I love the BSBI New Year Plant Hunt. Each year, this nifty citizen science project provides the perfect reason to head outside, brave the winter air, and find some interesting plants – not something I would have considered just a few years ago! Better still, the project is providing some valuable data about how our wild and naturalised plants are responding to a changing climate. A win win, really!
With only a few days of the holiday left, I confess I have gone a little crackers this year when it comes to the New Year Plant Hunt, with fourwalks in different corners of the local area. A nice way to burn off those Christmas calories perhaps?
Tynemouth
On Saturday morning, the first session of my new ‘Botanist’s Year’ course provided the perfect excuse for some group plant hunting. Meeting attendees at Tynemouth, we set about recording flowering plants growing in sea defences, coastal grassland, priory walls and nearby streets. Cutting a long story short, there wasn’t overly much to see with just 21 species noted in bloom. That said, some of these were rather nice with a good showing of Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), ample Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) and even a solitary example of Fool’s-parsley (Aethusa cynapium) – I am not sure I have ever seen that one flowering in winter.
Of course, the reliable winter-blooms featured in our total too: Daisy (Bellis perennis), Annual Meadow-grass (Poa annua), Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) and Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) to name but a few. The group also encountered a stray Garden Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana) in a pavement crack – a surprisingly common occurence.
No visit to Tynemouth would be complete without a moment of appreciation for the copious amount of Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) which grows on site as a relict of cultivation by local monks. They weren’t in flower on this occasion, mind you.
Talking plantainsCommon Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)Garden Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana)A great bunchWild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)
Heaton
For the last four years Matt and I have carried out an annual New Year Plant Hunt on the streets of Heaton, close to home. While being awful good fun, this has also allowed us to gain a good idea of localised changes in the flowering times of several species. Suffice to say, 2023 seems to be a bit of a poor year and in three hours, we recorded just 31 species compared to the 50+ of 2022. Perhaps it was was a touch of frost, or even over-zealous weeders?
The usual supects mentioned previous all featured in our Heaton hunt and by large, most of the plants found were ones you would expect to see in winter. Neophytes (human introductions) in Trailing Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana), Adria Bellflower (Campanula portenschlagiana) and Yellow Corydalis (Pseudofumaria lutea) that seem to flower year-round and typical winter wildflowers in Common Whitlowgrass (Erophila verna) and White Dead-nettle (Lamium album). It was, however, interesting to note several grasses still in flower with sightings of Water Bent (Polypogon viridis), False Oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) and Wall Barley (Hordeum murinum). I wonder what next year will bring?
One very wet botanistWhite Dead-nettle (Lamium album)Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)Trailing Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana)Hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium)
Scotswood
The most botanically interesting hunt of the week now and a new route for Matt and I at Scotswood. Scotswood Road and its associated grassland, scrub and industrial plots is usually rather interesting and in total, we chalked up 31 flowering plants during our yomp. The ‘common ones’ featured heavily again with examples in Gorse (Ulex europeaus) and Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) but there were surprises also. On a particularly nice stretch of verge, we found both Field (Knautia arvensis) and Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria) in flower alongside Musk-mallow (Malva moschata). Quite a nice display for winter! Elsewhere, we noted Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecio inaequidens) and Smooth Hawk’s-beard (Crepis capillaris) while Common Vetch (Vicia sativa) featured surprisingly frequently.
For once, it was actually the non-flowering plants that proved most interesting at Scotswood. Having sadly lost many of them to the mower in spring, it was fabulous to note well over 200 Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) rosettes on nearby areas of amenity grassland and some recent roadworks provided a sighting of Parsley-piert (Aphanes arvensis), an entirely new one for the urban flora!
Gorse (Ulex europeaus)Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)Pretending to like plants…Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis)Musk-mallow (Malva moschata)
Ouseburn
New Year’s Day now and the last New Year Plant Hunt organised through the Natural History Society of Northumbria. Setting off to explore the streets of Heaton and later, taking a detour to the Ouseburn Valley, we were thrilled to find 35 species of wild and naturalised plant in flower. Better still, the sun was shining – a rare thing of late!
