Field Meetings 2016
Caergwrle 23/4/2016, Altcar Rifle Range 13/5/2016, Mersey Estuary Bioblitz 13-14/5/2016, Lune Valley 19/5/2016, Haskayne 4/6/2016, Cronton Colliery 11/6/2017, Winsford 18/6/2016, Cressbrook Dale, Derbyshire 25/6/2016,
Childwall Woods 2/7/2016, Cwm Idwal 16/7/2016, Ainsdale 23/7/2016, Brock Valley 6/8/2016, Rainford 20/8/2016,
Lunt Meadows 3/9/2016, Malltraeth 17/9/2016, Dibbinsdale (Fungi Foray) 8/10/2016
Caergwrle 23/4/2016, Altcar Rifle Range 13/5/2016, Mersey Estuary Bioblitz 13-14/5/2016, Lune Valley 19/5/2016, Haskayne 4/6/2016, Cronton Colliery 11/6/2017, Winsford 18/6/2016, Cressbrook Dale, Derbyshire 25/6/2016,
Childwall Woods 2/7/2016, Cwm Idwal 16/7/2016, Ainsdale 23/7/2016, Brock Valley 6/8/2016, Rainford 20/8/2016,
Lunt Meadows 3/9/2016, Malltraeth 17/9/2016, Dibbinsdale (Fungi Foray) 8/10/2016
Caergwrle
23rd April 2016
Leader: Peter Tipping and Peter Gateley
Photos: Steve Cross
Eighteen members met for the first field meeting of the season in the village on a sunny but chilly morning. The recce for this trip had found that a lot of the route followed last time was now in privately owned land, changes had to be made!
Nonetheless the route followed on the day was rewarding in its variety of species. Unfortunately there was a lot of road walking in the early stages but roadside verges often offer a good selection of taxa. The hedgerow we followed early in the meeting was very impressive in its number of different trees and shrubs including Acer campestre, Field Maple, Ilex aquifolium, Holly, Ligustrum vulgare, Wild Privet and perhaps the best of all Viburnum lantana, Wayfaring Tree. We really should have done a 30m ageing exercise as some of these species were from their size alone very old.
The route then went through pasture and wetland before following the river Alyn back to Caergwrle. Some of the more interesting plants recorded were: Valeriana dioica, Marsh Valerian, Umbelicus rupestris, Navelwort, two species of Scrophularia, both Water and Common. All three bluebells, Both Chrysosplenium species, Carex paniculata, Greater Tussock Sedge and last but not least the darling of the day Adoxa moschatellina, Town Hall Clock .
A great start to what hopefully will be a very good season.
Peter Tipping
125 species are listed in the following list.
23rd April 2016
Leader: Peter Tipping and Peter Gateley
Photos: Steve Cross
Eighteen members met for the first field meeting of the season in the village on a sunny but chilly morning. The recce for this trip had found that a lot of the route followed last time was now in privately owned land, changes had to be made!
Nonetheless the route followed on the day was rewarding in its variety of species. Unfortunately there was a lot of road walking in the early stages but roadside verges often offer a good selection of taxa. The hedgerow we followed early in the meeting was very impressive in its number of different trees and shrubs including Acer campestre, Field Maple, Ilex aquifolium, Holly, Ligustrum vulgare, Wild Privet and perhaps the best of all Viburnum lantana, Wayfaring Tree. We really should have done a 30m ageing exercise as some of these species were from their size alone very old.
The route then went through pasture and wetland before following the river Alyn back to Caergwrle. Some of the more interesting plants recorded were: Valeriana dioica, Marsh Valerian, Umbelicus rupestris, Navelwort, two species of Scrophularia, both Water and Common. All three bluebells, Both Chrysosplenium species, Carex paniculata, Greater Tussock Sedge and last but not least the darling of the day Adoxa moschatellina, Town Hall Clock .
A great start to what hopefully will be a very good season.
Peter Tipping
125 species are listed in the following list.
| caergwrlelbsapr16.pdf |
Altcar Rifle Range
13th May 2016
Leader: Steven Cross
Photos: Steven Cross
Over 20 people met up at Hightown Station for this popular regular evening trip from Hightown Station and Steve led us through all the guardhouse procedures and into the military camp. After gathering on the main car park Steve told us about the latest orchid count and then led us onto the ranges. Heading westward we had a clear fine evening to find ourselves amidst a record season for flowering Green-winged Orchids Anacamptis morio, Steve having previously counted 31,000 flowering spikes. As well as the range of colour forms of the orchid scattered across the flat grassy ranges Steve and Phil Smith showed us various other local floral specialities including fine displays of Cowslip Primula veris, various Creeping Willow hybrids and a stand of Flat Sedge Blysmus compressus. As usual we were pleased to see numerous small specimens of Adder’s-tongue Fern Ophioglossum vulgatum and on ‘I’ range Twayblades Neottia ovata were bursting through.
