Twelve members of the botany group met near the Winskill Stones, above Langcliffe, on a beautiful sunny, slightly breezy morning. The view over the valley, with Ingleborough in the distance, was stunning. On the limestone rock face, near where we parked, were some interesting ferns – Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes), Wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-muralis) and Brittle Bladder Fern (Cystopteris fragilis). On the ground we looked at some plants with small white flowers – Common Whitlow-Grass (Erophila verna) with its seed pods looking like small Honesty seeds, and Thyme-Leaved Sandwort (Arenaria serpylifolia), with its tiny star-like flower. Also growing nearby was Sticky Mouse-ear (Cerastium glomeratum), with its conspicuous yellowish sticky leaves. Moving on to the grassy areas several rosettes of Carline Thistle (Carlina vulgaris) were spotted and in places there were remnants of last year’s flowers. An Early Purple Orchid (Orchis maculata) and Wild Thyme (Thymus drucei) were also observed, and the Mountain Pansies (Viola lutea) were a delight to see. In one of the grykes, on the pavement area, Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) and Dog Violets (Viola riviana) were growing together in the miniature ‘woodland’ habitat. After lunch we walked down the road towards Upper Winskill and observed Hairy Rockcress (Arabis hirsuta), on a rock face, with its hairy leaves clasping the stem, and on the grassy area we saw Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta). In the distance a very obvious erratic was seen which,as we got closer, we could see was firmly resting on some limestone pavement.
Photos – Erratic boulder as described and Mountain Pansies.
Jean Kendrew
On the way there and back some members had stopped at Globe Flower Wood to see the Globe Flowers which were in full bloom.
Christine Bell
