2022 Flower Recorders Report

By Sue Peckitt

17th May 2022– East Witton

Sticky Mouse-ear, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Rue-leaved Saxifrage, Herb Robert, Stonecrop, Shining Crane’s-bill, Hedge Bedstraw, Red Campion, Wild Garlic, Wood Avens, Broad Dock, Garlic Mustard, White Nettle, Cow Parsley, Goosegrass, Creeping Buttercup, Hawthorn, Germander Speedwell, Cuckoo Pint, Pignut, Chickweed, Lady’s Smock, Bulbous Buttercup, Dovesfoot Cranesbill, Watermint, Berula erecta, Plantain, Sorrel, Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Crosswort, Dogs Mercury, Hairy Violet, Ground Ivy, Bluebell, Sweet Cicely, Red Clover, Meadow Saxifrage, Wood Anemone, Butterbur, Cowslip, Wood Forget-me-not, Lady’s Mantle, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Bush Vetch, Horsetail, Stitchwort, Yellow Rattle, Bugle, Twayblade, Early Purple Orchid, Daisy.

27th May Waitby Greenriggs

The yellow Cowslips, Globeflower and Hawkweed, the blue of large clumps of Germander Speedwell and the pink of perhaps 200 Bird’s-eye Primroses were among over 30 species of plant in flower. Others in flower included Dewberry (a species of blackberry), Water Avens, Crosswort, Tormentil, Wild Strawberry and Burnet Rose.

We did even better for orchid. There were Early Purple and the all green colour Twayblade – a few nibbled by five ponies grazing the site. Then there was just starting to flower Lesser Butterfly Orchid. As we prepared to leave for home, site volunteers showed us the first emerging reserve speciality of Fly Orchid.

16th June – Preston-under-Scar

White Dead Nettle, Water Avens, Crosswort, Daisy, Elderflower, Smooth Catsear, Parsley-piert, Sandwort, Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill, Figwort, Storksbill, Marjoram, Hairy St John’s-wort, Limestone Bedstraw, and Heath Bedstraw, False Wood Brome, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Wild Thyme, Rock-rose, Eyebright, Scarlet Pimpernel, Stonecrop, Heath Speedwell, Lesser Trefoil, Weld, Mountain Pansy, Germander Speedwell, Strawberry, Campion, Wood Sage.

Robert Hall led walks for the Swaledale Festival on 2nd and 9th June. Rather special were Meadow Saxifrage and Herb Paris.

2nd July – Thornton Rust

18-20 of us gathered in Thornton Rust to discover the secrets of compositae from Deborah Millward.

Dandelion – flower head composed of tiny florets, bracts, smooth toothed leaves

Goat’s-beard or Jack-go-to-bed-at-Noon. It was not out as it was after noon! composite head, long bracts, grass like leaves.

Rough Hawkbit – the hairiest compositae, leaves hairy and each hair forked at the top which could be seen with a magnifier.

Common Cat’s-ear – one of the commonest compositae. Forked stem, multiple heads. Hairy, pimply leaves. Scales on stem.

Mouse-ear Hawkweed. Lemon yellow colour with red streaks on back of petals. Hairy, small leaves, white on the back. Increase by long runners.

Nipplewort – small yellow flowers, multiple on long forked green stem. Leaves lyre shaped.

Wall Lettuce – told from above by dandelion pointed shaped leaves clasping the stem. Stems are red and it grows on walls.

Back at Deborah’s, she showed us Marsh Hawk’s-beard. Leaves up the stem and clasping the stem. 2 layers of bracts under the flower.

Smooth Cat’s-ear – very common. Dandelion shaped leaves that clasp the stem. Two layers of bracts under the flower. Seed heads distinctive like little helmets. Walking along the lane we also saw, amongst many others, Yellow-rattle, Eyebright, Ox-eye Daisy, Great and Common Knapweed, Hairy Tare, Valerian, Yellow Stonecrop, Meadowsweet, Lady’s Bedstraw, narrow-leaved Meadow Cranesbill.

9th July – Horsehouse, Coverdale

Very hot, 20 people. Jenny Walker led through two fields then some returned and others carried on. Germander Speedwell, Mouse-ear, Meadow Buttercup, Meadow Vetchling, White and Red Clover, Sorrel, Harebell, Square-stemmed St John’s-wort, Betony, Watermint, Hairy Willowherb, Tormentil, Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Selfheal, Marsh Bedstraw, Foxglove, Hedge Woundwort, Common Spotted Orchid, Figwort, Bush Vetch, Red Campion and Hedge Parsley.

20th July - Waitby Greenriggs

Wood Avens, Hedge Bedstraw, Lady’s Bedstraw, Betony, Bird’s-eye Primrose, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Lesser Burdock, Greater Burnet, Burnet Saxifrage, Meadow Buttercup, Bladder Campion, Cinquefoil, Common Cat’s-ear, Common Cleavers, Red Clover, White Clover, Ox-eye Daisy, Dewberry, Eyebright, Fairy Flax, Changing Forget-me-not, Harebell, Rough Hawkbit, Heather, Upright Hedge Parsley, Marsh Helleborine, Herb Robert, Hogweed, Black Knapweed, Meadowsweet, Milkwort, Montbretia, Mouse-ear, Common Spotted Orchid, Fragrant Orchid, Restharrow, Ribwort Plantain, Ragwort, Yellow Rattle, Saw-wort, Field Scabious, Germander Speedwell, Hairy St John’s Wort, Self-Heal, Creeping Thistle, Melancholy Thistle, Spear Thistle, Tormentil, Twayblade, Bush Vetch, Rosebay Willowherb

26th July – Harmby Bridge

Toadflax, Fumitory, Yarrow, Cinquefoil, Lady’s Bedstraw, Burdock, Creeping Thistle, Meadow Cranesbill, Mugwort, Opium Poppy, Forget-me-not, Bramble, Ivy, Black Knapweed, Oxeye Daisy, Upright Hedge Parsley, Hedge Mustard, Red Currant, Gooseberry, Crow Garlic, White Valerian, Nettle, Harebell, Field Scabious, Restharrow, Burnet Saxifrage, Betony, Ribwort Plantain, Rosebay Willowherb, Spear Thistle, Great Plantain, Long-stalked Orache, Red Clover, Peach-leaved Bellflower, Nipplewort, Rose of Sharon, Tufted Vetch, Pineappleweed, Stonecrop, Prickly Sow Thistle, White Clover, Dandelion, Meadow Vetchling, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Rough Chervil.

20th August – River Ure, Askrigg

17 people turned up, reasonable day, windy, sunny, cloudy. We walked along the River Ure from Askrigg to the large S bend going eastwards. Giant Bellflower, Himalayan Balsam, Yellow Loosestrife, Butterbur, Arum Lily berries, Yarrow, Knapweed, Bush Vetch, Greater Burnet, Mimulus, Great Willowherb (Codlins and Cream), Mouse-ear, Nipplewort, White Dead-nettle, Pineappleweed, Burdock, Rosebay Willowherb, Tutsan, Red Campion, Alkanet, Sticky Groundsel, Stonecrop, Welted Thistle, Mallow, Meadow Cranesbill, Watercress, Mint, Hedge Woundwort, Goat’s-beard, Cinquefoil, Yellow Toadflax, Oxeye Daisy, White Clover, Meadowsweet. Two Little Egrets also spotted and two Cormorants.

20th August – River Ure, Askrigg