Once again, the usual suspects were out in force but what was more interesting was the abundance of typically ruderal/arable plants blooming in forgotten corners and neglected planters. As a group, we were particularly excited to find Small Nettle (Urtica urens) and Green-field Speedwell (Veronica agrestis), followed closely by Ribbed Melilot (Melilotus officinalis), Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum) and Small-flowered Crane’s-bill (Geranium pusillum). Down by the Ouseburn, the first Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) of the year had emerged too. Always nice to see…
All in all, a lovely way to spend New Year’s Day and a great way to round off a busy week jampacked with plants!
Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens)Peering at plants in wallsCommon Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)Who’d have thought planters could be so diverse?Admiring Small Nettle (Urtica urens)Botanising Heaton’s side streetsSticky Groundsel (Senecio viscosus)
Get started identifying the widespread forget-me-nots you’re most likely encounter in a new, simplified crib
Thank you all so much for continuing to read and download recent entries in this series of accessible plant cribs. They are evolving overtime and it is great to hear your feedback.
After tackling crocuses, now seemed like a good time to produce another simplified crib on an equally appealling group of plants – our forget-me-nots.
Members of the Borage family, Forget-me-nots are familiar flowers of spring and popular for their bright blue blooms. They occur in all habitats, from urban pavements to pool-sides and upland flushes and at times, are popular as garden plants. They simplified key below covers those most likely to be encountered in the North East but please note, there are several rarer ones out there.
Key factors to focus on when identifying forget-me-nots include flower colour, style length, pedicel length and of course, the structure and arrangement of hairs.
Identifying Forget-me-nots
Forget-me-nots are not extraordinarily diverse, at least in North East England. Here, we’ll aim to cover the species botanists are most likely to encounter while out and about locally; though the information shared should apply equally well elsewhere in the UK. This crib addresses the following species:
Enjoying this series? Please consider sharing this page with friends or better still, providing a back-link so that more people can find it. If you have any suggestions for further groups to cover, I’d love to hear from you.
It seems to have become customary on this blog for me to share a round-up of the year’s highlights, discoveries and magical moments. As 2023 draws to close, and before the obligatory New Year’s fizz gets opened, why stop now?
Before we get going, however, a huge thank you to the friends, local naturalists and complete strangers who have helped make 2023 such a fantastic year. If you have shared a tip, nugget of wisdom, location, or have spent an afternoon rummaging around in shrubbery with me, this means you!
Lindisfarne
I’ve always loved Lindisfarne. Largely for the plants, of course, but also for its remoteness, landscape, beauty and fascinating history. This year, I have been blessed to spend more time than ever before on the island and have enjoyed some truly delightful sights. From early-summer botanisting and treasures in Seaside Centaury (Centaurium littorale) and Lindisfarne Helleborine (Epipactis sancta) to hunting Frog Orchids (Dactylorhiza viridis) later in the season, it has been a real treat.
A high for me had to be finding Parsley Water-dropwort (Oenanthe lachenalii), a new plant for me, that had remained unrecorded on the island for a few years but being marooned in a spectacular lightening storm comes a close second. What a place!
A selection of Holy Island delightsSand Cat’s-tail (Phleum arenarium)Admiring some Club-rushesAnd againFrog Orchid (Dactylorhiza viridis)
Upper Teesdale
Like Lindisfarne, Upper Teesdale is one of those places I simply adore. Thanks to some lovely trips with work, and a few jaunts with friends, this year I’ve been able visit five times throughout the season enjoying all the wonderful plants you might expect. Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) and Bird’s-eye Primrose (Primula farinosa) aside, it was great to finally see wild Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa) and Rock Whitebeam (Sorbus rupicola), both of which had eluded me on previous visits. This year, it was also nice to be joined by some seasoned entomologists for a closer look at Teesdale’s bees. The sight of quite literally thousands of Ashy Mining Bees (Andrena cineraria) was a delight for sure!
