2012 Trips
Fawr and Bishop’s Wood, Prestatyn 19/5/2012, Gaw Hill, Ormskirk 9/6/2012, Ben Lawers 7/7/2012,
Coombs and Hay Dales 14/7/2012, Pat's Plateau and Green Beach 11/8/2012, Sutton Mill Dam, St Helens 1/9/2012, Dibbinsdale 15/9/2012, Rostherne 22/9/2012, Uncommon Trees of Court Hey Park 13/10/2012
Fawr and Bishop’s Wood, Prestatyn 19/5/2012, Gaw Hill, Ormskirk 9/6/2012, Ben Lawers 7/7/2012,
Coombs and Hay Dales 14/7/2012, Pat's Plateau and Green Beach 11/8/2012, Sutton Mill Dam, St Helens 1/9/2012, Dibbinsdale 15/9/2012, Rostherne 22/9/2012, Uncommon Trees of Court Hey Park 13/10/2012
Uncommon Trees of Court Hey Park
13th October 2012
Leader: Rob Duffy
A meeting with a difference “Tree Orienteering”. At the start of the day the weather was fine but sadly not to last as we set off in small groups to find and identify our locations of fascinating specimens. Chestnut-leaved Oak Quercus casteinifolia, Narrow-leaved Ash Fraxinus angustifolia and Amur Maple Acer ginnala to name a few of the twenty-three trees to be located. It was a fun way to learn and question your knowledge about the trees at Court Hay Park but was also grateful for their facilities when the heavens opened. We should like to thank Rob Duffy for organising this event and also for providing the warm refreshments that I for one certainly enjoyed.
Pictures by Barbara Allen
13th October 2012
Leader: Rob Duffy
A meeting with a difference “Tree Orienteering”. At the start of the day the weather was fine but sadly not to last as we set off in small groups to find and identify our locations of fascinating specimens. Chestnut-leaved Oak Quercus casteinifolia, Narrow-leaved Ash Fraxinus angustifolia and Amur Maple Acer ginnala to name a few of the twenty-three trees to be located. It was a fun way to learn and question your knowledge about the trees at Court Hay Park but was also grateful for their facilities when the heavens opened. We should like to thank Rob Duffy for organising this event and also for providing the warm refreshments that I for one certainly enjoyed.
Pictures by Barbara Allen
Rostherne
22nd September 2012
Leader: Tim Rogers
Would you believe we had another superb day! Nine members enjoyed not only the fine weather but also a spot of bird watching in wonderful surroundings afforded to us by our Leader Tim Rogers, thanks to him being a volunteer at Rostherne Mere. Majestic trees like Hornbeam Carpinus betulus, numerous fungi, as Common Puffball Lycoperdon perlatum and delicate Water Chickweed Myosoton aquaticum to name but a few.
Many thanks to Tim for an interesting and knowledge day.
Pictures by Barbara Allen
22nd September 2012
Leader: Tim Rogers
Would you believe we had another superb day! Nine members enjoyed not only the fine weather but also a spot of bird watching in wonderful surroundings afforded to us by our Leader Tim Rogers, thanks to him being a volunteer at Rostherne Mere. Majestic trees like Hornbeam Carpinus betulus, numerous fungi, as Common Puffball Lycoperdon perlatum and delicate Water Chickweed Myosoton aquaticum to name but a few.
Many thanks to Tim for an interesting and knowledge day.
Pictures by Barbara Allen
Dibbinsdale
15th September 2012
Leader: John Crowder
What a wonderful day we had at Dibbinsdale with our leader John Crowder whom shown us around an old wood with mature Oak, Ash and even Yew. Some of the plants found known as ancient wooldland indicators such as Dog`s Mercury Mercurialis perennis, Holly Ilex aquifolium and Sanicle Sanicula europaea to name but a few.
Pictures by Barbara Allen
15th September 2012
Leader: John Crowder
What a wonderful day we had at Dibbinsdale with our leader John Crowder whom shown us around an old wood with mature Oak, Ash and even Yew. Some of the plants found known as ancient wooldland indicators such as Dog`s Mercury Mercurialis perennis, Holly Ilex aquifolium and Sanicle Sanicula europaea to name but a few.
