectifera which we had
always found on previous visits, was this as a consequence of last year’s drought as no
other visitors quizzed had seen it?
We moved across the road to Meathop Moss where the highlights were Cranberry
Vaccinium oxycoccus a plenty and in flower, Bog Rosemary Andromeda polifolia was less
floriferous and no flowers were seen on the Round-leaved Sundew Drosera rotundifolia
but the big unexpected find and a first for most of us was the Oblong-leaved Sundew
Drosera intermedia, so different in appearance and in standing water.
An excellent day for the the six of us, two from as far alway as Leeds and one from
Greenhow and another Halifax such is the draw of this special area.
Josephine Drake