Hen Hole is one of the most remote spots in Northumberland – the reason I had been unable to visit this scenic part of the College Valley until 2023. With some careful planning and lots of patience on Matt’s part, this year I finally ticked this off the botanical ‘bucket list’ making the long walk up the gorge to see what could be found. In short, we had an incredible day. The scenery was superb but the plants were even more exciting. In a few hours, we found several of the hole’s specialities including Alpine Willowherb (Epilobium anagallidifolium), Pale Forget-me-not (Myosotis stolonifera), Starry Saxifrage (Micranthes stellaris) and lots of Parsley-fern (Cryptogramma crispa). I am definitely excited to organise a return visit to 2024.
For those interested, a more complete write-up can be found here.
Matt taking in the sceneryParsley-fern (Cryptogramma crispa)One of several beautiful waterfallsThe view
Surveying our Urban Flora
It is no secret that much of my time this year has been occuipied surveying Newcastle’s urban flora – i’ve written about it here and here. Since beginning work on ‘The Plants of Newcastle’ almost all of my free time has been spent exploring alleys, car parks, pavements, walls and a host of other man-made habitats to record what grows there. It has been great fun and already, has turned up an outstanding 830 species within the city limits, including a dozen or so county firsts. It really is amazing what can be found growing in our urban spaces…
The recording phase will take a while yet (we have to be thorough now, don’t we) but I have now at least begun to put pen to paper. 30,000 words later, I am now more optimistic that I’ll be able to publish a physical book in due course. Do bear with me!
As a new BSBI Vice-County Recorder, this year, much of my time has been spend aquainting myself with some of North Northumberlands rarer plants. Particularly those that have gone un-recorded for a short while. This year, I have tried where I can to fit in expeditions to search for some of these treasures. I have already mentioned Lindisfarne and Hen Hole, but other highlights include Rustyback (Asplenium ceterach) at a rural train station and of course, an encounter with Lady Clermont’s Spleenwort (Asplenium x Clermontiae). Others include Annual Knawel (Scleranthus annuus), Sea Spleenwort (Asplenium marinum) and Spring Squill (Scilla verna).
In South Northumberland, it was particularly exciting to rediscover a population of Sea Bindweed (Calystegia soldanella) that was thought lost. This is a terribly rare plant locally and so its remergence is definitely something to celebrate.
Lady Clermont’s Spleenwort (Asplenium x Clermontiae)Sea Bindweed (Calystegia soldanella)Rustyback (Asplenium ceterach)
So Many Events and Courses
Working for the Natural History Society of Northumbria, this year, I’ve been lucky enough to spend an increasing amount of time out and about across the North East. Guided walks, bioblitzes, identification sessions and more, there have been so wonderful opportunities. For me, a highlight has to be creating and delivering several new, rather lengthy, botany courses.
Now, anyone who knows me will know that I am not a natural public speaker, nor particularly good at explaining things, so for me it has been wonderful to see these to fruition and extra great to hear that attendees enjoyed themselves. I definitely feel like my confidence is growing in this regard and look forward to delivering even more this year.
A huge thank you to everyone who has joined me on these, it means so much, and is one of the main reasons I love my job so much.
Identifying trees in NewcastleScrutinising ferns in Upper TeesdaleExploring urban plants in County DurhamChasing ladybirds at Newbiggin
Discovering New Places
While getting out and about on the aformentioned trips, it has been wonderful to spend time at a host of new sites – places which that for one reason or another, I hadn’t explored previously. There really are too many to count in this regard but for me, Scotch Gill Wood in Morpeth is a standout. I seem to have spent a disproportionate amount of time here in 2023 enjoying Goldilocks Buttercup (Ranunculus auricomus), Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem (Gagea lutea), Rough Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) and a plethora of other treasures. Other new favourites include Cullernose Point, near Craster, and of all places, Scotswood Road in Newcastle where much to my surprise, visitors can find a whole host of interesting plants and insects. I suspect you’ll be reading lots more about these in 2024…
Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem (Gagea lutea)
Exploring Cotoneasters
Including a complicated group of (at times) invasive plants in a round-up of the year’s highlights seems an odd thing to do but alas, here we are. I seem to have fallen down the rabbit hole when it comes to these tricky shrubs in 2023 – wrapping my head around identifying them, recording them everywhere I go, and *trying* to share some of this learning with others. This year, there have also been workshops, trips to distant botanical gardens to scrutinise rarer species and even some garden redesigning to accomodate a living library of reference plants.