Pictures by Barbara Allen
Sutton Mill Dam, St Helens
Saturday 1st September 2012
Leader: Barbara Allen
A dozen members of the society turned out on what must have been one of the driest and sunny days of our meetings 2012. Starting at Lea Green Railway Station we investigated the car park and noticing a group of six Common Buzzards circling above, whilst finding a remarkable array of plants on the verges. Prickly Lettuce Lactuca serriola, Bastard Cabbage Rapistrum rugosum, Black Mustard Brassica nigra, sounds like a grocery list but there were many more there which took up most of the morning. On the way to Sutton Mill Dam another member of the Brassica family was found Ethiopian Rape Brassica carinata some times in bird seed and is now being found growing occasionally in our area.
Entering Sutton Mill Dam a twenty-six acre wildlife Park via Clock Face Road into the shade of many trees and shrubs the lake was fringed with Water Forget-me-nots Myosotis scorpioides, Brooklime Veronica beccabunga and Common Reed Phragmites australis to name but a few. This body of water also supports many wild water birds, and with a young angler catching a Perch this demonstrated that the lake, about three-hundred-sixty metres long does also contain fish.
After a well earned lunch by the `Wash` we continued to wind are way along side the stream that some times affords you a glimpse of a Kingfisher but today a much larger bird the Heron flew over. Alongside the path was Fly Honeysuckle Lonicera xylosteum a deciduous shrub and not a climber this has a pair of flowers in the leaf-axils followed by red berries, Early Goldenrod Solidago gigantea the first of our Goldenrods of the day, and again another alien possibly from bird seed was Canary-grass Phalaris canariensis.
Crossing over Leach Lane and into Hawthorn Road we followed the lush green path eventually onto an old railway trackbed, this was once a line going to Widnes nicknamed the `Diton Dodger` and Sutton Manor Colliery that last seen traffic in the late 80s. Here we had Creeping or Pale Toadflax Linaria repens, Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris, Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea and Butterfly-bushes Buddleja aptly named as Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell were feeding from them. Holly Blue Butterfly was making use of a prevalent species in St, Helens Hemp-agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum but in the second flight period the Holly Blue changes its main food plant from Holly Ilex aquifolium in spring to Ivy Hedera helix in autumn. The Common or English Ivy is often underestimated as to the important role it plays in the countryside providing shelter, nesting areas and food for wild life. The birch trees providing a canopy over the trackbed demonstrating how nature can soon reclaim back ground if left to its own devices.
Finally branching off the trackbed and passing through what once was a farmers orchard that still had remains of domestic apple trees it was noted our second Goldenrod of the day Solidago canadensis and dried pods of the Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera were growing on parts of the field. It was then a brisk walk back to the railway station passing the entrance of Sutton Mill Dam a planted Spindle bush Euonymus europaeus with its distinctly four lobed fruits, the wood tended to be used to make spindles for spinning wool hence its common English name.
I felt privileged to have such a knowledgeable and witty group of members to share the delights of Sutton Leach area and wish to thank every one for contributing to what was a wonderful day!
Pictures by Barbara Allen
Saturday 1st September 2012
Leader: Barbara Allen
A dozen members of the society turned out on what must have been one of the driest and sunny days of our meetings 2012. Starting at Lea Green Railway Station we investigated the car park and noticing a group of six Common Buzzards circling above, whilst finding a remarkable array of plants on the verges. Prickly Lettuce Lactuca serriola, Bastard Cabbage Rapistrum rugosum, Black Mustard Brassica nigra, sounds like a grocery list but there were many more there which took up most of the morning. On the way to Sutton Mill Dam another member of the Brassica family was found Ethiopian Rape Brassica carinata some times in bird seed and is now being found growing occasionally in our area.
Entering Sutton Mill Dam a twenty-six acre wildlife Park via Clock Face Road into the shade of many trees and shrubs the lake was fringed with Water Forget-me-nots Myosotis scorpioides, Brooklime Veronica beccabunga and Common Reed Phragmites australis to name but a few. This body of water also supports many wild water birds, and with a young angler catching a Perch this demonstrated that the lake, about three-hundred-sixty metres long does also contain fish.