13th May 2016
Leader: Steven Cross
Photos: Steven Cross
Over 20 people met up at Hightown Station for this popular regular evening trip from Hightown Station and Steve led us through all the guardhouse procedures and into the military camp. After gathering on the main car park Steve told us about the latest orchid count and then led us onto the ranges. Heading westward we had a clear fine evening to find ourselves amidst a record season for flowering Green-winged Orchids Anacamptis morio, Steve having previously counted 31,000 flowering spikes. As well as the range of colour forms of the orchid scattered across the flat grassy ranges Steve and Phil Smith showed us various other local floral specialities including fine displays of Cowslip Primula veris, various Creeping Willow hybrids and a stand of Flat Sedge Blysmus compressus. As usual we were pleased to see numerous small specimens of Adder’s-tongue Fern Ophioglossum vulgatum and on ‘I’ range Twayblades Neottia ovata were bursting through.
Mersey Estuary Bioblitz
Friday and Saturday 13th and 14th May
Peter Gateley and David Earl
This two day bioblitz event was organised by a variety of interested groups, particularly the Biodiverse Society and took place both on 13th and 14th May with Peter Gateley leading a short botanical foray on the Friday and Dave Earl leading on Saturday 14th May. On both days a good range of coastal saltmarsh plants was noted, with the locally distinctive flora of the clay cliffs fronting the Mersey particularly being recorded on Saturday 14th May.
The species list (link below) was compiled from the Saturday meeting but also includes all the plants noted on the Friday. Amongst the vascular plants Dave has identified a number of Bramble micro-species, which are listed. Also included in the list are bryophytes noted during the Bioblitz on 14th May 2017, centred on grid reference SJ 415 825.
Photographs are all from Friday 13th May.
Friday and Saturday 13th and 14th May
Peter Gateley and David Earl
This two day bioblitz event was organised by a variety of interested groups, particularly the Biodiverse Society and took place both on 13th and 14th May with Peter Gateley leading a short botanical foray on the Friday and Dave Earl leading on Saturday 14th May. On both days a good range of coastal saltmarsh plants was noted, with the locally distinctive flora of the clay cliffs fronting the Mersey particularly being recorded on Saturday 14th May.
The species list (link below) was compiled from the Saturday meeting but also includes all the plants noted on the Friday. Amongst the vascular plants Dave has identified a number of Bramble micro-species, which are listed. Also included in the list are bryophytes noted during the Bioblitz on 14th May 2017, centred on grid reference SJ 415 825.
Photographs are all from Friday 13th May.
| species_list_mersey.docx |
Lune Valley
Thursday 19th May
Leader : Julie Clarke
This was a joint weekday trip with the Wildflower Society, meeting up at the car park on the disused railway line at Halton. Julie led us along the rich banks of the Lune through an interesting range of habitats showing us a wide range of species, many of them plants typical of old woodland, including : Dutch Rush Equisetum hymale, Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus, Town-hall Clock Adoxa moschatellina, Wood Millet Milium effusum Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Wood Stitchwort Stellaria nemorum. The rayed form of Groundsel Senecio vulgaris var hibernicus was also found.
Thursday 19th May
Leader : Julie Clarke
This was a joint weekday trip with the Wildflower Society, meeting up at the car park on the disused railway line at Halton. Julie led us along the rich banks of the Lune through an interesting range of habitats showing us a wide range of species, many of them plants typical of old woodland, including : Dutch Rush Equisetum hymale, Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus, Town-hall Clock Adoxa moschatellina, Wood Millet Milium effusum Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta and Wood Stitchwort Stellaria nemorum. The rayed form of Groundsel Senecio vulgaris var hibernicus was also found.
Haskayne
4th June 2016
Leader: Peter Gateley
Photos : Steve Cross
Our field meeting set off from the canal-side car park at SD 362 080 on a fine Saturday morning, initially we were a party of 17, with two further members arriving later. We walked westwards along the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool canal into Haskayne village and then approached the LWT reserve at Downholland Cutting from the south-east via footpaths across the arable fields, observing typical field edge weed species in the crops. We were joined at the north end of the reserve by Dr Phil Smith who gave an account of the count of marsh-orchids there this year and also showed us a population of the Narrow-leaved Meadowgrass Poa angustifolia. After lunch at the cutting we headed north along footpaths and lanes, linking back east and southwards to the canal bank and back to the car park, returning to the original 1km square where we started recording. En route we admired some fine flowering plants of Purple Ramping-fumitory Fumaria purpurea.