Some of you reading this might think me a little mad but this is an interesting and increasingly familiar group of plants. I am quite enjoying learning more about them!
Chris and Hazel Metherell examing a specimenCotoneaster workshopMatt gathering specimens at Ouseburn
And thats about that really. Despite an ever-decreasing amount of free time, 2023 has been another exciting year. Continued learning and new opportunities aside, it has been wonderful to spend so much time exploring the natural history of our region, often in great company. I count myself very, very lucky to be able to spend so much time doing what I love. Thank you to everyone who makes this possible.
PS. I am blogging far less frequently these days but am trying to get into the habit of sharing shorter updates to my new Facebook page. If anyone would like to keep in touch, you’ll find me there 🙂
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of delivering my first ever talk to a room full of botanists (eek!) at the BSBI British and Irish Botanical Conference in Newcastle. The subject? Our fantastic urban flora, of course, and specifically, my findings so far while recording for what I am loosely coining ‘The Plants of Newcastle’.
All in all, it was lovely (if tad scary) to share my work recording Newcastle’s urban plants with around 200 delegrates. Due to some technical issues on the day, live recording was not possible but thankfully a digital recording is now available on the BSBI YouTube channel. Do check it out below if of interest.
I’ll be using the winter to carry out a few more surveys as part of the flora, and to start writing. I hope I’ll be able to share a finished product with you in due course.
Cotoneaster salicifolius forms a few-stemmed, tree-like shrub to a maximum of 6-8 metres. Named for its willow-like leaves, it is native to South and central China where it inhabits mountainous areas and mixed forests but has been widely introduced across the globe as an ornamental plant on account of its attractive foliage and fruits. The type specimen was collected in 1869 by A. David and first published in 1888.
The status of Cotoneaster salicifolius in cultivation remains somewhat unclear. Some sources state that the species is popular in cultivation (1) while others claim that true C. salicifolius is in fact rare in horticulture and perhaps confused with the very similar Cotoneaster flocossus (2). However, Fryer and Hylmo (2009) suggest that the name C. flocossus is often erroneously applied to specimens of C. salicifolius, meaning that the plants grown in gardens and as components of amenity planting schemes are indeed the true species (3).
Cotoneaster salicifolius is widely naturalised outside of its native range, largely as a bird-sown alien. This includes much of Western and central Europe, parts of Scandinavia and areas of North America. In Britain, it is one of our more widespread naturalised cotoneasters.
In my experience of C. salicifolius, it is almost always found in dry, stony and sunny habitats, usually atop calcareous substrates. Typically, this includes walls, pavement cracks, post-industrial areas, rail sidings and riverside masonry. It is also known from woodland, scrub, dunes and hedgerows.
Identifying Cotoneaster salicifolius
Cotoneaster salicifolius and indeed, other cotoneasters within the Salicifolii Series differ from other species in having elongate, lanceolate leaves with veins which are often deeply impressed. In some cases, the leaf undersides are also hairy. They tend to form mid-sized shrubs to small trees and typically, possess erect branches with branchlets that are mostly villous-strigose. Glabrous petals and nutlets ranging in number from 2-4 are also a good indicator (3).
C. salicifolius itself typically forms a large shrub or small tree. It sports evergreen, coriaceous leaves which are distinctly lanceolate, and measure 4o-90 x 13-23mm. The upper leaf surface is noticeably rugose, dark green and shiny, and initially at least, tends to be sparsely pilose. The number of veins (covered below) may also be useful. The lower leaf surface tends to be greyish-green and densely villous at first; though these hairs wear off in time.
This species sports large and attractive flower clusters, sporting 10-50 individual flowers. Individual flowers measure 5-6mm and possess white, glabrous petals. The fruits of C. salicifolius are globose, measure 5-7mm and are bright red and sparsely pilose. Inside, the number of nutlets is typically 2 but may number 4-5 on occasion. For more detailed notes, please see Fryer & Hylmö (2009).
