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ATHENE A Journal of NATURAL HISTORY and Microscopy February, 1965 No, 6 Published by The Oldham Microscopical Society and Field Club UTTLE OWL, ATHENE NOCTUA VIDALII Editor : L. N. KIDD, F.L.S., F.R.E.S. Assistant Editor : R. J. STANTON, M.A. Price 2/6 OLDHAM MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY AND FIELD CLUB ESTABLISHED 1864 Headquarters: I Werneth Park Study Centre and Natural History Museum, Oldham President: A. HUMPHREYS, ESQ. Meetings held weekly at the Society's Headquarters on Monday evenings at 7-30 p.m. Outdoor Meetings also held during summer months, usually on Saturday. Members are entitled to borrow books from the Society's Library and to make use of the instruments. Annual Subscription 10/- Junior Members (under 18) 5/- Further particulars and copy of the current syllabus obtainable from: — The Hon. Secretary, Mr. W. F. EDWARDS, 31, Mersey Road, Failsworth Further copies of ' Athene ' can be obtained from : — The Publications Secretary, Miss A. C. CHA.DDERTON, 78, Oldham Road, Grasscroft, Nr. Oldham, or from The Society's Headquarters Orders should bo accompanied by postal order or cheque for 2/6, plus 4d. postage. CENTENARY BY ALBERT HUMPHREYS To mark the hundredth year of our Society, which we believe is the second oldest Microscopical Society in Great Britain, it was resolved firstly, to have a Summer ramble over the same ground as the first ramble mentioned in our records, which was in July 1867 and secondly, to end the season with a dinner. Both these events were a complete success. We are proud to record that the Summer rambles whose object is to collect specimens and make records of the fauna and flora, have continued every year for nearly a century. The ramble was in the Saddleworth district of Yorkshire, about five miles from Oldham, on the west side of the Pennines. Twenty members led by the President started from Greenfield and followed the same tracks as did the founders of the Society 97 years ago. They passed through the small hamlets of Boarshurst and Tunstead with farmhouses dating from the 17th century and continued through Dick Clough to the old bridle road which skirts the lower slopes of Alderman's Hill. This led to the present main road to Holmfirth across which, half a mile farther on, are the ruins of the old Moorcock Inn (Bill's-o'-Jacks) where our predecessors refreshed themselves. The return was again round Alderman's Hill but at a much higher level till the Pots and Pans stones were reached (altitude 1,350 ft.). After a short rest the party made their way to Saddle- worth fold for refreshments. The weather was kind, for after a wet morning the afternoon turned out sunny with a mild breeze, which contributed to the pleasure of the day. Compared with early records very little change was noted in the fauna and flora of these Pennine hills, in spite of the encroaching housing estates but as these are of comparatively recent development their impact may be felt in the future. The dinner was held on October 30th 1964 at the Parkfield House Hotel, Moorside, and 35 members and guests attended. Mr. D. W. Mackie, Mr. H. H. Huxley and the Rev. C. E. Shaw were the principal guests. one hundred and fifty-five CRAGG VALE AND ITS VEGETATION BY F. MURGATROYD Cragg Vale is one of the many heautifnl and interesting valleys lying to the west of the town of Halifax, in the townships of Sowerhy and Erringden, which form part of the extensive ancient Parish of Halifax. It runs from south to north for a distance of five miles, the stream flowing through it now bearing the name of Cragg Brook, though in earlier times it was known hy the more euphonious name of Elphin Brook. The stream rises in the midst of the peaty wastes of Soyland Moor among the cotton grass mosses close to the Yorkshire and Lancashire houndary, at an altitude of about 1,300 feet, from where it flows to join the River Calder at Mytholmroyd at only 300 feet. The upper part of the valley above the hamlet of Cragg, which is situated about the centre is sometimes referred to as Turvin Clough. The rocks over which the stream flows and through which in places it has cut miniature gorges, helong to the Millstone Grit series, consisting of massive grit beds, thinner shelving ones and shales. Two important trihutaries join the main valley from the west. These are the streams flowing through Broadhead Clough, the lower one, and the Withens Clough stream coming in at Cragg. Cragg Vale is now comparatively thinly populated, but up to the last century it must have heen a husy valley, judging by the number of ruined factories, empty cottages and farm buildings, some of which are of the seventeenth century. The vegetation