After a well earned lunch by the `Wash` we continued to wind are way along side the stream that some times affords you a glimpse of a Kingfisher but today a much larger bird the Heron flew over. Alongside the path was Fly Honeysuckle Lonicera xylosteum a deciduous shrub and not a climber this has a pair of flowers in the leaf-axils followed by red berries, Early Goldenrod Solidago gigantea the first of our Goldenrods of the day, and again another alien possibly from bird seed was Canary-grass Phalaris canariensis.
Crossing over Leach Lane and into Hawthorn Road we followed the lush green path eventually onto an old railway trackbed, this was once a line going to Widnes nicknamed the `Diton Dodger` and Sutton Manor Colliery that last seen traffic in the late 80s. Here we had Creeping or Pale Toadflax Linaria repens, Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris, Common Centaury Centaurium erythraea and Butterfly-bushes Buddleja aptly named as Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell were feeding from them. Holly Blue Butterfly was making use of a prevalent species in St, Helens Hemp-agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum but in the second flight period the Holly Blue changes its main food plant from Holly Ilex aquifolium in spring to Ivy Hedera helix in autumn. The Common or English Ivy is often underestimated as to the important role it plays in the countryside providing shelter, nesting areas and food for wild life. The birch trees providing a canopy over the trackbed demonstrating how nature can soon reclaim back ground if left to its own devices.
Finally branching off the trackbed and passing through what once was a farmers orchard that still had remains of domestic apple trees it was noted our second Goldenrod of the day Solidago canadensis and dried pods of the Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera were growing on parts of the field. It was then a brisk walk back to the railway station passing the entrance of Sutton Mill Dam a planted Spindle bush Euonymus europaeus with its distinctly four lobed fruits, the wood tended to be used to make spindles for spinning wool hence its common English name.
I felt privileged to have such a knowledgeable and witty group of members to share the delights of Sutton Leach area and wish to thank every one for contributing to what was a wonderful day!
Pictures by Barbara Allen
Pat's Plateau and Green Beach
11th August 2012
Leader: Patricia Ann Lockwood
The Sefton Coast always seems a popular location, and many people travelled considerable distances. We were allowed to park behind the Ainsdale Discovery Centre, which was very fortunate, as Ainsdale was very busy, the shore heaving.
In the morning we walked South to a very large slack, a favourite place of mine. In the afternoon we changed direction and walked North, and onto the Green Beach. Before getting there we saw a huge number of Northern Dune Tiger Beetles. A very rare species, only found in two locations in Britain. Also David Bryant spotted a large number of Natterjack toadlets, so we had to be careful where we put our feet. Another rare species. Below a list of plants worth a mention. In the morning: Inula conyza (Ploughmans Spikenard), Epipactis dunensis Dune Helleborine), Dactylorhiza incarnata (Early Marsh Orchid), Gentianella campestris (Field Gentian), Pyrola rotundifolia (Round-leaved Wintergreen), Parnassia palustris (Grass of Parnassus), Malva moschata (Common Mallow), Linum cartharticum (Fairy Flax), Scutellaria galericulata (Skullcap), Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife), Carlina vulgaris (Carline Thistle), Eupatorium cannabinum (Hemp Agrimony), Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony).
In the afternoon: Trifolium scabrum (Rough Clover), Trifolium fragiferum (Strawberry clover), Sagina nodosa (Knotted Pearlwort), Eryngium maritimum ( Sea Holly), Blackstonia perfoliata (Yellow-wort), Samolus valerandi (Brookweed), Centaurium erythraea (Common Centaury), Centaurium littorale (Seaside Centaury), Centaurium pulchellum (Lesser Centaury), Calystegia soldanella (Sea Bindweed), Polygonum oxyspermum (Ray's Knotgrass), Sea Arrow-grass Triglochin palustris, Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii and lastly Tubular Water-dropwort (Oenanthe fistulosa).
