SYBG program of Field Meetings for 2018 (VC 63)

With the forthcoming BSBI Atlas 2020 in mind, and being aware that there will only be two more seasons in which to gather records. We hope that members can become more active during 2018 helping to record our local floras, and to learn how to identify a wide range of species. Members and guests are welcome to join with the group on field trips, visiting many under-recorded areas in South Yorkshire. Please do get in touch if you need help identifying areas for recording in your area, contact Louise Hill by email at louise.a.hill@gmail.com.

It is possible that we shall also arrange for some joint meetings with other local groups, such as the Sorby Natural History Society, Rotherham Naturalists’ Society, Doncaster Naturalists’ Society, Barnsley Naturalist and Scientific Society, Bradford Botany Group and Yorkshire Naturalist Union where their meetings fall within our recording area.

We are also considering a trip up North, well, not too far North, just into Saddleworth Moor where we are lacking any taxa records. This visit is most likely to be in the Holme Moss area, which falls just within the South Yorkshire boundary. Ideally, an outing into these Moors will require a period of low rainfall before hand, and good weather on the day. Therefore, we will require to be informed of those persons who would wish to participate, so that any changes to a planned meeting date can be quickly emailed to everyone.

Field visits can be full days, half days or even evenings, depending on the area to be covered. Full day meetings will usually start at 10am and finish around 4pm, with a break midway for refreshments. Members are welcome to bring along guests to the field meetings, however, please note: Members & Guests attend meetings at their own risk.

Our program of field trips for 2018 is almost finalised for the coming season. Because of the apparent fall-off of interest over the recent seasons, the program is not too ambitious, having just one outing per month, except busy June, when we have included two events. It is hoped that members will once again come and contribute towards Atlas 2020, or just enjoy the flora through the seasons in the company of like-minded botanists, and perhaps learning a little more about our wildlife.

Please let us know if you do intend to attend a field meeting, or send your apologies if you not able to attend via the email address   southyorkshirebotany@gmail.com

For details of meetings for 2018 click here

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.

Roche Abbey 22 April 2017 (part two)

The Abbey ruins lie in a beautiful wooded valley where two water courses meet, Maltby Dike and Hooten Dike. Capability Brown had been hired by the 4^th Earl of Scarborough to develop this landscape.
The substantial remains of the Gatehouse, parts of which are built into the rock outcrops so typical of the area, was where the group took lunch before resuming the survey. It was noticed that a Pellitory of the Wall (Parietaria judaicawas) indeed living up to it's name, growing at the base of one of the Gatehouse walls.

Pellitory of the Wall (Parietaria judaica)

A tour was made around the Abbey grounds, and amongst the rocky outcrops was spotted Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys).

Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)

The group then proceeded along the footpath through Quarry Hills towards Maltby. Crossing Gypsy Lane a detour was made, to the banks of the Maltby Dike where a search was made for the Yellow Star of Bethlehem (Gagea bohemica), without success. However, we did find the Green Hellebore (Helleborus viridus) now in seed, growing at the waters edge.

Green Hellebore (Helleborus viridus)

Green Hellebore (Helleborus viridus)

This detour had caused many smaller groups to form and scatter into Nor Wood. Robert & Everald Ellis found on a rocky outcrop above Gypsy Lane the Fingered Sedge (Carex digitata). Thanks to Louise Hills direction, I was able to return to the site to photograph it at a later date.

Fingered Sedge (Carex digitata)

Fingered Sedge (Carex digitata)

Richard Campbell kindly provided me with his records for this site, too. Which were Greater Chickweed (S. neglecta), Leopard's-bane, Mountain Currant, Green Hellebore, Creeping Buttercup, Lesser Periwinkle, Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Small Nettle, Oxford Ragwort, Yellow Archangel (the native variety), Fingered Sedge, Field Mouse-ear, Rue-leaved Saxifrage, Spurge Laurel, Lily-of-the-Valley and Field Pansy.