Mainly we recorded plant species in the 1 kilometre squares SD 30Q (SW, Monad 1) and SD 30K (SE, Monad 3), but with minor incursions into the edges of three other monads: SD30R (Monad 2), SD30K (NE, Monad 4) and SD30Q (NW, Monad 5)
4th June 2016
Leader: Peter Gateley
Photos : Steve Cross
Our field meeting set off from the canal-side car park at SD 362 080 on a fine Saturday morning, initially we were a party of 17, with two further members arriving later. We walked westwards along the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool canal into Haskayne village and then approached the LWT reserve at Downholland Cutting from the south-east via footpaths across the arable fields, observing typical field edge weed species in the crops. We were joined at the north end of the reserve by Dr Phil Smith who gave an account of the count of marsh-orchids there this year and also showed us a population of the Narrow-leaved Meadowgrass Poa angustifolia. After lunch at the cutting we headed north along footpaths and lanes, linking back east and southwards to the canal bank and back to the car park, returning to the original 1km square where we started recording. En route we admired some fine flowering plants of Purple Ramping-fumitory Fumaria purpurea.
Mainly we recorded plant species in the 1 kilometre squares SD 30Q (SW, Monad 1) and SD 30K (SE, Monad 3), but with minor incursions into the edges of three other monads: SD30R (Monad 2), SD30K (NE, Monad 4) and SD30Q (NW, Monad 5)
| species_list_haskayne.rtf |
Cronton Colliery
Saturday 11th June 2017
Leader: Dave Earl
A dozen members were let through the security gate into this former coal mine, now a wildlife site with large areas of both planted and naturally regenerated wood and scrub along with wetland, old settling lagoons, grasslands and the course of Fox’s Bank Brook. The weather was 18c, cloudy with a short shower at lunch time. Access was arranged to this locked site by Julia Simons and we met to view the vegetation developing over this area of former colliery waste that is now a wildlife site with large areas of a variety of developing vegetation types both planted and naturally regenerated. Thanks are due to The Land Trust for facilitating access to this country park in waiting.
The large areas of former coal washing and settling lagoons are developing, with the aid of some experimental planting and surface treatments, a mixed wetland mosaic with some open water and areas of established reedbed. There are areas of tall fringing mature tree growth/woodland remaining from when this area formed part of the walled estate of Cronton Hall, with the well-wooded course of Fox’s Bank Brook surviving mainly unscathed along the eastern boundary. Dave Earl and Julia Simons led the group through a range of these habitats, recording many orchids in flower, including some fine Bee Orchids Ophrys apifera.
The combined species list is compiled from Julia Simons’ and Robert Freeth’s field notes, the photographs are also from Julia and Robert.
Saturday 11th June 2017
Leader: Dave Earl
A dozen members were let through the security gate into this former coal mine, now a wildlife site with large areas of both planted and naturally regenerated wood and scrub along with wetland, old settling lagoons, grasslands and the course of Fox’s Bank Brook. The weather was 18c, cloudy with a short shower at lunch time. Access was arranged to this locked site by Julia Simons and we met to view the vegetation developing over this area of former colliery waste that is now a wildlife site with large areas of a variety of developing vegetation types both planted and naturally regenerated. Thanks are due to The Land Trust for facilitating access to this country park in waiting.
The large areas of former coal washing and settling lagoons are developing, with the aid of some experimental planting and surface treatments, a mixed wetland mosaic with some open water and areas of established reedbed. There are areas of tall fringing mature tree growth/woodland remaining from when this area formed part of the walled estate of Cronton Hall, with the well-wooded course of Fox’s Bank Brook surviving mainly unscathed along the eastern boundary. Dave Earl and Julia Simons led the group through a range of these habitats, recording many orchids in flower, including some fine Bee Orchids Ophrys apifera.
The combined species list is compiled from Julia Simons’ and Robert Freeth’s field notes, the photographs are also from Julia and Robert.
| species_list_cronton.docx |
Winsford
18th June 2016
Leader: Julie Clarke.
