The trip to Moses Country Park and Nob End SSSI (near Bolton) started well when Sally and I watched a wasp eating a mayfly while we were waiting for the minibus to arrive. The journey from Bradford seemed surprisingly short, most likely helped by John entertaining us by reciting Stanley Holloway monologues like “Albert and the Lion”.
This was the first time we had explored this small quarry near Colt Park (Ribblehead). Yorkshire Wildlife Trust took over management of the quarry in 1985, originally worked for construction of the Settle Carlisle railway. It is a SSSI and hosts several rare plants.
The rain throughout the day meant our notepads and books stayed well and truly in our bags, though we would have benefited from studying the features of Northern Spike Rush, and the differences between the Fragrant orchids. Despite this, we enjoyed a great and varied display, and happily identified lots of species.
Today’s visit ranks as one of the wettest of BEES outings. The rain was incessant (quote John) but with umbrellas deployed we progressed through the lush wet vegetation outnumbering the animal species I remember seeing. It was six years to the day (20 th June 2017) since we had last made a combined visit to all three sites at Low Moor. We were delighted that Martyn Priestly, warden of the sites, was able to join us and Sally relinquished the role of walk leader to him. Martyn briefly explained the historical background to the sites and pointed out changes and concerns at the sites. When moths did appear, he was quick to alert us to their presence. Not even a waterproof notebook could cope with the rain but from memory a list of plants in flower has totalled over ninety species seen across the three sites. Undoubtedly many more were present.
We arrived on what was a gloriously sunny day to be greeted by Professor David Raffaelli who gave us an update on the development of the site since our last visit in July 2019. A team of volunteers assist in general maintenance work and regular surveys are carried out to monitor mammal, reptile, amphibian and insect activity. Currently 20 species of butterfly have been recorded on the reserve in addition to 13 species of bees. The soil is checked for earthworms on a regular basis and both numbers and species recorded. There is now a healthy population unlike when the reserve was initially established and no evidence of their presence could be found. Grass snakes have now also taken up residence. Tree growth has changed the look of the site dramatically. On our previous visit the meadow had just been cut but on this occasion it was looking glorious with pathways mown around to assist easy passage.
We left Bradford in the minibus on a cloudy, chilly day, destination Allerthorpe Common, to the south east of York, a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve within Forestry Commission woodland. A main point of interest was to find a patch of May Lilies within the nature reserve, and the possibility of seeing Adders - opinion was divided as to whether that would be desirable. Plenty of flowers and grasses to be seen central-motorway and on verges en route (hard to definitively identify at a distance and at speed!)
Still in the car park the first flowers spotted on leaving the minibus were Green Alkanet, which led to the question of why 'green' when the flowers are so intensely blue. Clarified when Black Medic was spotted later and there was discussion of the colours different plants produce when used for dying (eg Dyer's Greenweed (not seen here))
It was one of those 'what to wear days'. For those who chose a warmer outfit, they had made the correct decision. Heavy clouds & a chilly breeze persisted for much of the day & the sun didn't put in an appearance until after lunch. We had travelled along the Aire Valley with several pick ups along the way.
After a toilet stop at the National Park Centre our full mini-bus headed down Wood Lane & parked up in the small, rocky car park at the foot of Grass Woods. This was no easy matter as the site was almost full and the largest of the rocks presented a significant hazard. Two members had travelled there by car & helped to guide us in. We then crossed over the road & entered Lower Grass Woods which is the area bordered by the road & the river. Because it is such a linear site it is hardly visible on an OS map!
A party of six set off from the Unitarian Church, to visit once again this excellent reserve. We were last there on the 29th November 2022. We arrived at 10:30 where we met up with another four members (one of whom was Tracey, making her BEES debut). The weather was glorious throughout the day.
We had chosen to use the train for today’s travel to the Dales, with the thought that this not only reduced the walking to our destination, but also gave scope for varying return times. I’d like to think that the highlight of the day wasn’t that the trains ran on time, but it came a close second!
The aim of our visit was to enjoy the Bird’s-eye Primroses which have proliferated since the grazing regime on the Ingleborough National Nature Reserve was changed from sheep to cattle. To get to the area where the Bird’s-eye Primrose grow we needed to walk about one and a half miles up the Ingleborough path. There was a strict ‘no botanising’ instruction whilst we crossed the agricultural fields! There would be time on the way back, and better to save energy at this point.
Having used cars or public transport twelve people met at the Ilkley Lido carpark on a dry though cool morning. It was good to see the return of a former Bees member from before the time most of today’s regular members had joined, two other newcomers and, encouragingly, the return for a second visit by Angela who joined us last week! After warnings of muddy and uneven pathways from Sally we left the carpark at a brisk pace. Within yards we slowed to the more normal botanical
pace as first one then another of the early Spring flowers were spotted. Once we entered the woodland, with Sally’s agreement two groups followed different routes along the maze of footpaths meeting up after lunch to complete the day together.
A lovely sunny morning saw 14 of us leave for Silverdale. A brief stop at Kirby Lonsdale produced a good start to our birding day when the eagle eyes of Sue spotted a pair of treecreepers attending a nest. With such a good sighting under our belts we resumed our journey and arrived at our destination at midday. Julia then led us to The Lots where she welcomed our two new BEES, Angela and Lesley, before asking us to take care where we walked as the green-winged orchids were just emerging. Lunch having been taken, again in the beautiful sunshine, we set off in search and were very quickly rewarded with the sight of numerous newly emerging green-winged, as well as early purples. Much time was spent by some on hands and knees inspecting the finer points of these enchanting orchids whilst others searched the bushes for birdlife.