While C. salicifolius is distinguished from most other naturalised cotoneasters on account of its lanceolate, willow-like leaves, it does resemble several other closely related species. The shiny upper-leaf surface is a good separating factor here but to be sure, other features should be examined. Included below are comparisons between this species and several others known to occur in the UK.
Willow-leaved Cotoneaser may also closely resemble the cultivated hybrid, Cotoneaster x watereri. A cross between C. salicifolius and the Tree Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster frigidus), this one readily escapes and is equally as likely to turn up in a naturalised state. A handy comparison of the two can be found here thus there is little point duplicating this here but it may be useful to note that C x watereri is the one more likely to be found in shade.
C. salicifolius is one of the more widespread naturalised cotoneasters in the UK; particularly so in England where it can be found nationwide with noticeable clusters around urban centres. It is scarcer in Scotland but again, is plentiful in urban areas of the central belt. It was first recorded in the wild in 1966 from North Hampshire (4). For more information, see here.
References
Dickoré, W.B. & Kasperek, G. (2010). Species of Cotoneaster (Rosaceae, Maloideae) indigenous to, naturalising or commonly cultivated in Central Europe. Willdenowia 40: 13-45
Verloove, Filip. (2014). Het genus Cotoneaster in België. Dumortiera. 103. 3-29.
Fryer, J.; Hylmö, B. (2009). Cotoneasters: a comprehensive guide to shrubs for flowers, fruit, and foliage. Timber Press, Portland.
Cotoneaster salicifolius Franch. in BSBI Online Plant Atlas 2020, eds P.A. Stroh, T. A. Humphrey, R.J. Burkmar, O.L. Pescott, D.B. Roy, & K.J. Walker. https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9h.pw4 [Accessed 29/10/2023]
Take a closer look at the coastal plants or halophytes spreading along roadsides to colonise the city.
The term ‘halophyte’ refers to a plant tolerant of higher than usual salt levels. Typically, this means coastal plants that are regularly exposed to sea spray, submersion by saline water or soils saturated with salt.
As you might imagine, the distribution of these hardy plants would once have been limited to salt marsh, cliffs and other habitats by the sea though now, this is changing. Owing to the large quantities of salt spread to ward off ice along our roads, several of these typically coastal plants have now made the jump inland to occupy inhospitable margins of roads in our towns and cities.
While recording for ‘The Plants of Newcastle‘ it has become increasingly clear that our urban halophytes are not restricted to the few familiar species so many of us encounter on a daily basis. In this blog, I thought we’d take a closer look at some of the most frequent.
Buck’s-horn Plantain (Plantago coronopus)
A perennial of short-cropped often trambled habitats, Buck’s-horn Plantain has historically been associated with two distinct habitats. It occurs widely around Britain’s coastline where it inhabits sea walls, dunes and shingle but is also known from heathland and other inland habitats in the South. In Northern England, it is very much a coastal plant but now, is occurring more widely as a colonist of urban habitats close to roads.
Across Newcastle, I am now seeing this plant pop up on roadside verges close to major transport links, typically where grassy areas are subject to regular mowing. It is most often encountered on the margins of such places where dominant grasses have been killed off by regular salting.
Buck’s-horn Plantain is best identified by its distinctive rosettes of lanceolate, lobed leaves.
The aptly named Sea Plantain is another typically coastal species. Here, you’ll most often spot it on the upper reaches of salt marsh, atop sea walls or strewn across shingle beaches. It also occurs in upland areas of Scotland and Northern England where it inhabits species-rich pasture and streambanks. Traditionally, it was absent from much of the lowlands but this again is changing.
Like Buck’s-horn Plantain, this one does well on short-cropped grassy verges regularly exposed to salt kicked up by passing vehicles. Locally, it remains scarcer than the former species but in Newcastle at least, is showing signs of colonisation in several areas including Gosforth and Heaton, typically a stone’s throw from major roads.
Sea Plantain can be separated from other plantago species by its long, smooth strap-like leaves.