is a mixture of lowland and upland species, which is to be expected from the nature of the valley. The steeper, less accessible slopes of the main valley are clothed with the remnants of the Sessile Oak woodland which formerly covered most of the area. The Broadhead Clough area has some Birch- Alder-Willow woodland, as well as Oakwood in the lower part of the clough, hut the Withens Clough area has little woodland, though extensive bracken slopes probably indicate former wood• land. It is of interest to note that among the few native trees growing in Withens Clough, a few specimens of Spanish Chestnut, now mature trees have been planted. By far the greater area is covered with grassland of various types, the existence of which is due to the influence of man and his grazing animals, but much of this is neglected with the decline of farming. In the valley bottom, where any level ground is to be found, and on gentle slopes, the fields are given over to the hay crop, where the vegetation consists of the usual meadowland species of plants, grasses of course predominating; Foxtail, Peren• nial Rye, Cocksfoot, Yorkshire Fog, Crested Dog's Tail and some• one hundred and fifty-six times Timothy being most in evidence. The other flowering plants of the meadows are most conspicuous, Ragged Robin, Meadow Vetchling, Bistort, Beaked Parsley, Cuckoo Flower, the three buttercups—Creeping, Bulbous and Meadow Crowfoot, Sorrel and sometimes Bush Vetch and Lady's Mantle. In one particular meadow Yellow Rattle has been alsundant for the last few years. The so-called permanent pasture occupies the greatest acreage. This is a very loose term and covers various types of pasture from dry upland to wet lush grassland and all grades between. Most interesting are those at higher levels near the moor edges, but in the last few years changes have taken place in the composition of the flora of these, especially the more neglected ones and those grazed by sheep. In Broadhead Clough, also known as Frost Hole, where the botanically richest pastures occurred. Mat Grass Nardus has invaded the grassland and this can perhaps be accounted for by the heavier sheep grazing, as the sheep will not eat the grass and so contribute to its spread. The grazing of cattle allowed many small herbaceous species to flourish, as the vegetation was not then cropped so close. Some of the wetter pastures in the Frost Hole Farm area are now thickly covered with one or other of the two thistles. Marsh and Creeping, which are, however, occasionally cut down by the local farmers. The Common Rush also is abundant. On the slopes of the rather drier pastures where the dominant grasses are Sheep's Fescue and Wavy Hair with small amounts of Heath Grass Sieglingia in the slightly damper hollows, the previ• ously mentioned small herbaceous plants grow. These are Purging Flax, Eyebright, Milkwort, Adder's Tongue, Frog Orchis, Early Puri)le Orchis, Autumnal Gentian, the more common Heath Bed- straw, the two Tormentils and Quaking Grass. A few years ago, a a small colony of Yellow Mountain Pansy was known in one field, but this has not been seen recently. Genista anglica is to be found in small numbers on both sides of Cragg Vale in rough, heathy pastures. Certain areas of pasture have now become covered with scattered shrubs of Hawthorn, Blackthorn (rarely). Wild Roses (Dog and Field), Autumnal Gorse, Bilberry and Ling and in some cases are being colonised by Birches, though probably these will be eaten off. Bracken appears to have increased in grassland and there are now extensive areas of this invasive fern both in Broad• head and Withens Cloughs. Mr. Crump, joint author of Flora of the Parish of Halifax recorded Lesser ScuUcap on north-facing Hawthorn scrub slopes, but these now seem to be Bracken-covered. In the lower part of Broadhead Clough near the stream are many very wet areas with plants typical of marsh habitats. Golden Saxifrage C. oppositifolium, Marsh Hawksbeard, Bog Stitchwort, Yellow Pimpernel, Great Wood Rush are some of these, but one of the less common plants here is Wood Stitchwort Stellaria one hundred and fifty-seven nemorum, which is, however, found in a few doughs to the west of Hebden Bridge. There are some areas of wet Birch-Alder-Willow woodlands near the derelict Frost Hole Farm, and these probably indi• cate the type of woodland once covering much greater areas of wet situations. The ground, which is extremely wet, has a varied flora of plants of bog and waterside including Marsh Ragwort, Lesser Spearwort, Marsh Thistle, Water Mint, the Willow Herbs Epilobium obscurum and E. palustre, Devil's Bit Scabious, Marsh Violet, the Jointed Rush Juncus arliculatus, Tufted Hair Grass, the Sedges Carex remota and C.