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.
Melancholy Thistle Cirsium heterophyllum
Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
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