Thank you so much to all of you who made the day so pleasurable.
Patricia Ann Lockwood
11th August 2012
Leader: Patricia Ann Lockwood
The Sefton Coast always seems a popular location, and many people travelled considerable distances. We were allowed to park behind the Ainsdale Discovery Centre, which was very fortunate, as Ainsdale was very busy, the shore heaving.
In the morning we walked South to a very large slack, a favourite place of mine. In the afternoon we changed direction and walked North, and onto the Green Beach. Before getting there we saw a huge number of Northern Dune Tiger Beetles. A very rare species, only found in two locations in Britain. Also David Bryant spotted a large number of Natterjack toadlets, so we had to be careful where we put our feet. Another rare species. Below a list of plants worth a mention. In the morning: Inula conyza (Ploughmans Spikenard), Epipactis dunensis Dune Helleborine), Dactylorhiza incarnata (Early Marsh Orchid), Gentianella campestris (Field Gentian), Pyrola rotundifolia (Round-leaved Wintergreen), Parnassia palustris (Grass of Parnassus), Malva moschata (Common Mallow), Linum cartharticum (Fairy Flax), Scutellaria galericulata (Skullcap), Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife), Carlina vulgaris (Carline Thistle), Eupatorium cannabinum (Hemp Agrimony), Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony).
In the afternoon: Trifolium scabrum (Rough Clover), Trifolium fragiferum (Strawberry clover), Sagina nodosa (Knotted Pearlwort), Eryngium maritimum ( Sea Holly), Blackstonia perfoliata (Yellow-wort), Samolus valerandi (Brookweed), Centaurium erythraea (Common Centaury), Centaurium littorale (Seaside Centaury), Centaurium pulchellum (Lesser Centaury), Calystegia soldanella (Sea Bindweed), Polygonum oxyspermum (Ray's Knotgrass), Sea Arrow-grass Triglochin palustris, Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii and lastly Tubular Water-dropwort (Oenanthe fistulosa).
Thank you so much to all of you who made the day so pleasurable.
Patricia Ann Lockwood
Coombs and Hay Dales
Saturday 14th July 2012
Leader: John Somerville
Pictures from Barbara Allen and Joyce Jarvis
Saturday 14th July 2012
Leader: John Somerville
Pictures from Barbara Allen and Joyce Jarvis
Ben Lawers
Sunday 7th July 2012
Leader: Peter Gateley
Sunday did prove to be the drier of our two days, so after breakfast our party of twelve set off from Killin for the National Trust for Scotland car park serving Ben Lawers. As in 2011 there were quite a few members who had not been here before, so progress up the lower slopes was slowed by there being so many interesting plants to look at on our way to the main corries. Quite near to the start of the walk the path crosses the rocky course of Edramucky Burn and here we caught up with fine examples of flowering Viviparous Bistort Persicaria vivipera and Yellow Saxifrage Saxifraga aizoides and a hillside full of fine fruiting Stags-horn Clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum amongst many others.
On the long trek up the flanks of Beinn Ghlas the rills crossing the path and drainage ditches along the edges provided habitat for a wide range of species, amongst the many we enjoyed seeing were Scottish Asphodel Tolfieldia pusilla, Chickweed Willowherb Epilobium alsinifolium and Starry Saxifrage Saxifraga stellaris. As we climbed higher, into the rockier areas below the col between Lawers and Ghlas, we added many more species to our list, notably Cyphel Minuartia sedoides, Alpine Mouse-ear Cerastium alpinum and Mossy Campion Silene acaulis all in fine flower as well as the more subtle delights of ground-hugging species such as Dwarf Willow Salix herbacea and Sibbaldia Sibbaldia procumbens.
