Lindrick Golf Course SSSI 14 June 2017

Leader: Les Coe
Attendees: Louise Hill, John Scott, Peter Burton, June Robinson
Apologies: Graeme Coles & Everald Ellis

The group assembled at 10 am in the visitors Car Park of the Lindrick Golf Club.

The survey was concentrated in two of the limestone quarries within the SSSI area of the golf course, sometimes known as Lindrick Common, on the north side of the A57. A reduced group also made a fleeting visit due to time pressures, to another limestone quarry in Lindrick Dale, also within the SSSI.

For recording purposes, the survey passed through three tetrads, SK5582, SK5482 and the SE corner of SK5382.

The route taken did not inconvenience any of the active golfers as it kept, on the whole, to public footpaths, and indeed created some interest amongst some of the golfers as to the purpose of the survey.

We started in the quarry which lies on the opposite side of the A57 from the golf club house. Visitors to the site, rather than crossing the busy A57 road, can make use of two underpasses provided by the golf club to which public access is permitted.

I filled several pages of my note book in this quarry.

                          

Common Cudweed - (Filago vulgaris)

 

We were surprised to discover Adder's-tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum) growing in very thin soil which overlaid the limestone rock. They did seem much reduced in size due to the poor soil.

After surveying the quarry, we then proceed through a small woodland dominated by Hawthorne (Crataegus sp.) trees, with Mahonia sp. also being present. Then crossing the fairway by a public footpath, we access an area set aside as a practice field. Here the turf is kept mown like the fairway, but does have some botanical interest which does tend to be rather low growing due to the constant mowing.

                          

On then towards a large grassy area, not used as part of the golf course and which lies within the designated SSSI. Here last years Carline Thistle (Carlina  vulgaris) was seen.

Carline Thistle (Carlina  vulgaris)

Here lunch was taken, and whilst gazing about John Scott spotted Flea Sedge (Carex pulicaris).

Flea Sedge (Carex pulicaris)

There were plenty of Pale St John's-wort (Hypericum montanum) in this part of the SSSI. John also demonstrated an easy method for distinguishing between Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) and Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium), the former having un-stalked flower heads and the later having long stalks.

Pale St John's Wort (Hypericum montanum) 

At the end of the day I had a list of 133 species in my note book, and I'm sure Louise had even more.