Joint LBS and Wildflower Society meeting
All 15 members met at the old station Whitegate Way, Winsford, the weather was fine and we were all in good spirits. Heading off along the old trackbed a grass that caught my eye was Crested Dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus in perfect flowering condition one of my favourites and in the wooded area we seen Silky-leaved Osier Salix x holosericea (S. viminalis x S. cinerea) a handsome tree. After crossing a couple of stiles, we came across Marton Hole a water body that came about some years ago from the collapse of land being mined for its salt below. Here Round-leaved Wintergreen Pyrola rotundifolia ssp. rotundifolia was found and confirmed as a first recording for VC58 also we were shown Narrow-fruited Water-cress Nasturtium microphyllum which was growing alongside the lake. Having crossed several small fields there was Alder Buckthorn Frangula alnus growing in a hedge, a shrub the Brimstone Butterfly likes to lay its eggs on for its caterpillars as it is a suitable food source, a pink form of Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium that is normally white also Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis that is a cheerful yellow. Finally coming back into the car park California Brome Ceratochloa carinata was found to round the day off.
Altogether the total number of species found was 196, a credit to the group but especially Julie whom did a splendid job of leading us all on the day.
Text and Photographs Barbara Allen.
18th June 2016
Leader: Julie Clarke.
Joint LBS and Wildflower Society meeting
All 15 members met at the old station Whitegate Way, Winsford, the weather was fine and we were all in good spirits. Heading off along the old trackbed a grass that caught my eye was Crested Dog's-tail Cynosurus cristatus in perfect flowering condition one of my favourites and in the wooded area we seen Silky-leaved Osier Salix x holosericea (S. viminalis x S. cinerea) a handsome tree. After crossing a couple of stiles, we came across Marton Hole a water body that came about some years ago from the collapse of land being mined for its salt below. Here Round-leaved Wintergreen Pyrola rotundifolia ssp. rotundifolia was found and confirmed as a first recording for VC58 also we were shown Narrow-fruited Water-cress Nasturtium microphyllum which was growing alongside the lake. Having crossed several small fields there was Alder Buckthorn Frangula alnus growing in a hedge, a shrub the Brimstone Butterfly likes to lay its eggs on for its caterpillars as it is a suitable food source, a pink form of Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium that is normally white also Meadow Vetchling Lathyrus pratensis that is a cheerful yellow. Finally coming back into the car park California Brome Ceratochloa carinata was found to round the day off.
Altogether the total number of species found was 196, a credit to the group but especially Julie whom did a splendid job of leading us all on the day.
Text and Photographs Barbara Allen.
Cressbrook Dale, Derbyshire
25th June
Leader Tim Rogers
25th June
Leader Tim Rogers
| derbyshire_species_list.docx |
Childwall Woods
Saturday July 2nd
Leader This trip was originally to be led by Howard Harris but unfortunately he was taken ill just before this date. Good luck with your recovery Howard.
A party of 12 met at the entrance to the site. Peter Tipping and Wendy Atkinson taking on the role of joint leaders. Although the woodland was of interest it seemed to be the grassland beyond that held most plant diversity. A variable area with both dry and wet areas. Oval Sedge Carex leporina was one of the more interesting grassland species of those found. A large stand of Galingale Cyperus longus, in fine condition, where did that come from? Then there were the orchids: Southern Marsh Dactylorhiza praetermissa and Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and of course the hybrids, Southern Marsh x Common Spotted {Dactylorhiza x grandis} Oh what fun we had! The usual suspects were found in the wetter areas: Ragged Robin Silene flos-cuculi always a delight to see, Gipsywort Lycopus europaeus, Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, Plicate Sweetgrass Glyceria plicata along with several rushes: lots of Soft Rush Juncus effusus and a smaller amount of Compact Rush Juncus conglomeratus. This is an area well worth another trip.
Peter Tipping
Saturday July 2nd
Leader This trip was originally to be led by Howard Harris but unfortunately he was taken ill just before this date. Good luck with your recovery Howard.
A party of 12 met at the entrance to the site. Peter Tipping and Wendy Atkinson taking on the role of joint leaders. Although the woodland was of interest it seemed to be the grassland beyond that held most plant diversity. A variable area with both dry and wet areas. Oval Sedge Carex leporina was one of the more interesting grassland species of those found. A large stand of Galingale Cyperus longus, in fine condition, where did that come from? Then there were the orchids: Southern Marsh Dactylorhiza praetermissa and Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii and of course the hybrids, Southern Marsh x Common Spotted {Dactylorhiza x grandis} Oh what fun we had! The usual suspects were found in the wetter areas: Ragged Robin Silene flos-cuculi always a delight to see, Gipsywort Lycopus europaeus, Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria, Plicate Sweetgrass Glyceria plicata along with several rushes: lots of Soft Rush Juncus effusus and a smaller amount of Compact Rush Juncus conglomeratus. This is an area well worth another trip.
Peter Tipping
Cwm Idwal
16th July 2016
Leader: John Crowder
Photos by Peter Gateley.