We needed rest and sustenance before tackling the final steeper climb to the main corries so we lunched by the shallow waterbody in the col below. From there we headed along the narrow sheep/botanists tracks to the most flower-rich rock faces. The whole corrie area was not as dry as it was last year so looked even more lush and inviting for us this year. Alas, we were still too early to find any of the diminutive annual Snowy Gentian Gentiana nivalis, although Barbara Allen did see it there two or three weeks afterwards. However, if we had been later we would have missed the wonderful show of flowering Rock Speedwell Veronica fruticans and possibly also the Northern Fleabane Erigeron borealis and Alpine Cinquefoil Potentilla crantzii, all looking very fine. We spent a happy hour or so looking up at ledges above us, into clefts and under boulders finding late flowering woodland plants, such as Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella, as well as a wide range of mountain grasses, sedges, ferns and flowering plants. We returned down the mountain, a tired but happy band!
The Birks of Aberfeldy
Saturday 7th July 20212
Leader: Peter Gateley
As in 2011 the trip to Scotland was planned over a weekend to allow the drier of the two days to be selected for the climb up Ben Lawers. In 2012 the forecast for Saturday was for wet weather so it was decided to tackle Lawers on the Sunday and a group of 10 members headed of to Aberfeldy to walk through the Birks of Aberfeldy, along the steep wooded valley of the Moness Burn. The deep valley afforded some shelter so that even though the weather continued to be wet we had an enjoyable walk and saw lots of wonderful woodland plants. The path was well laid out, with a good surface and provided an extremely pleasant looped walk with some spectacular views of waterfalls.
At the lower levels there is considerable planting of exotic trees, mainly conifers, but we soon got into old woodland with much oak and birches (or birks locally). We soon saw a wide range of typical woodland plants including Enchanters Nightshade Circaea lutetiana, Wood Sanicle Sanicula europaea, Wood Sedge Carex sylvatica, Wood Melick Melica uniflora and there was a considerable population of Wood Stitchwort Stellaria nemorosa in fine flower.
As well as the flowering plants there were masses of ferns in the shady damp woodland, notably Oak Fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Brittle Bladder Fern Cystopteris fragilis and Lemon-scented Fern (Oreopteris limbosperma) with its sori distinctively arranges around the pinnule edges. Another non-flowering plant noted with interest was the scarce Shady Horsetail Equisetum pratense. Other vascular plants seen included Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus, Common Wintergreen Pyrola minor and Marsh Hawkbit (Crepis paludosa) but a special treat was reserved for the final downhill stretch back towards the cars where, amongst a sparse plantation of beech, was a scattered population of Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis looking pale fawn and interesting amongst the damp leaf litter.
From Aberfeldy we headed back west towards Killin via the Bridge of Balgie where we stopped off at the post office with its fantastic coffee and wonderful cakes and other confections.
Sunday 7th July 2012
Leader: Peter Gateley
Sunday did prove to be the drier of our two days, so after breakfast our party of twelve set off from Killin for the National Trust for Scotland car park serving Ben Lawers. As in 2011 there were quite a few members who had not been here before, so progress up the lower slopes was slowed by there being so many interesting plants to look at on our way to the main corries. Quite near to the start of the walk the path crosses the rocky course of Edramucky Burn and here we caught up with fine examples of flowering Viviparous Bistort Persicaria vivipera and Yellow Saxifrage Saxifraga aizoides and a hillside full of fine fruiting Stags-horn Clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum amongst many others.
On the long trek up the flanks of Beinn Ghlas the rills crossing the path and drainage ditches along the edges provided habitat for a wide range of species, amongst the many we enjoyed seeing were Scottish Asphodel Tolfieldia pusilla, Chickweed Willowherb Epilobium alsinifolium and Starry Saxifrage Saxifraga stellaris. As we climbed higher, into the rockier areas below the col between Lawers and Ghlas, we added many more species to our list, notably Cyphel Minuartia sedoides, Alpine Mouse-ear Cerastium alpinum and Mossy Campion Silene acaulis all in fine flower as well as the more subtle delights of ground-hugging species such as Dwarf Willow Salix herbacea and Sibbaldia Sibbaldia procumbens.
