1999 Derbyshire 28 to 29 May Main Meeting
The first day was basically a twitching one, designed to look for taxa unlikely to be encountered on Saturday's more floriferous walk. The party was fortunate to contain Vincent Jones who was able to add to the number of Hawkweed species known and shown by the leader adjacent to the meeting point. A planned walk along Wye Dale was shortened because of the paucity of the spring ephemeral flora, possibly because the preceding months had been unusually wet. However, an early flowering specimen of Draba incana (Hoary Whitlowgrass) was found and there were many fine examples of Gymnocarpium robertianum (Limestone Fern) and one of Asplenium viride (Green Spleenwort). Near Wormhill, Lonicera xvlosteum (Fly Honeysuckle) and Ribes alpinum (Mountain Currant) were both in good condition. After viewing Pyrola minor (Common Wintergreen) at Miller's Dale, a pause was made on the A6 for Berberis x stenophylla (Hedge Barberry). There was not really time to explore Deep Dale (a splendid site worthy of a long visit) but, during a lunch stop there, one of the group found a patch of Polemonium caeruleum (Jacob's-ladder) in a little frequented corner.
The drive towards Buxton was broken by a viewing of Saxifraga x polita (False Londonpride), well established in a lay-by. This was followed by a long drive, flirting with the Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire borders, over the moors to Bosley Cloud. A brisk climb led to Vaccinium x intermedium, in flower and ideally placed for comparison near to its parents, Bilberry and Cowberry.
A further longish trip ended at New Mills, where a canal and railway embankment sported Valeriana pyrenaica (Pyrenean Valerian) in abundance and perfect flower. A walk along the canal was then made to a woodland clearing for Tellima grandiflora (Fringe-cups). It had been proposed to compare this with Tolmiea menziesii (Pick-a-back-plant) at yet another site, but exhaustion and the lateness of the hour determined that only one intrepid diarist went on to do so.
JOHN HAWKSFORD
Fresh from the previous day's assault on Bosley Cloud, Congleton (this, incidentally, having dispelled any newcomer's notions I had of botany as a sedate pastime), a party of 19 assembled at Tideswell Dale car park (off the B6049) in bright sunshine.
When complete the party was introduced by meeting leader John Hawksford to the day's leaders Martin Nicholls and J. R. Comley. Martin supplied party members with an excellent and much appreciated route outline with information on the dales to be visited and their flora, including an extensive plant list. My hopes raised by the inclusion of a number of sedges - it seems straightforward when an expert describes them and points out salient features - and by the prospect of visiting a new area, I fell in as the party made its way to the nearbyvillage of Litton. This roadside section of the walk yielded several plants including Saxifraga tridactylites (Rue-leaved Saxifrage), Geranium lucidum(Shining Crane's-bill) and a patch of Lamium maculatum (Spotted Dead- nettle). Moving from Litton village, the party made its way across fields to the western end of Tansley Dale which I had read described as a former lead- mining site. The description did not prepare one, however, for the breathtaking array of flora framing the view of the valley down to Ravensdale.
On the slopes of Tansley Dale, including its pockets of limestone scree, was a spectacular combination of Orchis mascula (Early-purple Orchid), Minuartia verna (Spring Sandwort), Galium sterneri (Limestone Bedstraw) and Helianthemum nummularium (Common Rock-rose), with a few specimens of Trollius europaeus (Globeflower) on the dale's upper slopes. Moving on down Tansley Dale, Potentilla neumanniana (Spring Cinquefoil) was found on rock ledges, a local speciality.
Crossing the dry river-bed at the base of Ravensdale, the party ascended an incline to discover patches of Saxifraga hypnoides (Mossy Saxifrage) and on the upper slopes yellow flowered examples of Viola lutea (Mountain Pansy). Lunch was taken here and examination of the surrounding area revealed examples of Lathyrus montanus (Bitter vetch) and Carex caryophyllea (Spring- sedge). Descending the slopes towards Ravensdale Cottages a further local speciality Carex ornithopoda (Bird's-foot Sedge) was new to some party members. After passing through scrub containing Rubus saxatilis (Stone Bramble) the group paused to examine several Alchemilla (Lady's-mantle) species before discovering an excellent example of Lathraea squamaria(Toothwort) near the cottages.
Passing through Cressbrook, after a brief refreshment stop there, the party followed a path alongside the River Wye towards Tideswell Dale. This section of the route provided an interesting combination of flora, including Melica nutans (Mountain Melick) growing on a rock ledge, the pale flowers of Rubus caesius (Dewberry) along the pathsides and a small example of Ranunculus sceleratus (Celery-leaved Buttercup) surviving on a riverside wall! Valeriana officinalis (Common Valerian) was seen on the riverbank at Litton Mill and last, but not least, Myosotis arvensis (Field Forget-me-not) discovered on returning to Tideswell Dale. Thanks are due to John for planning and organising an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable field meeting, coupled with thanks to Martin and Jim for their help and expertise on the second day.
PETER LUKEY