If anyone has photos or plant identifications from this meeting, we will be pleased to include them in this blog, Send to southyorkshirebotany@gmail.com

Sandbeck Park near Maltby 22 April 2017 (part one)

I was eager to visit Sandbeck Hall and Park as my great grandfather had worked there as a gardener, and met his future wife there, my great grandmother. The 1871 census details him as living in the gardener’s shed with four other gardeners, all single men aged between 18 and 27 years. It was fascinating to visit the old walled garden, a place he would have spent many hours growing the food that was to be on the table of the Lumley family.

This was to be a two-part meeting, with the afternoon being spent at Roche Abbey. We were met at the entrance to the Sandbeck Estate and guided to our rendezvous within the park, security being a concern for the estate staff. There were a total of 27 people attending, being members from Bradford, Rotherham, Sheffield, and Doncaster natural history societies, the leader was Louise Hill.

Walled Garden, Sandbeck Hall

Some time was spent within the walled kitchen garden, which is not currently performing that function, thus wild flowers are allowed to intrude into this once working garden where weeds would not have been tolerated. We were joined and welcomed by the present Earl of Scarborough, who showed great interest in our recording activities.

Parkland, Sandbeck Hall

Blossom, Sandbeck Hall

Outside the kitchen garden a great deal of new landscaping was underway, reshaping the park to meet a new scheme.

The Lake, Sandbeck Hall

We advanced around the lake, examining the Glaucous Sedge (Carex flacca), and admiring the Fritillary’s, both white and red varieties, growing in abundance.

Mistletoe, Sandbeck Hall

At the end of the permitted walk, we could see a large number of mistletoe growing on the group of trees close to the hall.

I enjoyed meeting Richard Campbell of the Bradford group, who was very knowledgeable regarding grasses and sedge. He kindly provided me with his list of species as follows. Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum), Few-flowered Garlic (Allium paradoxum), Cuckoo Pint or Lords-and-Ladies (Arum maculatum), Spring Squill (Scilla verna), Spiked Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum pyrenaicum), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca), Lesser Pond Sedge (Carex acutiformis), Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris), Solomon's Seal (P. multiflorum), Bugle (Ajuga repans), Anemone sp. (thought to be A. appenina), Drooping Star-of-Bethlehem (which had 'gone over'), Red Clover, Mistletoe and Crosswort.

The group than reassembled for the trip to Roche Abbey (see next report).
Les Coe

Whitwell Wood, Derbyshire on Sunday 8th May 2016

Leader: Graeme Coles
Attendees: Ken Balklow, John Scott, Stephen Dixon, Sue Glasscock, Les Coe & John Brown

Seven of us gathered for the walk round Whitwell Wood; we couldn’t have wished for better weather and as it turned out it was clearly peak flowering time for the bluebells, early purple orchids and wood anemones. The season, as many people have noticed, is very late this year so that ransoms and yellow archangel were only just starting to flower, this did however mean that early wood violet and toothwort were still at their best and flowers could even still be found on the spurge laurel. Altogether it was a very colourful and enjoyable day.

Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria)

Of the wood's specialties, the Bird’s-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), which can usually be seen at this time of year, was nowhere in sight, although last year’s stems were still clearly visible, while the Service Tree (Sorbus domestica) and Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) were just coming into leaf. Common Gromwell (Lithospermum officinale), with its characteristic porcelain like seeds still on the dead stems, was abundant, but not yet in flower. Columbine (Aquilegia sp.) which usually lines the rides in May and June was just coming into flower in one or two spots. There was not much to be seen of the grasses apart from the frequent tufts of False-brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) and last year’s stems, there were also many less easily identifiable clumps of grasses which were the subject of the usual debate. The Mountain Melick (Melica nutans) was found, but there was no sign of Wood Barley (Hordelymus europaeus) at the spot where it usually occurs. At the Ginny Spring SSSI, which is a Bryophyte covered seepage mire, there was only Marsh Valerian (Valeriana dioica) to be found of the site’s rarities, but this was hardly surprising given the early date.

It would take too long to mention all the species seen, but I was delighted to be able to add a new one to my own list for the wood, Hairy Wood-rush Luzula pilosa) which Ken Balkow spotted. This is an insignificant plant with a fairly short flowering season and indicates that in the past I haven’t spent as much time as I should have done on my hands and knees!

While our exploring was confined entirely in Derbyshire we did catch sight of South Yorkshire a few yards away across the Bondhay Dyke, the stream at the north end of the wood, so it could be said that we didn’t entirely desert the county for the day.