We needed rest and sustenance before tackling the final steeper climb to the main corries so we lunched by the shallow waterbody in the col below. From there we headed along the narrow sheep/botanists tracks to the most flower-rich rock faces. The whole corrie area was not as dry as it was last year so looked even more lush and inviting for us this year. Alas, we were still too early to find any of the diminutive annual Snowy Gentian Gentiana nivalis, although Barbara Allen did see it there two or three weeks afterwards. However, if we had been later we would have missed the wonderful show of flowering Rock Speedwell Veronica fruticans and possibly also the Northern Fleabane Erigeron borealis and Alpine Cinquefoil Potentilla crantzii, all looking very fine. We spent a happy hour or so looking up at ledges above us, into clefts and under boulders finding late flowering woodland plants, such as Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium and Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella, as well as a wide range of mountain grasses, sedges, ferns and flowering plants. We returned down the mountain, a tired but happy band!
The Birks of Aberfeldy
Saturday 7th July 20212
Leader: Peter Gateley
As in 2011 the trip to Scotland was planned over a weekend to allow the drier of the two days to be selected for the climb up Ben Lawers. In 2012 the forecast for Saturday was for wet weather so it was decided to tackle Lawers on the Sunday and a group of 10 members headed of to Aberfeldy to walk through the Birks of Aberfeldy, along the steep wooded valley of the Moness Burn. The deep valley afforded some shelter so that even though the weather continued to be wet we had an enjoyable walk and saw lots of wonderful woodland plants. The path was well laid out, with a good surface and provided an extremely pleasant looped walk with some spectacular views of waterfalls.
At the lower levels there is considerable planting of exotic trees, mainly conifers, but we soon got into old woodland with much oak and birches (or birks locally). We soon saw a wide range of typical woodland plants including Enchanters Nightshade Circaea lutetiana, Wood Sanicle Sanicula europaea, Wood Sedge Carex sylvatica, Wood Melick Melica uniflora and there was a considerable population of Wood Stitchwort Stellaria nemorosa in fine flower.
As well as the flowering plants there were masses of ferns in the shady damp woodland, notably Oak Fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Brittle Bladder Fern Cystopteris fragilis and Lemon-scented Fern (Oreopteris limbosperma) with its sori distinctively arranges around the pinnule edges. Another non-flowering plant noted with interest was the scarce Shady Horsetail Equisetum pratense. Other vascular plants seen included Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus, Common Wintergreen Pyrola minor and Marsh Hawkbit (Crepis paludosa) but a special treat was reserved for the final downhill stretch back towards the cars where, amongst a sparse plantation of beech, was a scattered population of Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis looking pale fawn and interesting amongst the damp leaf litter.
From Aberfeldy we headed back west towards Killin via the Bridge of Balgie where we stopped off at the post office with its fantastic coffee and wonderful cakes and other confections.
Gaw Hill, Ormskirk
Saturday 9th June 2012
Leader: Peter Gateley
Eventually 14 members assembled, via train and cars, at Ormskirk station on a dull and damp June Saturday. We set off through the town, via the flowery banks of Dyers Brook, to Coronation Park where recent management changes have allowed much more natural growth to develop. In the southern corner of the park what was once regularly mown damp grassland is now a tall lush sward full of native plants and much more valuable for local wildlife. At the time of the visit this area was bright with yellow masses of flowering Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris and contrasting bright pink drifts of Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi and there were also fine stands of Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris in full frothy white flower. Less brightly colourful, but still of great interest nonetheless, were the flowering grasses; June is an ideal month to study grasses and they became a theme for the day, with 19 species being noted in flower by the end of the walk.
From the park we crossed the A59 onto a section of footpath with an old hawthorn hedge that has been surrounded by housing, we looked at a range of typical hedge bottom weeds, including a robust fumitory that looked as though it may have been Purple Ramping Fumitory Fumaria purpurea that needed closer checking later (not done, mea culpa). We carried on through residential streets noting garden and pavement weeds and came out near Red Gate Farm into undulating agricultural land. We followed the footpath west and then around the edge of the covered reservoir on top of the hill into Gaw Hill Nature Reserve and had our lunch on top of Gaw Hill with extensive views across the Lancashire Plain to the west and north-west.
