1999 Upper Teesdale 21 - 22 June Main Meeting
Upper Teesdale is well known for its interesting geology and its unusual plants. The hard rock of the dolerite whin sill have been quarried for the roads and is the rock that High Force flows over. The Carboniferous limestone was baked by the intrusion of magma and produced the sugar limestone which influences the flora. Many plants are arctic-alpine species.
On a bright morning we met our leader Vincent Jones, who has studied Teesdale and is familiar with its rare plants. Our first site was the old limestone quarry at Bowles which contains both wetland and limestone plants. In the wet areas we were shown Selaginella selaginoides (Lesser Clubmoss), Pinguicula vulgaris (Common Butterwort), Valeriana dioica (Marsh Valerian), Dactylorhiza purpurella (Northern Marsh Orchid) and its cross D. x venusta. We were informed about the three types of hairs found on Hawkweeds; floccose, pilose and glandular and then we used this information to follow the identification of Hieracium vulgatum and H. cravonienseon the cliffs.
On our way to the next site we stopped by the roadside at Langdon Beck and were shown how to identify the local Alchemillas, A. glomerulans and later Alchemilla monticola. At Peghorn Lodge Peucedanum ostruthium (Masterwort) and Carex disticha (Brown Sedge) were growing by the roadside. Next we moved on to Cetry Bank, parking at Widdybank Farm with permission from the Raby Estate, to see the morainic mound near the Tees with its calcareous flushes. We scrambled in a bank and were shown the nationally rare Kobresia simpliciuscula (False Sedge), Bartsia alpina (Alpine Bartsia) and Tofieldia pusilla(Scottish Asphodel) were nearby. Gentiana verna (Spring Gentian) and Primula farinosa (Bird's-eye Primrose) were in seed and the stems of last year's Juncus alpinoarticulatus (Alpine Rush) were seen. Vincent made sure everyone saw these small rare plants. In the afternoon we walked to Wynch Bridge and Hieracium acuminatum and H. decolor were examined and identified. Potentilla fruticosa (Shrubby Cinquefoil) was growing on gravelly islands in the Tees. On the Durham side of the rive one member, Alan Lewis, climbed up a cliff to find Asplenium trichomanes ssp pachyrachis for us. The midges were out in force under the trees.
We saw a pair of Redstarts and then crossed the suspension bridge over the Tees. There was a lovely view up river and the more nimble of the party crossed over to an island to see H. dicella. We were by the Lower Falls here on the dolerite and H. leyi and H. lissolepium were also seen. We walked up river to Holwick Bridge and found Mimulus x robertsii flowering in profusion. We examined Salix x laurina and S. x multinervis. Equisetum pratense (Shady Horestail) and Galium boreale (Northern Bedstraw) were found before we turned back towards Wynch Bridge. Several of the party then went downstream to see a site for Alchemilla subcrenata and then Euphrasia arctica ssp borealis in a field.
On Tuesday we met at Hanging Shaw and walked towards the Tees where we saw Cochlearia pyrenaica (Upland Scurvygrass) and Equisetum variegatum (Variegated Horsetail) near Cronkley Bridge. We crossed the bridge and walked up Cronkley Fell where the sugar limestone is exposed and areas are enclosed to protect the rare plants from grazing. Here we saw Helianthemum oelandicum ssp. levigatum (Hoary Rockrose), Dryas octopetala (Mountain Avens) and Carex ericetorum (Early Spring Sedge). Botrychium lunaria (Moonwort) and Juncus triglumis (Three-flowered Rush) were found too among the grass. In the wet areas we searched for dandelions and found Taraxacum nordstedtii, T. unguilobum and T. lacistophyllum. One member, Hugh Prothero, took us to a further enclosure to see Polygala amarella (Dwarf Milkwort) which was an extra highlight. Then we made our way back down to the car park. We had a lovely two days in some rare habitats and the weather kept fine. We give grateful thanks to Vincent Jones for a well planned, informative and interesting two days.
SHEILA MOORE
On the WFS field meeting in Upper Teesdale, a colony of Asplenium trichomanes ssp. pachyrachis was shown to the group on a limestone rock face on the Durham side of the River Tees near Wynch Bridge. The identification had been checked by the British Museum, but some concern was expressed, as the pinnae were not exhibiting the clearly pronounced auricles and deeply incised margins typical of that ssp. It has subsequently come to light that there are two varieties of this ssp. The Teesdale colony is var. subequale and the commoner variety is var. trogyense. These varieties are described in The Ferns of Britain and Ireland, second edition, by C N Page.
VINCENT JONES