A party of nine set off by 16-seater mini-bus from William Brown Street and met up at Ogwen Cottage with eight others, so John Crowder led a party of 17 around Cwm Idwal through the wet Welsh weather.
From the car park, we first walked along the south-western edge of Llyn Ogwen to a small wet promontory projecting north into the lake. Apart from the mystery pondweed in the lake (possibly the deep water form of Potamogeton polygonifolius or the hybrid between that and P. natans ) the three most admired plants noted in this area were Water Lobelia, Lesser Skullcap and Ivy-leaved Bellflower, all flowering despite the rain.
Then we headed back along the footpath on the southern side of the A5 observing the hillside and pavement edge, then up the hill through similar, more extensive, terrain to the shores of Llyn Idwal where we stopped for lunch.
After lunch we headed east, making a clockwise circuit of Cwm Idwal. We stuck to the lowest path around the cwm, the weather conditions not allowing forays to view the crags and ledges on this occasion.
A total of 138 plants seen are listed in the file below .
16th July 2016
Leader: John Crowder
Photos by Peter Gateley.
A party of nine set off by 16-seater mini-bus from William Brown Street and met up at Ogwen Cottage with eight others, so John Crowder led a party of 17 around Cwm Idwal through the wet Welsh weather.
From the car park, we first walked along the south-western edge of Llyn Ogwen to a small wet promontory projecting north into the lake. Apart from the mystery pondweed in the lake (possibly the deep water form of Potamogeton polygonifolius or the hybrid between that and P. natans ) the three most admired plants noted in this area were Water Lobelia, Lesser Skullcap and Ivy-leaved Bellflower, all flowering despite the rain.
Then we headed back along the footpath on the southern side of the A5 observing the hillside and pavement edge, then up the hill through similar, more extensive, terrain to the shores of Llyn Idwal where we stopped for lunch.
After lunch we headed east, making a clockwise circuit of Cwm Idwal. We stuck to the lowest path around the cwm, the weather conditions not allowing forays to view the crags and ledges on this occasion.
A total of 138 plants seen are listed in the file below .
| idwal_spp_lists.pdf |
Ainsdale
Saturday 23rd July
Leader: Patricia Lockwood
It was a fine day when Pat led 25 of us for our trip up from the Discovery Centre to the green beach. We started with the interesting range of species in the flat grassland north of the Lido and stopped off at the plants growing in the retailing structure along Shore Road. North of Shore Road Pat took us to the most recent area of beach from where car parking has been excluded, this was developing incipient vegetation with species characteristic of both saltmarsh and dune slack wetland. A notable species for many here was Frog Rush Juncus ranarius and there were scattered plants of Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii in full flower.
Continuing northwards Pat led us into longer established areas of plant colonisation, westwards of what had been the strandline up until the 1990s. Through this complex range of dynamic vegetation types we saw a fantastic range of plants typical of dry dunes, slacks, strandline and brackish wetland areas, many in fine flower. Amongst the highlights were good numbers of Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, three species of Centaury and Tubular Water-dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa, the full list of plants recorded can be seen below.
Pictures and species list by Peter Gateley
Saturday 23rd July
Leader: Patricia Lockwood
It was a fine day when Pat led 25 of us for our trip up from the Discovery Centre to the green beach. We started with the interesting range of species in the flat grassland north of the Lido and stopped off at the plants growing in the retailing structure along Shore Road. North of Shore Road Pat took us to the most recent area of beach from where car parking has been excluded, this was developing incipient vegetation with species characteristic of both saltmarsh and dune slack wetland. A notable species for many here was Frog Rush Juncus ranarius and there were scattered plants of Parsley Water-dropwort Oenanthe lachenalii in full flower.
Continuing northwards Pat led us into longer established areas of plant colonisation, westwards of what had been the strandline up until the 1990s. Through this complex range of dynamic vegetation types we saw a fantastic range of plants typical of dry dunes, slacks, strandline and brackish wetland areas, many in fine flower. Amongst the highlights were good numbers of Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis, three species of Centaury and Tubular Water-dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa, the full list of plants recorded can be seen below.