Amongst the network of hedges and plantations of the reserve there are rolling meadows full of wildflowers and flowering grasses with many basic common species looking at their best, including: Red Fescue Festuca rubra, Rough-stalked Meadowgrass Poa trivialis, Crested Dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus, Perennial Ryegrass Lolium perenne and Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus. There were even a few orchids scattered amongst the flowering legumes in the grassy swards. To the west the slope steepens and the path crosses through out-cropping sandstone with shallow acid soils and a range of distinctive acid-tolerant plants including: Heath Grass Danthonia decumbens, Mat Grass Nardus stricta, Early Hairgrass Aira praecox, Wavy Hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa, Common Bent Agrostis capillaris, Creeping Soft-grass Holcus mollis as well as Heath Bedstraw Galium saxatile and Heath Rush Juncus squarrosus.
From here we continued down onto the flatter farmland, here we noted a range of typical field-edge plants along the paths, including: Cut-leaved Deadnettle Lamium hybridum, Field Pansy Viola arvensis, Black Bindweed Fallopia convolvulus and Field Speedwell Veronica persica. We followed the paths back up to the covered reservoir, pausing to admire the view of Liverpool backed by the Welsh hills, and then re-crossed the A59 and walked through the yard of Christ Church and back into the centre of Ormskirk admiring garden and hedge plants on the way, including Hornbeam Carpinus betulus and fruiting heads of False Castor Oil Plant Fatsia japonica.
Saturday 9th June 2012
Leader: Peter Gateley
Eventually 14 members assembled, via train and cars, at Ormskirk station on a dull and damp June Saturday. We set off through the town, via the flowery banks of Dyers Brook, to Coronation Park where recent management changes have allowed much more natural growth to develop. In the southern corner of the park what was once regularly mown damp grassland is now a tall lush sward full of native plants and much more valuable for local wildlife. At the time of the visit this area was bright with yellow masses of flowering Meadow Buttercup Ranunculus acris and contrasting bright pink drifts of Ragged Robin Lychnis flos-cuculi and there were also fine stands of Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris in full frothy white flower. Less brightly colourful, but still of great interest nonetheless, were the flowering grasses; June is an ideal month to study grasses and they became a theme for the day, with 19 species being noted in flower by the end of the walk.
From the park we crossed the A59 onto a section of footpath with an old hawthorn hedge that has been surrounded by housing, we looked at a range of typical hedge bottom weeds, including a robust fumitory that looked as though it may have been Purple Ramping Fumitory Fumaria purpurea that needed closer checking later (not done, mea culpa). We carried on through residential streets noting garden and pavement weeds and came out near Red Gate Farm into undulating agricultural land. We followed the footpath west and then around the edge of the covered reservoir on top of the hill into Gaw Hill Nature Reserve and had our lunch on top of Gaw Hill with extensive views across the Lancashire Plain to the west and north-west.
Amongst the network of hedges and plantations of the reserve there are rolling meadows full of wildflowers and flowering grasses with many basic common species looking at their best, including: Red Fescue Festuca rubra, Rough-stalked Meadowgrass Poa trivialis, Crested Dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus, Perennial Ryegrass Lolium perenne and Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus. There were even a few orchids scattered amongst the flowering legumes in the grassy swards. To the west the slope steepens and the path crosses through out-cropping sandstone with shallow acid soils and a range of distinctive acid-tolerant plants including: Heath Grass Danthonia decumbens, Mat Grass Nardus stricta, Early Hairgrass Aira praecox, Wavy Hairgrass Deschampsia flexuosa, Common Bent Agrostis capillaris, Creeping Soft-grass Holcus mollis as well as Heath Bedstraw Galium saxatile and Heath Rush Juncus squarrosus.
From here we continued down onto the flatter farmland, here we noted a range of typical field-edge plants along the paths, including: Cut-leaved Deadnettle Lamium hybridum, Field Pansy Viola arvensis, Black Bindweed Fallopia convolvulus and Field Speedwell Veronica persica. We followed the paths back up to the covered reservoir, pausing to admire the view of Liverpool backed by the Welsh hills, and then re-crossed the A59 and walked through the yard of Christ Church and back into the centre of Ormskirk admiring garden and hedge plants on the way, including Hornbeam Carpinus betulus and fruiting heads of False Castor Oil Plant Fatsia japonica.
