Pyramidal Orchid,
Brockadale. Photo Christine Bell.

Ten members braved the weather forecast and travelled down the A1 to this very interesting YWT reserve on the river Went. The plants we particularly enjoyed were those not found on our local patch. These included Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera, Clustered Bellflower Campanula glomerata, and Greater Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa as well as more familiar Vetches members of the Carrot Family.

Bee Orchid,
Brockadale. Photo Christine Bell.

Also of interest were two Grasses, Tor Grass Brachypodium pinnatum, new to most of us, and Timothy Grass Phleum pratense. I later learned that these two Grasses are the host plant favoured by Marbled White butterflies, and while we ate our lunch and it warmed up, we were thrilled to see these attractive insects at the most northerly part of their UK range.

Painted lady.
Photo: Subhojit Chakraborty.

We also spotted Ringlets and a Painted Lady. Then more or less on cue, came the rain. Undeterred, we continued with our search for plants and spotted several other less familiar species; Common Gromwell Lithospermum officinale, Yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata, Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria, and Wild Mignonette Reseda lutea. We decided not to risk any further rain and returned to the cars. Despite the rain it was an interesting and enjoyable day at a site we will return to.
Win Clements.

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