Pictures and species list by Peter Gateley
| ainsdale_species_list.pdf |
Brock Valley
6 August 2016
Leaders: Alison Evans and Michael Hayward
This was a joint meeting with the The British Pteridological Society (BPS). Members met at Higher Brock Bridge car park and walked down stream through woodland to the ruins of an old mill and hamlet at Brock Bottoms. The group was directed by Dr Alison Evans, membership secretary of the BPS and under her guidance we were introduced to the complexities of Dryopteris. Amongst the taxa seen were various Scaly Male-ferns Dryopteris, affinis, D. borreri, D. borreri 'forma foliosum, Broad-buckler Fern D. dilatata, Male -fern D. filix-mas and Narrow Buckler-fern D. carthusiana. After a good deal of searching more intrepid members also saw a small colony of Beech Fern Phegopteris connectilis whilst near the car park two Polypody ferns Polypodium vulgare and possibly P. x mantoniiae were seen. Other ferns and fern allies noted included Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvticum, Giant Horsetail E. telmateia, Hard Fern Blechnum spicant, Bracken Pteridium aquilinum and later in the day on Beacon Fell, Lemon-scented Fern Oreopteris limbosperma.
Amongst other plants seen was Mountain Currant Ribes alpinum, recorded near the ruined mill where it has been known for over 100 years.
Eric Greenwood
6 August 2016
Leaders: Alison Evans and Michael Hayward
This was a joint meeting with the The British Pteridological Society (BPS). Members met at Higher Brock Bridge car park and walked down stream through woodland to the ruins of an old mill and hamlet at Brock Bottoms. The group was directed by Dr Alison Evans, membership secretary of the BPS and under her guidance we were introduced to the complexities of Dryopteris. Amongst the taxa seen were various Scaly Male-ferns Dryopteris, affinis, D. borreri, D. borreri 'forma foliosum, Broad-buckler Fern D. dilatata, Male -fern D. filix-mas and Narrow Buckler-fern D. carthusiana. After a good deal of searching more intrepid members also saw a small colony of Beech Fern Phegopteris connectilis whilst near the car park two Polypody ferns Polypodium vulgare and possibly P. x mantoniiae were seen. Other ferns and fern allies noted included Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvticum, Giant Horsetail E. telmateia, Hard Fern Blechnum spicant, Bracken Pteridium aquilinum and later in the day on Beacon Fell, Lemon-scented Fern Oreopteris limbosperma.
Amongst other plants seen was Mountain Currant Ribes alpinum, recorded near the ruined mill where it has been known for over 100 years.
Eric Greenwood
RAINFORD
20th August 2016
Peter Gately
Meeting up at the car park adjacent to Rainford Junction station on a dull morning after much rain it was not too surprising that our party numbered only six. We set off to follow the course of the railway to the west, starting in the area where the former line linking Ormskirk to St Helens used to run. This was a surprisingly diverse patch and was a good start in an area that is generally either intensive arable land or residential development. Travelling to the west we reached the Local Nature Reserve at Siding Lane, Rainford, a St Helens Borough Local Nature Reserve established on a former colliery and coal sidings site. Whilst we were at Siding Lane the weather began to close in again, so rather than head off into the drained mossland and open arable land to the west and north we cut back along Bushy Lane through the north end of Rainford and back to the railway station, curtailing our planned route somewhat.
Three lists have been compiled, one for each of the two monads (1 kilometre squares) we walked through and the third compiled by Robert Freeth showing the order in which we came across the species. The first monad list records the square SD 47 02. This covers the area of the station car park and down into the northern end of the former railway junction, as well as much natural regeneration there has also been some tree planting and grass-seeding in the past. There is a mix of scrub/woodland and diverse grassy swards mainly neutral to acid and damp to dry and also a small pond. We crossed the railway and headed west past Red Delph Farm. There was so much to see in this first section that we lunched on a bridge across the railway between Kirkby and Wigan rather than reaching picnic tables at Siding Lane, noting the typical rail-side species also. There were some surprising species in some worn edges of swards along the main path, including a mystery plant that one of our number (Sally Edmondson) took home to put in water to see what the flower looked like. It flowered soon after and the plant resembles an exotic yellow daisy, Salvinia procumbens the specimen has been dried and will be sent for identification. Also in the edge of the sward at one point were rosettes of Birds-foot Ornithopus persipullis and also some Silver Hair-grass, Aira caryophyllea.
The second monad list covers species we observed in square SD 46 02, to the west of the first grid-square. We headed along the weedy northern fringes of some arable land, seeing a range of ruderal plants typical of arable field edges, and then came through the row of cottages and crossed the Rainford By-pass. The central reserve of this dual carriageway was short mown grass sward but traces of previous wildflower seeding along the roadway were evident in small surviving populations of Ladies Bedstraw Galium verum, Field Scabious Knautia arvensis and Hedge Bedstraw Galium album. Once over the main road we were into the short spur of Siding Lane, leading to the reserve, an interesting find in one of the grass verges here was Trailing St.John’s-wort Hypericum humifusum before we got into the vegetated colliery waste tips of the reserve itself. There is much tall birch and willow scrub established throughout this area with a good range of mosses and ferns in the shady woodland floor and amongst walls and bridge abutments etc surviving from coal mining times here. We included the vegetation around the square waterbody that formerly provided water for the pit winding engines, but from the recording point of view this pond lies immediately south of SD 47 02, in the northern fringe of SD 46 01.