Below is my take of the days events from my notes. (Les Coe)

Whitwell Wood is semi natural ancient woodland on the limestone belt. However, a lot was clear felled in the 1930's and replanted with both conifers and broad leaved trees. On the northern side of the wood, there is a freshwater spring known as the Ginny Spring which is designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

This was my introduction to the SYBG, and being a botanical novice I greatly appreciated the advice and guidance provided by Graeme Coles, John Scott, Ken Balklow and Steven Dixon.

Graeme Coles & John Scott

Sue Glasscock, Ken Balkow, Graeme Coles, John Brown

Just off the main forest track, we were led to a small group of Bird's-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), but only last year's stems were on display, which was a first for me. A return visit later in the year produced the photo below.

Bird's-nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis)

Close by was a Wild Service-tree (Sorbus torminalis), with many saplings growing around it, where we spent time examining the leaf shape for future reference.

Proceeding to the small pond we noted Broad Buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilatata), Golden-scaled Male-fern (D. affinis), a Cowslip/Primula hybrid, Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) on the way, and there found Wood False-brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum), Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula), and Sweet Violet (Viola ordorata).
Returning to the main track, we noted Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum), Hairy Brome (Bromus ramosus), and then some non-flowering Common Gromwell (Lithospermum officinale), which still had last years white seeds attached.

Common Gromwell (Lithospermum officinale)

We then wandered into the woodland finding Mountain Melick (Melica nutans), Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) and Early-dog-violet (Viola reichenbachiana) and Black Bryony (Tamus communis). Further on we spotted the parasitic Toothwort (Lathraea squameria) at the base of a tree by the side of the path, Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum), Sanicle (Sanicula europaea) and Woodruff (Galium odoratum). A Hawthorn Tree was examined as to the possibility of it being the Midland Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata): It seems that we were undecided.

At the Ginny Spring we found Broad-leaved Cottongrass (Eriophorum latifolium)), Marsh Valarian (Valeriana dioica), Hairy Woodrush (Luzula pilosa), Black Bog-rush (Schoenus nigricans) and White Beak-sedge (Rhynchospora alba).

Hairy Woodrush (Luzula pilosa)

Returning along the stream-side footpath we noted Hard Shield-fern (Polystichum aculeatum), Wood Melick (Melica uniflora), Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia caespitosa), Lady-fern (Athyrium filix-femina), and then Spurge Laurel (Daphne laureola) on reaching the main forest path again.

A most enjoyable day in such knowledgeable company.

New Year Plant Hunt 2016

New Year Plant Hunt Report – Hathersage, Hope Valley, North Derbyshire (Sunday 3rd January 2016)

Despite an early start and an unpromising weather forecast a total of 8 members of South Yorkshire Botany Group participated in the BSBI New Year Plant Hunt at Hathersage in the Peak District National Park on 3rd January. This is the first time that the group has joined the New Year Plant Hunt; the aim is to record as many wild species flowering as you can in up to 3 hours over the new year period.

Those that traveled from Sheffield by train noted several interesting plants in flower at Hathersage train station, including a small stand of Winter Heliotrope (Petasites fragrans); a single flowering raceme was found poking above the patch of toothed rounded leaves. Several tall plants of Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) in full flower were a surprise as they scrambled up through the planted scrub next to the platform. Joining the rest of the group at the Memorial Hall we then set off to explore the pavements, verges and drystone walls surrounding the outdoor swimming pool and in the village centre. The list of plants grew surprisingly quickly with many common species found to be flowering, including: Annual Meadow-grass (Poa annua), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.), Common Chickweed (Stellaria media), Common Field Speedwell (Veronica persica), Wavy Bitter-cress (Cardamine flexuosa) and Wood Avens (Geum urbanum). The stunning red styles of female Hazel catkins (Corylus avellana) were detected on a shrub growing close to the bowling green and many flowering plants of Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis) were found growing in a wall close to the post office.

