Saturday 26th July 2014 - Hutton Roof Crags

A very warm day for our day excursion to Hutton Roof Crags, but fortunately not as hot as preceding days. Hutton Roof Crags is a hill in south-eastern Cumbria, with ancient ash-maple woodland on limestone. Of particular botanical interest are the areas of limestone pavement and limestone grassland. Despite the very busy M6 with many people heading for Blackpool and the Lake District, we saw only about 10 people on the 5 hour walk. (Admittedly the bracken could have hidden a few thousand, but if so they were very quiet!)

While it was too late in the year for some specialities, notably Fly Orchid, which we have seen previously at this site, and Herb Paris, which was still just recognisable in the woodland at  the start of the walk, there were still many unusual plants to be found. Two ferns were seen only in the grykes of the pavements: Limestone Oak Fern and Rigid Buckler Fern, while another small fern, Beech Fern, was found in abundance in the woodland  near the pavements.

Limestone Oak Fern
( Gymnocarpium robertianum)
Beech Fern (Phegopteris  connectilis)

Spot the naturalists in the bracken
Spot the naturalist!
In contrast to these delicate ferns, it did not require much effort to spot the bracken - it required more effort to spot the naturalists in the bracken!
Ferns noted were: Wall Rue, Maidenhair Spleenwort, Hart's-tongue, Limestone Oak Fern, Bracken, Polypody, Beech fern

Green Woodpecker and Blackcap were quite vocal, but the woodpecker also made itself visible a few times during the day. A wren was seen in the thicker vegetation, but overall not much birdlife was seen.

Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis  aglaja)
 Butterflies which were particularly attracted by the Knapweed and Burdock included Large Skipper, Ringlet, Common Blue, Dark Green Fritillary, Green-veined White and Speckled Wood.


Dark Red Helleborine
(Epipactis atrorubens)
Dark Red Helleborine
(Epipactis atrorubens)
 

Dark Red Helleborine
(Epipactis atrorubens)
Of the flora seen, Dark Red Helleborine was the highlight - one of the specialities of the area. Only one specimen was still in full flower, which was appreciated by two wasps, but even the fruiting ones were still attractive.


Angular Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum odoratum)
Angular Solomon's Seal, another speciality of limestone pavements, was found near the summit of Burton Fell.
A more detailed list of lowering plants seen - Pignut, Hogweed, Sanicle, Upright Hedge-parsley, Angular Solomon's-seal, Yarrow, Lesser Burdock, Daisy, Common Knapweed, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Rough Hawkbit, Wall Lettuce, Groundsel, Harebell, Honeysuckle, Lesser Stitchwort, Common Rock-rose, Rigid Buckler-fern, Heather, Meadow Vetchling, Common Bird's-foot-trefoil, Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil, Red Clover, White Clover, Meadow Crane's-bill, Heath Wood-rush, Betony, Hedge Woundwort, Wood Sage, Thymus polytrichus, Ramsons, Fairy Flax, Enchanter's-nightshade, Dark-red Helleborine, Eyebright, Ribwort Plantain, Greater Plantain, Common Sorrel, Meadow Buttercup, Lesser Meadow Rue, Lady's-Mantle, Meadowsweet, Wood Avens, Silverweed, Tormentil, Heath bedstraw, Lady's Bedstraw and Herb-paris.

With many grasses -  Common Bent, Sweet Vernal-grass, False Oat-grass, False-brome, Quaking-grass, Crested Dog's-tail, Cock's-foot, Tufted Hair-Grass, Giant Fescue, Meadow Oat-grass, Yorkshire-fog, Perennial Rye-grass, Wood Melick, Mat-grass, Blue Moor-grass. (Thanks to Liz Blackman for identifications.)

Burton Fell
Burton Fell
Burton Fell
Burton Fell
With thick and deep vegetation on the hillsides, it is a pleasant surprise to reach the open pavement area on the summit plateau, with (hazy) views across to Morcambe Bay, the Lake District and Howgill fells. It was a delightful place to visit.

Thursday 24th July 2014 - Wigg Island and Moore Nature Reserve


There is always plenty to see in this area so a few hours allows only a quick snapshot. I had forgotten about the new bridge to be built near the existing Runcorn bridge, so was surprised to see two very large cranes on the Wigg Island site.
Runcorn bridges
Runcorn bridges
This will be a major construction, and will cause significant disruption at the site. Hopefully however once completed, all that will remain on the site will be the bridge supports, allowing flora and wildlife to return. In fact the Mersey Gateway Project (see: http://www.merseygateway.co.uk/about-the-mersey-gateway-project/the-mersey-gateway-project-and-the-environment/) has created the Mersey Gateway Environmental Trust which aims to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the environment - there do seem to be interesting environmental projects.


Common Fleabane was noticeable near the car park, Lucerne near the disused canal,

Common Fleabane ( Pulicaria dysenterica)
 Common Fleabane ( Pulicaria dysenterica)
Lucerne (Medicago sativa)
Lucerne (Medicago sativa)
and Guelder Rose was fruiting.
Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus)
Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus)

One plant which provided a little confusion is the 'rush' growing in the disused canal.  A conspicuous feature of this plant is the size of the circular stems - about 2m tall and about 3cm in diameter at the base. On searching the rush family (Juncaceae), I could find nothing with this thickness of stem. Eventually I realised is is Common Club-rush, which is sometimes referred to as Bulrush, but this is not a rush - it is a sedge in family Cyperaceae. Incidently, the name Bulrush is also sometimes used for Great Reedmace (Typha latifolia), which is neither a rush nor a sedge, but in its own family - Typhaceae. (I have not even mentioned Spike-rushes which are sedges, and Wood-rushes which are rushes!)