20th August 2016
Peter Gately
Meeting up at the car park adjacent to Rainford Junction station on a dull morning after much rain it was not too surprising that our party numbered only six. We set off to follow the course of the railway to the west, starting in the area where the former line linking Ormskirk to St Helens used to run. This was a surprisingly diverse patch and was a good start in an area that is generally either intensive arable land or residential development. Travelling to the west we reached the Local Nature Reserve at Siding Lane, Rainford, a St Helens Borough Local Nature Reserve established on a former colliery and coal sidings site. Whilst we were at Siding Lane the weather began to close in again, so rather than head off into the drained mossland and open arable land to the west and north we cut back along Bushy Lane through the north end of Rainford and back to the railway station, curtailing our planned route somewhat.
Three lists have been compiled, one for each of the two monads (1 kilometre squares) we walked through and the third compiled by Robert Freeth showing the order in which we came across the species. The first monad list records the square SD 47 02. This covers the area of the station car park and down into the northern end of the former railway junction, as well as much natural regeneration there has also been some tree planting and grass-seeding in the past. There is a mix of scrub/woodland and diverse grassy swards mainly neutral to acid and damp to dry and also a small pond. We crossed the railway and headed west past Red Delph Farm. There was so much to see in this first section that we lunched on a bridge across the railway between Kirkby and Wigan rather than reaching picnic tables at Siding Lane, noting the typical rail-side species also. There were some surprising species in some worn edges of swards along the main path, including a mystery plant that one of our number (Sally Edmondson) took home to put in water to see what the flower looked like. It flowered soon after and the plant resembles an exotic yellow daisy, Salvinia procumbens the specimen has been dried and will be sent for identification. Also in the edge of the sward at one point were rosettes of Birds-foot Ornithopus persipullis and also some Silver Hair-grass, Aira caryophyllea.
The second monad list covers species we observed in square SD 46 02, to the west of the first grid-square. We headed along the weedy northern fringes of some arable land, seeing a range of ruderal plants typical of arable field edges, and then came through the row of cottages and crossed the Rainford By-pass. The central reserve of this dual carriageway was short mown grass sward but traces of previous wildflower seeding along the roadway were evident in small surviving populations of Ladies Bedstraw Galium verum, Field Scabious Knautia arvensis and Hedge Bedstraw Galium album. Once over the main road we were into the short spur of Siding Lane, leading to the reserve, an interesting find in one of the grass verges here was Trailing St.John’s-wort Hypericum humifusum before we got into the vegetated colliery waste tips of the reserve itself. There is much tall birch and willow scrub established throughout this area with a good range of mosses and ferns in the shady woodland floor and amongst walls and bridge abutments etc surviving from coal mining times here. We included the vegetation around the square waterbody that formerly provided water for the pit winding engines, but from the recording point of view this pond lies immediately south of SD 47 02, in the northern fringe of SD 46 01.
| rainford_lists_1_and_2.rtf |
| roberts_list_3.docx |
Lunt Meadows
3rd September 2016
Leader: Steven Cross
We started off as a group of 10 on a very wet autumnal morning, it rained continuously but all ten stuck it out! We spent quite a time in the car park area before going through the gate into the reserve, this had a mix of plantings and also a range of arable weeds from the adjacent fields. It was in this area that we saw not only the large developing seed pods of Field Pennycress Thlaspi arvensis but also some heads of white flowers also. Although late in the season, many plants were still flowering, such as Hop Trefoil Trifolium campestre and of course many others were in seed. We were able to compare Hairy Tare Vicia hirsuta and Smooth Tare Vicia tetrasperma in detail. Despite the rain, Sun Spurge Euphorbia heliscopica was also in evidence. Steve led us through the grasslands and wetlands of the reserve, stopping off at bird hides and also the fascinating archeological investigations revealing very early settlement by people in a wetland habitat in the valley of the River Alt.
Many birds were also seen as well as plants, with Swallows and House Martins noticeably gathering for their imminent migration away from the UK. We stopped for lunch around 12:15 by a small pumping station on the banks of the Alt, trying to shelter as much as possible from the incessant rain. However, the rain did curtail our visit somewhat and we were back at the cars by around 13.15, but in our three hours we had seen plenty and had a good time.