As the rain clouds thickened the group headed away from the village along Baulk Lane, where Yellow Corydalis (Pseudofumaria lutea) and Red Campion (Silene dioica) were noted flowering. Only a single flower of Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) was visible amongst a mass of the heart-shaped leaves by Hood Brook. A search of the short turf at the cricket pitch produced flowering Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens) and Daisy (Bellis perennis). Heading back into the village a traditional site for Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) at the Catholic church was checked but no plants were found. However a non-flowering Navel-wort (Umbellicus rupestris) plant growing in a wall at the bottom of Jagger’s Lane was an interesting and notable find.

The walk along Jagger’s Lane to Hill Foot and across to the River Derwent produced few flowering plants, however Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata) and Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) were all added to the list. Several woodland specialists were found (Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), Primrose (Primula vulgaris), Dog’s Mercury (Mercurialis perennis) and Violet species (Viola sp.), however no flowering specimens were recorded. The rain was now heavy and set in for the day and several members of the group headed to the café at Outside outdoor shop for a well earned cup of tea and to tally and check the records before submission to BSBI. A total of 29 species were recorded in flower; a reasonable number for the Peak District in January!
Many thanks to all that attended.

Stephen Dixon
Images Mel Linney

Orchids of South Yorkshire

Travelling along Manvers Way in the Dearne Valley on the border of Barnsley to Rotherham my Wife Elaine and I saw the notice in the attached picture on the roundabout to RSPB Old Moor Nature Reserve. The Dactylorhiza species and hybrids have been growing in the verges along this stretch of road for a number of years but it wasn't until someone found Bee Orchids at the Bus Stop about three years ago that  Pete Wall of the Dearne Valley Improvement Area approached Rotherham MBC and as partners in the NIA they agreed not to cut the verges in that area until the Autumn. This year on our annual visit to see how things are going on we found that not only are the Marsh and Spotted Orchids thriving  but we counted over One Hundred Spikes of Bee Orchids, and probably more, from the Broomhill roundabout to the Roundabout after Old Moor, no doubt helped by the slip stream of traffic along this busy road. Also we now have a thriving colony of Lathyrus nissolia (Grass vetchling) in that area. Thanks must go to Matthew Capper Manager of RSPB Old Moor, Pete Wall of NIA and Rotherham MBC for their combined efforts in maintaining and improving this particularly rich area of the Dearne Valley. On our way to a field meeting we saw a similar notice on the A1 Roundabout at Marr which is in Doncaster MBC who are also NIA partners. No doubt the other two councils in South Yorkshire are encouraging our natural heritage in this once heavily industrialised part of Yorkshire.

Image Mel Linney

Ash Hill Farm Field Report (VC 63)

5th August 2015

Ash Hill Farm, Moss

The group held a joint visit with members of the Doncaster Naturalist's Society on the afternoon of the 5th of August at John Scott's Farm, north of Doncaster.  The farm lies on the clay soils of the former Lake Humber in the Humberhead Levels Natural Area. We started with a wander over to an old pond which supports a colony of slender tufted sedge (Carex acuta), a species which had, for many years, been overlooked as (Carex acutiformis) at this site.  We also saw colonies of water violet (Hottonia palustris) and various-leaved water starwort (Callitriche platycarpa).

Our tour then took in a couple of newer scrape ponds, south of the species-rich hay meadow created using hay from a SSSI meadow at Went Ings, near Sykehouse.  Around the gateway of the meadow, the group saw an abundance of stone parsley (Sison amomum), a species which is at the northern edge of its range here in South Yorkshire.  It appeared soon after the meadow was created.

The shallow-edged ponds near Tune Wood were created over a decade ago and now support a diversity of aquatic and emergent plants.  Some are natural colonists and others are introductions.  

Samolus valerandi

Notable species include brookweed (Samolus valerandi) and lesser water plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides) seen growing amongst the fringe of sharp-flowered, jointed, compact and soft rushes (Juncus acutiflorus, C. articulatus, C. conglomeratus and C. effusus).  The damp grassland around the margins of the pond support abundant southern marsh orchids (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) and scattered grass vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia) and the seed heads of both were seen.  The grassland also supports ragged robin (Silene flos-cuculi) and dyer's green weed (Genista tinctoria).