Common Fleabane ( Pulicaria dysenterica)
Common Club-rush (Scirpus lacustris)
Common Club-rush (Scirpus lacustris)
Common Club-rush (Scirpus lacustris)
Flowering plants noted were: Guelder-rose,Upright Hedge-parsley, Common Knapweed, Woolly Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Spear Thistle, Common Fleabane, Common Ragwort, Perennial Sow-thistle, Scentless Mayweed, Red Campion, Hedge Bindweed, Common Club-rush, Wild Teasel, Meadow Vetchling, Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil, Lucerne, Melilotus, White Clover, Tufted Vetch, Common Centaury, Mint, Selfheal, Marsh Woundwort, Hedge Woundwort, Purple-loosestrife, Rosebay Willowherb, American Willowherb, Great Willowherb, Creeping Buttercup, Silverweed, Bramble, Common Nettle.

Wildlife included: Mallard, Mute Swan, Northern Lapwing, Magpie, Goldfinch, House Martin, Barn Swallow, Common Coot, Common Moorhen.

And Common Blue Damselfly; Hedge Brown, Painted Lady and Speckled Wood butterflies.

Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris)
Little time was left to explore Moore Nature Reserve. A short walk to the feeding station, but nothing there at the time. By the side of the path to Birch Wood Pool were two stands of Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris), not to be confused with the variety seen frequently in gardens (Lysimachia punctata). Seems strange that these two stands occur in isolation here, but they have been here for many years.

Flowering plants noted: Red Campion, Woundwort, Purple-loosestrife, Rosebay Willowherb, Common Evening-primrose, Yellow Loosestrife, Meadowsweet.

Wildlife: Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Greater Canada Goose, Mute Swan, European Robin, Great Crested Grebe, Common Coot, Comma, Hedge Brown and Peacock butterflies, Brown-lipped Snail.

Mike Pettipher

Wednesday 23rd July - Stretford

An unexpected visitor to our garden this summer is this Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea). We did have one elsewhere last year, but didn't spot it until too late to eat it. This time, after removing the slugs, cutting into steaks and frying with garlic, it provided the focus of our evening meal.

Giant Puffball - in the garden
Giant Puffball - in garden
Giant Puffball - cutting into steaks
cutting into steaeks...



Giant Puffball - in the pan
in the pan
Giant Puffball - on the plate
on the plate

Cathy and Mike Pettipher

12th July 2014 - Snake Pass, Bleaklow

Having found Giant Hogweed at the Woodhead Pass (A628, Manchester - Sheffield; see entry on 12th June), we found giant orchids at the Snake Pass (A57, Manchester - Sheffield).
Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)
Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)
Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)
Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)
 They were up to almost a metre in height, about one third of which was the flower spike. Probably a hybrid of Heath Spotted Orchid, which likes the acid soil of the peaty Peak District.

En route along the Pennine Way to Bleaklow, we found this fine, Emperor Moth caterpillar, about 8cm long:
Emperor Moth Caterpillar (Saturnia pavonia)
The Emperor Moth is the only British member of the Saturniidae, a family that contains some of the largest insects in the world. It is reasonably common over much of Britain, occupying moorland and open country. The caterpillar feeds on moorland plants such as heather and bramble, so should not go hungry near Bleaklow.

Cathy and Mike Pettipher

Tuesday 1st July - Pennington Flash

Another pleasant, sunny evening for our walk - this time to Pennington Flash. Unfortunately many of the hides are now locked early so we could not use these in the evening. We took the path clockwise around the Flash from the main car park, walking as far as the little stream, currently dry, before the sailing club. While it is possible to walk all of the way round the Flash in an evening, it is not at a botanist's pace! Claire had done a recce prior to the walk and took us to the most interesting sights, particularly the meadows, which must have a great variety of flora - with much evidence of flowers fruiting as well as many currently in flower.

The Corn-cockle and Cornflower were especially attractive - see photos below.

Corn-cockle (Agrostemma githago)
Corn-cockle (Agrostemma githago)
Other flora seen included: Spear and Marsh Thistle,Hogweed, Tufted and Bush Vetch, Red and White Clover, Hedge Bindweed, Meadowsweet, Raspberry (fruiting), Bramble (flowering), Crab Apple (fruiting) Silverweed, Creeping Buttercup, Yellow Rattle, Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil, Red Campion, Self-heal, Marsh Woundwort, Marsh Bedstraw (extensive stands of it), Ox-eye Daisy, Great Willowherb and Yellow Flag Iris.

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Other plants noted were: Great Reedmace, Reed Canary Grass, Great Horsetail, Pendulous Sedge and White Poplar.

There were innumerable Common Blue Damselflies on the flowers of one of the meadows, and the occasional Burnet Moth and Meadow Brown Butterfly.

Birds seen (or heard) were: Buzzard,Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Jay, Magpie, Swallow, Swift, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Black-headed Gull, the beautiful Arctic Tern, Mute Swan, Mallard, Canada Goose, Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe. More water birds would have been expected had we reached the other side of the Flash with other wetland areas.

Two Rabbits were seen although one seemed to show some signs of myxymatosis.

There is clearly a major problem with Japanese Knotweed - while much has been killed, it seems to simply treat this as a challenge and returns with great vigour. It looks as though limiting the spread may be the objective, rather than the the almost impossible task of eradication.There are also extensive stands of Himalayan Balsam, the flowers of which at least, are attractive - to bees and us, even if the plant is highly invasive and difficult to control.

Pennington Flash
Pennington Flash
We were rewarded again with another beautiful sunset.