Photos by Steven Cross
3rd September 2016
Leader: Steven Cross
We started off as a group of 10 on a very wet autumnal morning, it rained continuously but all ten stuck it out! We spent quite a time in the car park area before going through the gate into the reserve, this had a mix of plantings and also a range of arable weeds from the adjacent fields. It was in this area that we saw not only the large developing seed pods of Field Pennycress Thlaspi arvensis but also some heads of white flowers also. Although late in the season, many plants were still flowering, such as Hop Trefoil Trifolium campestre and of course many others were in seed. We were able to compare Hairy Tare Vicia hirsuta and Smooth Tare Vicia tetrasperma in detail. Despite the rain, Sun Spurge Euphorbia heliscopica was also in evidence. Steve led us through the grasslands and wetlands of the reserve, stopping off at bird hides and also the fascinating archeological investigations revealing very early settlement by people in a wetland habitat in the valley of the River Alt.
Many birds were also seen as well as plants, with Swallows and House Martins noticeably gathering for their imminent migration away from the UK. We stopped for lunch around 12:15 by a small pumping station on the banks of the Alt, trying to shelter as much as possible from the incessant rain. However, the rain did curtail our visit somewhat and we were back at the cars by around 13.15, but in our three hours we had seen plenty and had a good time.
Photos by Steven Cross
| roberts_list_lunt.pdf |
| lunt_species_list.pdf |
Following photos by Peter Gateley
Malltraeth
17th September 2016
Leader: David Bryant
The weather was warm (17c) and generally fine for this MNA organised coach field trip led by David Bryant. It was a double-header, calling in at Malltraeth first for seabirds and coastal plants, walking along the concrete sea-bank with beach and sea on one side and freshwater lakes inland. Rest & lunch break at Pen Cob wooded carpark area by 14:00.
By 14.20 we had all boarded the coach again and drove on to our second destination the nearby Tygal Marsh, Anglesey RSPB reserve. David led us on a walk along a concrete farm trackway between flat damp fields, completing the 2-mile route in about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Many plants and good number of birds were seen, as well as butterflies, dragonflies and other invertebrates.
The species lists below show the plants in alphabetical order and also Robert Freeth’s list, ordering the species in the order that they were noted in the field.
For more detail and photographs please go to the Merseyside Naturalists Association website:
http://naturalistsnotebook.mnapage.info/2016/09/18/mna-coach-trip-malltraeth-anglesey-17th-september-2016/
Photo and species list by Robert Freeth
17th September 2016
Leader: David Bryant
The weather was warm (17c) and generally fine for this MNA organised coach field trip led by David Bryant. It was a double-header, calling in at Malltraeth first for seabirds and coastal plants, walking along the concrete sea-bank with beach and sea on one side and freshwater lakes inland. Rest & lunch break at Pen Cob wooded carpark area by 14:00.
By 14.20 we had all boarded the coach again and drove on to our second destination the nearby Tygal Marsh, Anglesey RSPB reserve. David led us on a walk along a concrete farm trackway between flat damp fields, completing the 2-mile route in about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Many plants and good number of birds were seen, as well as butterflies, dragonflies and other invertebrates.
The species lists below show the plants in alphabetical order and also Robert Freeth’s list, ordering the species in the order that they were noted in the field.
For more detail and photographs please go to the Merseyside Naturalists Association website:
http://naturalistsnotebook.mnapage.info/2016/09/18/mna-coach-trip-malltraeth-anglesey-17th-september-2016/
Photo and species list by Robert Freeth
| roberts_list.pdf |
Robin’s Pincushion or Bedeguar Gall Diplolepis rosae
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Species list by Peter Gateley |
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Species list by Robert Freeth
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Dibbinsdale
8th October 2016
Leader: Steven Cross
Photos by Steven Cross
We met up at Bromborough Rake station and crossing the railway into the woodland Steve immediately began to find fungi; between them he and Tony Carter assembled a splendid list of species including minute ones that specialised on living on dead stalks of Stinging Nettle and Bramble. We also enjoyed a wide range of tall herb and woodland plants, many with bright autumn colour such as the crimson and yellow leaves and fluffy white seeds of Rosebay Willowherb Chamerion angustifolium. Various seedheads also caught our attention, such as the hooked capsules of Enchanter’s Nightshade Circaea lutetiana attaching themselves to our clothing.
Tony Carter has supplied a list of his recordings, based on field identification and detailed work under the microscope. He also provided the range of macro-photos of some of the species he collected in the field.
| fungus_listdibb_tony_carter.docx |
Following photographs from Tony Carter
