REPORT OF THE FIELD MEETING TO
BEAUCHIEF ABBEY, 12 JULY 2014
On
a hot day a group of 7 explored and recorded this area of green belt
land on the SW side of Sheffield, all of which belongs to VC57
(Derbyshire). Behind the Abbey Bistort (Persicaria
bistorta)
is present on one of the graves but is usually mown soon after
flowering. The
Abbey ponds held a variety of aquatic and marginal species including
the invasive New Zealand Pigmyweed (Crassula
helmsii),
Marsh Ragwort (Senecio
aquaticus)
and Various-leaved Water-starwort (Callitriche
platycarpa).
The latter was found and identified by Ambroise Baker. The colony
of Wood Barley (Hordelymus
europaeus)
which used to occur behind the upper pond no longer seems to exist,
but a few specimens were found a bit further on at the edge of
Gulley's Wood. The old nursery is gradually being converted into
allotment gardens but many interesting species remain, including
Small Nettle (Urtica
urens),
Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia
incana),
Common Stork's-bill (Erodium
cicutarium),
Fern-grass (Catapodium
rigidum),
Rat's-tail Fescue (Vulpia
myuros)
and Great Brome (Anisantha
diandra).
A single Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis
helleborine)
was seen in the woods below Bradway Road. Across that road on Dore
and Totley golf course an area of disturbed soil held Fool's-parsley
(Aethusa
cynapium),
Scarlet-pimpernel (Anagallis
arvensis),
Wall Speedwell (Veronica
arvensis)
and Field Pansy (Viola
arvensis),
whilst a wall on Bradway Road provided 4 Asplenium
ferns, Hart's-tongue (A.scolopendrium),
Wall-rue (A.ruta
muraria),
Black Spleenwort (A.adiantum-
nigrum)
and Maidenhair Spleenwort (A.
trichomanes).
Thanks especially to Oliver Pescott and Ambroise Baker for spotting
plants that I might have missed and for helping with accurate
identification.
Ken Balkow