Baldellia ranunculoides

A smaller, shadier pond situated between the end of Tune Wood and a small copse, supported a thick mat of water violet with marsh pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) growing at the pond margin.  Nearby was a healthy colony of the locally-rare small teasel (Dipsacus pilosus), a single plant of water dock (Rumex hydrolapathum).  There was also a clump of true fox sedge (Carex vulpina), a plant grown from seed from this Red Data Book species which was recently re-discovered growing near Fishlake.  A third pond was dug in Spring 2015 to add another aquatic habitat to the area.  A small specimen of opposite-leaved pondweed (Groenlandia densa) was seen in the bare margins.  The Botany Group are welcome to make a return visit to see how this pond develops.

Louise Hill.
Images Louise Hill.

ANSTON STONES WOOD (V.C. 63), SOUTH YORKSHIRE BOTANY GROUP, 20th JUNE 2015

Geoffrey Wilmore (Leader) with Mel Linney and Stephen Dixon

A grand total of 28 people gathered at the Parish Council Car Park at North Anston, where we were met by our leader Geoffrey Wilmore (Vice County Recorder for VC63) who provided a brief introduction to the day. Anston Stones Wood Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest includes magnesium limestone grassland and scrub and is one of the best examples of limestone dominated woodland in South Yorkshire. An aim of the day was to search for and learn to identify the numerous plant species occurring at the site, particularly those which have very limited distribution in Vice County 63.

Luckily there was no sign of the rain that had been promised in the forecast as we  skirted around the cricket pitch to our first stop next to the single robust specimen of Hybrid Plum (Prunus x fruticans).  This is a hybrid between Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and Wild Plum (Prunus domestica) and there is only one other record in South Yorkshire. We then started our walk along the natural gorge adjacent to Anston Brook and stopped to admire the wood vetch (Vicia sylvatica) scrambling up through the tall grass and lesser stitchwort (Stellaria graminea) at the side of the footpath. This was a new plant to many and the beautiful pale flowers with purple veins were very distinctive and much admired.

After a short ascent up through the wood we quickly entered an area of open calcareous grassland and limestone boulders at Little Stones. Geoffrey described some of the indicative grass species of lowland limestone grassland such as Upright Brome (Bromopsis erecta) and Tor-grass (Brachypodium rupestre). A search of the limestone boulders and steep grassy slopes produced many noteworthy plants including Common Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium), Salad Burnet (Poterium sanguisorba ssp.  sanguisorba ), Spring Sedge (Carex caryophyllea), Hairy Rock-cress (Arabis hirsuta) and a single Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) spike.

The area around Little Stones proved an interesting place and it took the promise of Pale St John’s Wort (Hypericum montanum) to encourage our large group of keen botanists to venture further along the footpath to search for this nationally scarce plant and limestone specialist. A single specimen was located by Geoffrey in its usual location, although we were too early in the season to see the distinctive pale yellow flowers. However the plant proved a useful specimen to revisit the identification of vegetative Hypericum species, as well as to discuss the identification of Downy Oat-grass (Avenula pubescens) and Meadow  Oat-grass (Avenula pratensis) as both species were growing nearby.

We then followed the pathway into the woodland where we were able to find Mountain Melick (Melica nutans), Fingered Sedge (Carex digitata) and a single Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana) growing next to the path. The small stand of  Fingered Sedge growing on a boulder was perhaps past its best, however several of the group lingered to inspect the crimson colour on the basal sheaths.

Emerging from the darkness of the wood we stopped to have lunch on an area of species-rich grassland managed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust after admiring the Saw-wort (Serratula tinctoria) growing on the woodland edge.   Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and the hybrid with Southern Marsh-orchid (D. x grandis) were growing in the meadow, and one or two dead heads of Southern Marsh-orchid itself (D. praetermissa) were seen.  After lunch we searched unsuccessfully for Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera), which also flowers earlier, however we were able to locate thousands of Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis), together with Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata).

Heading back into the woodland and dropping downhill to the river we located the Wood Barley (Hordelymus europaeus), a rare and local species in the county. The stop gave Geoffrey the opportunity to describe the woodland at Anston Stones Wood within the context of the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) and many jotted down some useful notes on the NVC W8 woodland community (with Dog’s Mercury beneath Ash and Sycamore) before we dodged the rain showers on our walk back up to the car park.