Graig Fawr and Bishop’s Wood, Prestatyn
Saturday 19th May 2012
Leader: Peter Gateley
This limestone site is quite remote from train and bus services so around 15 members assembled at the National Trust car park just off Allt y Craig Road. From here we headed north, uphill, across limestone grassland with scattered dense scrub to more open shorter swards around the highest point of Graig Fawr. As the weather was cloudy and damp the views from the top were not as spectacular as might be expected but we did see plenty of plants typical of limestone habitat, such as Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularia, Musk Thistle Carduus nutans and Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor. After passing the summit we descended to the north and then east into increasing scrub, stopping to admire specimens of Early-purple Orchid Orchis mascula before reaching a steep wooded cleft in the limestone scarp.
After crossing the road north into Meliden at the bottom of the valley we continued up and along the steep mainly west-facing slopes, sometimes in woodland, sometimes in dense scrub and also some cleared areas where the local authority is trying to maintain open limestone grassland. We lunched at the head of old quarry workings near Bryniau, enjoying more typical limestone plants, such as Burnet Saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, Crossword Cruciata laevipes and Ploughman’s Spikenard Inula conyza. From here we headed north along the scarp slope into the rich woodland of Coed yr Escob, or Bishop’s Wood. In this habitat we noted a wide range of characteristic woodland groundflora, including Wood Melick Melica uniflora, Wood Sanicle Sanicula europaea, Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa and Primrose Primula vulgaris amongst many others.
After descending through the woods to the bottom of the scarp we walked through flatter country past Tan-yr-allt to the route of the old mineral line around the base of Graig Fawr. This route took us through the remains of past lead mining activities and allowed close views of a range of locally characteristic species that included: Spring Sandwort, also known as Leadwort Minuartia verna, Nottingham Catchfly Silene nutans, Hoary Rockrose Helianthemum canum, and Dark Red Helleborine Epipactis atrorubens. Skirting the base of the steep western face of Craig Fawr we made our way south-east and east returning to the car park through a further section of species-rich woodland habitat.
Saturday 19th May 2012
Leader: Peter Gateley
This limestone site is quite remote from train and bus services so around 15 members assembled at the National Trust car park just off Allt y Craig Road. From here we headed north, uphill, across limestone grassland with scattered dense scrub to more open shorter swards around the highest point of Graig Fawr. As the weather was cloudy and damp the views from the top were not as spectacular as might be expected but we did see plenty of plants typical of limestone habitat, such as Rock-rose Helianthemum nummularia, Musk Thistle Carduus nutans and Salad Burnet Sanguisorba minor. After passing the summit we descended to the north and then east into increasing scrub, stopping to admire specimens of Early-purple Orchid Orchis mascula before reaching a steep wooded cleft in the limestone scarp.
After crossing the road north into Meliden at the bottom of the valley we continued up and along the steep mainly west-facing slopes, sometimes in woodland, sometimes in dense scrub and also some cleared areas where the local authority is trying to maintain open limestone grassland. We lunched at the head of old quarry workings near Bryniau, enjoying more typical limestone plants, such as Burnet Saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, Crossword Cruciata laevipes and Ploughman’s Spikenard Inula conyza. From here we headed north along the scarp slope into the rich woodland of Coed yr Escob, or Bishop’s Wood. In this habitat we noted a wide range of characteristic woodland groundflora, including Wood Melick Melica uniflora, Wood Sanicle Sanicula europaea, Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa and Primrose Primula vulgaris amongst many others.
After descending through the woods to the bottom of the scarp we walked through flatter country past Tan-yr-allt to the route of the old mineral line around the base of Graig Fawr. This route took us through the remains of past lead mining activities and allowed close views of a range of locally characteristic species that included: Spring Sandwort, also known as Leadwort Minuartia verna, Nottingham Catchfly Silene nutans, Hoary Rockrose Helianthemum canum, and Dark Red Helleborine Epipactis atrorubens. Skirting the base of the steep western face of Craig Fawr we made our way south-east and east returning to the car park through a further section of species-rich woodland habitat.