An annual grass of dry, bare places by the sea, Sea Fern-grass is a pretty scarce plant in North East England, even on the coast. Like the other plants on this list, however, across the UK it appears to be colonising inland sites along salt-treated roads, particularly in Southern England.
In Newcastle, a sizeable population of this coastal grass can be found on the concrete sidings of the aptly named Coast Road in Heaton, as well is in nearby pavements and the bare margins of grass verges. Due to the similarities between this and Catapodium rigidum, it may well be under-recorded and is one worth searching for while botanising the city.
Sea Fern-grass can be separated from the far commoner Fern-grass (Catapodium rigidum) by its larger spikelets.
Another coastal grass and one which is rapidly colonising our urban spaces. As its name suggests, Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass is most commonly encountered in muddy habitats on the coast, typically on the upper edges of saltmarsh. Inland, it favours stonework, pavements and areas of heavy soil close to salt-treated roads.
In Newcastle, at least, this is one of the more abundant halophytes and can be found right across the city, typically along major roads which are subject to the most intensive treatment in winter.
Interestingly, a close relative, Common Saltmarsh-grass (Puccinellia maritima), remains largely restricted to coastal habitats, both here and further afield across the UK. I wonder why?
A rather beautiful member of the daisy family, Sea-aster is most commonly associated with grazed salt marshes and coastal creeks. It is known to be reluctant to spread inland via salt-treated roads but has been observed to do so in isolated parts of the country.
Locally, I have observed this plant growing in gutters and roadside depressions close to busy main roads, presumably where water saturated with salt gathers for extended periods of time. It is far from the commonest halophyte in the city but does pop up from time to time, though seldom in large quantities.
Vying with Danish Scurvygrass for the title of our commonest urban halophyte, Lesser Sea-spurrey is an incredibly common sight in urban pavements, roadsides and verges. A sprawling plant with attractive pink and white flowers, it would once have been associated solely with muddy shingles and grassland by the sea.
In Newcastle, this one can occur almost anywhere. The greatest concentrations are likely to be spotted along roads but I have also observed in alleys, side streets, garden walls and occasionally, on driveways – presumably where residents apply salt.
Of all the coastal plants on the march in our towns and cities, this one has undergone perhaps the most remarkable expansion over recent years.
The standout urban halophyte and a plant which needs very little introduction, Danish Scurvygrass has undergone a remarkable expansion since the 1970s to colonise most towns and cities across the UK.
A member of the cabbage family with chubby, heart-shaped leaves and attractive lilac flowers, this plant flowers from February onwards adding a touch of colour to pavements and roadsides at a time when little else is in bloom.
Hinted at in its name, Danish Scurvygrass, alongside Common Scurvygrass (Cochlearia officinalis), was once used to prevent scurvy aboard ships due to its high Vitamin C content.
Historically a plant of beaches, shingle and saltmarshes, Spear-leaved Orache is now a very common sight inland. For quite some time, it has occurred as a ‘weed’ of agricultural land, refuse tips and wasteground plots but in recent years has also spread along our urban roadsides.
A tad more abundant than another orache featured later in this list, this one is still very much in the process of colonising our cities. Data from the BSBI now shows it occurring in almost all 10km squares across England, with notable increases in Ireland and Wales.
In Newcastle, Spear-leaved Orache is a prominent sight in gutters and concrete sidings within the ‘spray zone’ of most major roads.
A second orache now and one which is rapidly colonising a plethora of urban habitats both in Newcastle and further afield.
With distinctive, slender leaves, Grass-leaved Orache is one Atriplex that shouldn’t confuse passing botanists and typically inhabits silty habitats by the sea. Like the others on this list, it is increasing inland most notably along our roads. This spread has been most pronounced since the 1980s and now, it is a fairly common sight in urban areas; though in in experience, it remains scarcer than the aforementioned Spear-leaved Orache.
A rarer one now and a plant which remains very scarce indeed in urban habitats. So much so that it barely warrants inclusion on this list!
Annual Sea-blite is a succulent plant typically encountered in the upper and middle zones of salt marshes. It seldom occurs inland and unlike the other halophytes on this list, is reluctant to colonise salt-treated roadsides. That said, it does occur in the city.