Many thanks to Geoffrey for leading and to Mel Linney for organising a very enjoyable and educational fieldtrip and for introducing us to some of the scarcer plants found in South Yorkshire.

Stephen Dixon.

Images from Mel Linney's Collection.

Wogden Foot Field Meeting (VC63)

Field Visit to Wogden Foot 13/6/15

                Wogden Foot Nature Reserve is a limestone oasis in the midst of heathlands near the pennine village of Dunford Bridge close to the Yorkshire Border with Derbyshire. The Limestone railway ballast, originally from Derbyshire, was dumped at Wogden Foot shortly after the line closure in 1981 when the Trans Pennine Trail was being developed.

              With overnight rain promising a soggy meeting, ten eager Botanists braved the morning showers to enjoy the wild wonder of the moors. The short walk along the trans pennine trail to the reserve revealed a good mix of plants with Alchemilla mollis (Garden Lady’s Mantle) and Crocosmia pottsii x aurea = C. xcrocosmiiflora (Crocosmia) confirming that garden escapes can turn up just about anywhere growing alongside Cirsium palustre (Marsh Thistle), Silene flos-cuculi (Ragged Robin), and Cardamine pratensis (Cuckooflower). Although Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Common Spotted Orchid), D. praetermissa (Southern Marsh Orchid) and their hybrid were found  D. purpurella (Northern Marsh Orchid), recorded on an earlier occasion, could not be located.
On the Reserve Galium saxatile (Heath Bedstraw), Origanum vulgare (Wild Marjoram), Viola hirta (Hairy Violet), Arenaria serpyllifolia (Thyme-leaved Sandwort) and Conopodium majus (Pignut) were found along with Dipsacus fullonum (Wild Teasel), Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry), Linum catharticum (Fairy Flax) and Malva moschata (Musk Mallow).
A good range of Sedges and Rushes were also found with Carex spicata (Spiked Sedge) prompting a later visit to check its seed for confirmation. Curiosity got the better of the sheep on the reserve as they approached the group wondering what they were up to, unless they were Botanists in disguise hoping to compare notes. The final tally of over 150 species and possibly another visit made this meeting most enjoyable and worthwhile. Thanks go to Peter &Annefie Roberts and Gordon Bristowe of Barnsley Naturalist and Scientific Society for hosting the day.
Mel Linney.

Images from Mel Linney's Collection.

Moss and liverwort outing, Fox House, Feb 8th 2014

As reported below by Kate, we had lovely day! Here is a short account of some of the bryological highlights of the day. I am looking for a way to put up on our blog the species list, let me know if you have an idea.

We first explored boulders and trees in a clear woodland part of the Longshaw Estate. Finding Tritomaria exsectiformis was very exciting because this liverwort is uncommon in the area. It was relatively abundant on boulders and bore conspicuous clusters of reddish-brown gemmae (little asexual propagules). 

We recorded many epiphytes including a few unusual species such as Pylaisia polyantha. Tom demonstrated the field characters to look for with this species and Louise managed to photograph the diagnostic capsule lids of conical shape. Many thanks to Louise for sending her picture!

We also spend time looking at commoner species and we got particularly impressed by one patch of Brachythecium rutabulum literally covered with ripe capsules (organs of sexual reproduction). This and other findings led to sobering discussion on the complexity of bryophytes reproduction.

After a detour by a small boggy place with low abundance of Sphagnum, we had lunch sheltered in a conifer plantation where bryophytes appeared less diverse. After lunch we headed off towards the Burbage Brook.

There was a great variety of bryophytes by and in a small tumbling stream we encountered. Species observed include Fontinalis antipyretrica and Dichodontium pellucidum, for instance, and Tom also spotted the rarer Platyhypnidium lusitanicum and Trichostomum tenuirostre.

Three of us continued moss-hunting a bit further down the valley. We dived into a mire dominated by tall rushes and deep water, looking for Sphagnum. We initially struggled to find the common Sphagnum fallax but we were eventually rewarded and all in all found a very good six Sphagnum species plus one specimen pending refereed identification.

This was a very successful outing with 6 field botanist, 16 liverwort species and 67 mosses species recorded ;-)  Thanks a lot to Joan and Tom for sharing their knowledge and experience.

Ambroise