RReeccoorrddiinngg 6655

A botaniicall newslletter for North-West Yorkshiire

Issue 1. Winter 2008/09

Welcom e to this our first newsletter for VC65 which SD99, SE09, SE19, SE29, SE39, NY80, NY90, NZ00, is intended to keep you up-to date with botanical NZ10, NZ20, NZ30, NY81, NY91, NZ01, NZ11, activities in North-west . Linda Robinson NZ21, NY72, NY82, NY92, NZ02. We start our tour and myself are the new BSBI recorders for the vice- on the summit of Crag Hill in the SE corner of the county having taken over from Deborah Millward county where VC65 meets three other counties (VCs earlier this year. Deborah decided to retire due to 64, 60 and 69). From here the boundary runs over the other commitments and we thank her for all her hard NE slopes of Whernside and crosses the northern work over the years, and especially for the support edge of Upper Wharfedale above Oughtershaw she has given us during the hand over. We hope to crossing the B6160 north of Cray to the summit of build on her successes, most notably the publication Buckden Pike. of the Flora of and her contribution to the Botanical vice-county 65 recent New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora. 3 One of the first things that struck us when we took over was the lack of resident botanists in the county 2 (we are only aware of three resident BSBI members!). However, we know that many of you visit the county 1 and make many interesting records. We would like you to send us these records but it is also our job to 0NY NZ let you know which species and areas in the county need further work. 9

In this issue we have therefore identified a number of 8 species which hope to concentrate on in the coming years (in preparation for a Rare Plant Register) as 7 well as some of the less well recorded areas of the county. If you would like to help with these then 6 please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We also provide SD 6 7 8 9 0SE 1 2 3 4 5 describe some recent finds and the results of recent From here it follows the northern watershed of surveys which we hope you find it useful and meeting the River Ure near to West interesting. Tanfield north of . The Ure then forms a Kevin Walker & Linda Robinson natural southern boundary as far as BSBI recorders for VC65 (although there are complications where the river has been re-aligned) where it meets the A brief tour of the county just north of the confluence. Many of you are probably not familiar with the The Rivers Swale and Wiske form the eastern county so here is brief botanical tour of its boundary. boundary of the county as far north as the Tees at VC 65 is a relatively big county by British standards Stockburn. It then runs west along the south bank of covering 24,081 km2 (the 39th largest in GB). It the Tees as far as Maize Beck, taking in the botanical encompasses 39 hectads including 11 which are delights of High and Low Force, Holwick Meadows entirely within the VC (see map opposite) - these are and Cronkley Fell. The western boundary is very given in bold in the following list: SE36, SE46, SD97, indistinct crossing a remote area of moorland via SE07, SE17, SE27, SE37, SE47, SD68, SD78, SD88, Mickle Fell, the Stainmore Gap (and the A66) and the SD98, SE08, SE18, SE28, SE38, SD69, SD79, SD89, head of . From here it follows the 1 watershed on the Mallerstang ridge before crossing from Scotland but since foot and mouth several new the upper Eden Valley and the southern half of the sites have been found in northern . The Howgill Fells. The final stretch runs south along the VC65 colonies of both species are very small and Lune Valley to the south of Sedbergh and across the were presumably overlooked when the fells were south of Dentdale to Crag Hill. overgrazed. They may be more widespread in the county so please keep a look out for them in base- Alchemilla in rich flushes (often in unpromising looking terrain) above 650m. One of Teesdale’s many claims to botanical fame are its Lady’s-mantles, three of which appear to be Other notable boreal species found recently on confined to the region (Alchemilla acutiloba, A. Shunner Fell include Epilobium alsinifolium, Carex monticola and A. subcrenata). It also has notable bigelowii and the hybrid with C. nigra (C. × populations of A. wichurae and A. glomerulans, both decolorans), confirmed by Rod Corner and Linda of which are very uncommon in Northern England, Robinson during a visit this year. The mountain as well the more widespread species, A. glabra, A. must therefore be one of the most notable in Britain xanthochlora and A. filicaulis. A. minima and A. for its assemblage of boreal species, many of which glaucescens have yet to recorded in Teesdale but may are at or near there absolute southern limits in the well occur in the area (both occur further south in world. VC65). A new hybrid willow for England Surveys by Margaret Bradshaw in the 1950s and since 2000 have shown worrying declines for the five Another remarkable fine this year was the newly uncommon species in Teesdale and Weardale, all of described hybrid willow, Salix × lochsiensis (S. which occur in meadows and calcareous grassland myrsinifolia × phylicifolia × repens), discovered by on the south side of the (VC65). It is David Tenant amongst basalt rocks on the S bank of therefore encouraging to report the results of a the River Tees. This is the first English and only the survey of meadows near Holwick carried out in May second British record for this triple hybrid (see of this year. Despite torrential rain a group led by Watsonia 26: 381, 2007). Margaret recorded healthy populations of A. subcrenata in meadows near to Holwick where BSBI Threatened Plant Project Margaret first noticed the plant in the 1950s. The During this summer a number of recorders meadows also support small populations of A. undertook surveys of populations of Blysmus glomerulans and A. wichurae, as well as a range of compressus, Crepis mollis and Gentianella campestris as other localized VC65 species including Crepis mollis, part of the BSBI’s national Threatened Plant project. Gentianella campestris, and Pseudorchis albida (found This has resulted in many new records as well as by John O’Reilly in June – see below). confirmations of populations that were either