While recording for the Plants of Newcastle I was genuinely surprised to encounter S. maritima in walls and stonework at several points along the River Tyne. Most notably on the Newcastle/Gateshead Quayside. Now, the Tyne remains fairly saline here so perhaps this should come as little surprise but it is included nevertheless due to its occurrence some distance from ‘typical’ habitat. Indeed, where I have observed it, it has been growing well out of reach of the Tyne’s saline waters. I do wonder if it may appear at further sites in the near future.
Just for fun, take a quick look at 10 urban plants currently on the increase across Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Our urban habitats are dynamic ones and when it comes to wildlife, things are always changing. This is perhaps most obvious in our wild and naturalised plants as new species arrive, others decline and our alteration of the landscape provides new opportunities for colonisation. While recording for ‘The Plants of Newcastle‘, it is becoming increasingly clear to me that certain plants are doing far better than others, and for a variety of reasons. Many of these are non-natives (neophytes) perfectly suited to the urban environment, while others are a tad more surprising. Just for fun, I thought we would take a look at ten of the most obvious examples here.
Guernsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis)
A tall, annual herb of well-drained, disturbed soils in gardens, along roadsides and in paved areas, this conspicuous plant is doing really well at present. A native of South America, it was first recorded in the UK from Guernsey in 1961 and has since spread across much of Southern England. Currently marching North, it is now fairly widespread in areas of the midlands and along the West coast but until recently, was rather rare this far North. This now appears to be changing and, since the first Newcastle record in 2009, appears to be expanding rapidly.
So far, I have observed Guernsey Fleabane from several city centre squares, as well as multiple suburban areas. In places such as Heaton and Walker, it even appears to be overtaking Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) as the most numerous small-flowered species present.
Like Canadian Fleabane, Guernsey Fleabane has very small seeds which as easily dispered on the wind. If trends in the South are anything to go by, I suspect it will go on to become one of our most familiar urban plants.
First recorded in Newcastle in 2012 by Quentin Groom, Narrow-leaved Ragwort shares a similar story to Guernsey Fleabane. First recorded on our shores in 1836, for a long time, this attractive plant remained a scarce casual occurring as a contaminant of wool shoddy. Since 1999, however, it has rapidly expanded along transport links (much like the story of Oxford Ragwort) and is now a familiar sight across much of Southern England and the Midlands.
Like the former species, this plant becoming increasingly prominent in the North at present and in Newcastle, is now appearing in a range of urbanised habitats, from recently disturbed roadsides to neglected front gardens. Interestingly, Narrow-leaved Ragwort appears most abundant in squares adjacent to the River Tyne; though for how long this will last I am unsure.
Now this is an interesting one. A native of Australia and New Zealand Pirri-pirri-bur has been known from the Northumberland coast for many years. Here, it’s tenacious seed heads cause havoc for people and wildlife alike and are much maligned by land managers. While it is known to inhabit inland sites locally, most notably forestry tracks in the uplands, it is seldom thought of as an urban plant. Indeed, with only two recent records from Newcastle, we seem to have escaped it thus far.
Fast forward to the present day and this appears to be changing. I have now recorded Pirri-pirri from several habitats vastly different to the dunes in which I am accustomed to seeing it. Among these, relic heathland, wooded tracks, a church lawn in Gosforth and even on gravel driveways in High Heaton. While it is far from abundant, yet, I suspect this one may continue to increase in the future.
I do wonder if these initial colonies have their roots in populations on the coast, perhaps brought in by a passing dog or unsuspecting hiker? Either way, Pirri-pirri may go on to become one of our most unwelcome urban plants.
An attractive tree from Corsica and Southern Italy, Italian Alder was first introduced to the UK in 1820. To this day, this species remains a popular plant in landscaping and municipal planting schemes, a factor very much evident in Newcastle with rows of planted trees present on high streets and roadsides in various corners of the city.