thought to be lost or for which the exact localities Boreal outliers on were not known. The discovery of three populations In August 2007 Linda Robinson made some of Crepis mollis was especially pleasing as this is a spectacular discoveries on Great Shunner Fell. Whilst very rare species in VC65 and it has not been seen at searching flushes for Saxifraga hirculus Linda many old sites for a number of years. This included discovered Carex vaginata and Alopecurus borealis one site in Wensleydale where it has and two small both of which were new for the county. populations near Holwick where it occurs on species-rich banks in meadows very close to the Alpine foxtail is an extremely rare species in Britain River Tees. Many thanks to those who helped with although it has been recorded in several new sites fieldwork most notably John & Clare O’Reilly and following reductions in grazing on the high fells Jeremy Roberts. since foot and mouth. Outside Britain it only occurs in Svalbard, arctic Russia and the Urals, so the VC65 This project will cover a new set of species in 2009. In population is the most southerly site in the world. VC65 this will include the relocation and survey of Like the foxtail, the population of sheathed sedge is populations of Carex ericetorum, Coeloglossum viride, also close to the southern edge of its European range Gnaphalium sylvaticum and Vicia orobus. Please let us in VC65. Until a few years ago it was only known know if you would like to be involved. 2 Recording plans for the future Dryas octopetala Pseudorchis albida Dryopteris submontana Ranunculus arvensis As new recorders our immediate plans are to deal Epipactis atrorubens Ribes alpinum with the backlog of paper records that we inherited Epipactis phyllanthes Ribes spicatum from Deborah and that recorders have sent in to us Equisetum pratense Rosa agrestis this year. This is likely to be a big job as there are Equisetum variegatum Rumex pseudoalpinus literally 1000s of records lurking in our files and card Eriophorum gracile Saxifraga hirculus indexes. These will be inputted into MapMate over Erophila majuscula Saxifraga hypnoides the next few winters and added to the c.40,000 Euphorbia exigua Scandix pecten-veneris records or so already in the Vascular Plants Database Euphrasia rostkoviana ssp. Scheuchzeria palustris at CEH Wallingford (formerly Monks Wood). montana Sedum villosum Euphrasia rostkoviana ssp. Sesleria caerulea Initially we intend to focus our recording efforts on rostkoviana Silene gallica species that are either nationally rare or scarce (i.e. Filago vulgaris Silene noctiflora recorded in less than 100 10 × 10 km squares) or Fumaria purpurea Sium latifolium classified as threatened in the new Red Data List of Galeopsis angustifolia Sorbus rupicola the British flora published in 2005. Currently this Galeopsis speciosa Spergula arvensis includes the 126 native and archaeophyte taxa listed Genista anglica Spiranthes spiralis below: Gentiana verna Stachys arvensis Gentianella campestris Stellaria palustris Actaea spicata Hypericum montanum Gnaphalium sylvaticum Teesdalia nudicaulis Alchemilla acutiloba Juncus alpinoarticulatus Groenlandia densa Teucrium scordium Alchemilla glaucescens Juncus compressus Gymnocarpium robertianum Thlaspi caerulescens Alchemilla glomerulans Kobresia simpliciuscula Helianthemum oelandicum Tilia platyphyllos Alchemilla minima Limosella aquatica ssp. levigatum Utricularia australis Alchemilla monticola Linum perenne Hordelymus europaeus Valerianella dentata Alchemilla subcrenata Luronium natans Hornungia petraea Vicia orobus Alchemilla wichurae Lysimachia thyrsiflora Hymenophyllum wilsonii Viola tricolor Allium oleraceum Melampyrum sylvaticum Hyoscyamus niger Woodsia ilvensis Alopecurus borealis Meum athamanticum Anthemis arvensis Minuartia hybrida Some of these species are long extinct (e.g. Arabis glabra Minuartia verna Cypripedium calceolus, Eriophorum gracile, Scheuchzeria Asplenium trichomanes ssp. Myosotis alpestris palustris, Woodsia ilvensis) whereas others are pachyrachis Myosotis stolonifera relatively common in VC65 (e.g. Minuartia verna, Bartsia alpina Myosurus minimus Primula farinosa, Sesleria caerulea). We would Blysmus compressus Myriophyllum verticillatum welcome any recent records for any of these species Bromopsis benekenii Oenanthe fistulosa or up date their distributions. Cardamine impatiens Ophrys insectifera Carex capillaris Orchis morio A much bigger job is our aim to record the flora of Carex digitata Orchis ustulata the entire county, at the tetrad scale, over the next 20 Carex ericetorum Orobanche alba years. Initially we intend to focus on hectads for Carex muricata ssp. muricata Orobanche rapum-genistae which we have very few records. To this end we Carex vaginata Orobanche reticulata have planned a series of field trips to various parts of Chenopodium bonus-henricus Papaver argemone the county during next summer (see below). Please Chrysanthemum segetum Persicaria minor feel free to come along to these meetings or Circaea alpina Peucedanum ostruthium alternatively if you would like to concentrate on Clinopodium calamintha Pilularia globulifera specific areas or hectads closer to your home then Cochlearia micacea Polemonium caeruleum please feel free to get in touch to see how we can Cochlearia pyrenaica Polygala amarella help. We can supply lists of species for each hectad Coeloglossum viride Polystichum lonchitis and recording forms. Crepis mollis Potamogeton coloratus Cynoglossum officinale Potamogeton friesii Cypripedium calceolus Potentilla crantzii Dactylorhiza traunsteineri Potentilla fruticosa Daphne mezereum Potentilla neumanniana Draba muralis Primula farinosa 3 Notable records for 2008 Field meetings 2008 Alchemilla acutiloba, Wynch Bridge, NW of, NY90.28, All meetings and courses begin at 10.00am. 31 May 2008, M.E. Bradshaw et al. First Saturday March 28th - Gagea/Galanthus day. Meet at record for VC65. Croft-on-Tees Cemetery gates, NZ285094. Alchemilla glomerulans, Holwick Bridge, Ettersgill, Sunday 12th April - Gagea/Galanthus day. Meet at NY98.24, 31 May 2008, M.E. Bradshaw et al. Bowlees Visitor Centre Car Park, NY907282. Alchemilla glomerulans, Holwick, NY90.27, 1 June Saturday 25th April - Gagea/Galanthus day. Meet at 2008, M.E. Bradshaw et al. Car Park on Tom Croft Hill, SD694913. Alchemilla monticola, Hayberries, Romaldkirk, Sunday 10th May - Spring Flora. Meet at beginning of NY99.22, 31 May 2008, M.E. Bradshaw et al. Tees Railway Walk just outside Romaldkirk, Alchemilla subcrenata, Holwick, NY909271, NY90.27, NY994216. NY907271, 1 June 2008,M.E. Bradshaw et al. Saturday 23rd May - Sedge course with Mike Porter Alchemilla wichurae, Holwick Bridge, Ettersgill, (BSBI Referee). Bainbridge Village Hall. NY98.24, 31 May 2008, M.E. Bradshaw et al. Please book in advance (Linda - 01768 881714). £10. Bring packed lunch. Alchemilla wichurae, Holwick, NY90.27, 1 June 2008, M.E. Bradshaw et al. Sunday 7th June - Hutchinsia hunt. Meet near the phone box in Snape village, SE266844. Carex x decolorans (C. nigra × C. bigelowii), Great Shunner Fell, SD84.97, 21 August 2008, Saturday 20th June - Muker Meadows. Meet in the car R.W.M. Corner & L. Robinson. First record park in Muker, SD911977. for VC65. Sunday 28th June - Meadows and possible Crepis Carex x fulva (C. viridula subsp. oedocarpa × C. mollis hunt. Meet at the cattle grid on Pott hostiana), Locker Tarn, SE00.91, 24 July 2008, Moor High Road, SE143779. K.J. Walker & C.E. Pinches, det. M. Porter. Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July – joint VC64/65 BSBI First confirmed record for VC65 for many Field Meeting years. Saturday 11 July - Bowes & Barningham area. Meet Crepis mollis, Worton Scar, Wensleydale, field below, Greta Bridge near the Morrit Arms, SD96.89, 3 July 2008, K.J. Walker. First NZ085132. confirmed record for VC65 for many years. Last recorded at this site in 1976. Sunday 26th July - Bowes Moor – Pennine Way. Meet near Gilmonby Bridge just outside Bowes, Crepis mollis, Wynch Bridge, E of, NY90.27, 14 July NY996132. 2008, K.J. Walker & L. Robinson. Saturday August 8th - Stonesdale Moor. Meet Crepis mollis, Holwick, NY90.27, 14 July 2008, K.J. roadside near Stonesdale Bridge, NY884044. Walker & L. Robinson. Sunday 23rd August - /Crakehall area. Eriophorum latifolium, Locker Tarn, above, SE00.91, 24 Meet Beside the Pub in Little Crakehall, July 2008, K.J. Walker & C.E. Pinches. SE242901. Pseudorchis albida, Holwick, NY909273, 13 June 2008, Saturday 5th September - Arkengarthdale. Meet at John O'Reilly. Whaw Bridge, NY982044.

Pseudorchis albida, Marsett Rigg SSSI, SD89.86, 9 July 2008, K.J. Walker. Our contact details

Salix x lochsiensis (S. phylicifolia x S. myrsinifolia x S. Linda Robinson, The Cottage, Melmerby, Penrith, Cumbria, repens), Tees-bank above Middleton, NY92, 5 CA10 1HN. Phone : 01768 881714. Email: June 2008, D.J. Tenant, det. D.J. Tenant & R.D. [email protected]

Meikle. Riverside rocks on basalt, at least one Kevin Walker, 97 Dragon Parade, , , bush. First English and only second British HG1 5DG. Phone: 01423 544902. Email: record. [email protected] 4