Italian Alder is known to set prolific quantities of seed. This, coupled with a tolerance of dry, low-nutrient soils, means it is able to colonise a range of disturbed habitats in the city. Presently, it is particularly numerous along rail links and across areas of brownfield land in the city but increasingly, is also appearing as a weed in residential areas. In Heaton alone, I have noted this tenacious tree growing in pavements, gutters and even garden lawns, and the same appears to be true in Walker, Shieldfield and other districts.
As one of my favourite groups of plants, I had to include a cotoneaster on this list somewhere. Now, several species of alien cotoneaster are already rather widespread in Newcastle but until recently, Hjelmqvist’s Cotoneaser was not one of them. With just a single 2012 record from Ouseburn, it appears that it was historically quite scarce. This is certainly not the case now and this year alone, I have recorded this attractive species from eleven separate city monads, in a whole host of habitats. Like most cotoneasters, this one does well in stonework, walls and structures but also occurs in urban hedges, rail sidings, woodland and derelict land.
Like many cotoneasters, this species is popular cultivation and owing to the copious fruits it produces in autumn, is a draw to passing birds. It is for this reason that it has been able to spread so widely in Newcastle and is why it is usually observed as isolated plants. As I write this, a fine example of Hjelmqvist’s Cotoneaser is also growing under my garden bird feeders. Not planted, it surely must have arrived with a visiting thrush or pigeon.
The first birdseed alien on this list and one which represents perfectly a group of plants on the increase as a result of bird feeding.
A native of North America, Ragweed has been recorded as a casual in the UK since 1829 and is known to occur predominately as a contaminant of arable produce including animal feed, grain and oil seed. Nationwide, it occurs in a whole manner of habitats where its spread is limited only by harsh frosts.
With just a single record in Newcastle prior to the current survey at Walker Riverside in 2006, it seems this species has always been somewhat scarce locally. Is this changing? Well, in 2023 alone I have recorded it from four separate locations, three of which were urban parks where it finds a home in lakeside stonework close to where locals feed waterfowl. I have also observed it growing within pavements in Heaton, albeit close to bird feeders.
Interestingly, I first observed Ragweed in Leazes Park, one of the three sites mentioned above, in 2021. It has occurred there every year since but whether this is the result of continued introductions or evidence of a self-sustaining population, I am uncertain. Either way, it seems to be on the rise.
The first alien grass on our list now with Greater Quaking-grass, a striking species native to the Mediterranean.. This annual grass is a fairly common sight in gardens and, seeding prolifically, is now common in Southern parts of the UK where it inhabits a variety of dry, bare habitats from pavements to arable margins. The naturalised range of this species does not extend into Northern England and, in my limited experience, populations here tend to be isolated and located close to gardens.
Prior to 2020, there were just three records of Greater Quaking-grass in Newcastle, notably coming from Jesmond and Heaton. In the latter of these, this grass is now a common component of our urban flora occurring on wall-tops, within gardens and across areas of pavement. Furthermore, it is now showing signs of spread with records from roadsides in High Heaton, Walker and St. Peter’s Basin. Given the trend elsewhere in the UK, I suspect we’ll be seeing much more of it in the future.
If the story of Briza maxima is a successful one, that of Water Bent is one of rampant success. Known as one of the ‘fastest spreading’ plants in the UK, this native of Southern Europe first arrived on our shores, or at least Guernsey’s, in 1860. For quite some time, it failed to move beyond the Channel Islands but in recent years, has undertaken a rapid advance North through Britain. It first reached Newcastle in 1981 but was not recorded again until 2022. In the time since (a mere two years), it has gone on to colonise several parts of the city and is now a familiar site along roads, wall bases and paved areas in Heaton, Jesmond, Manors and even in the heart of the city centre.
With isolated records now from Scotland, this plant is still very much on the move; though it still has some consolidating to do in Newcastle. Still, if the last two years are anything to go by, numbers can only go up.
Now, given that neophytes have dominated this list so far, you would be forgiven for thinking that alien species were the only ones doing well in our urban species. This is definitely not the case and several native species are also on the increase, including those introduced for their aesthetic value. Foremost among these in Newcastle seems to be Small Scabious, a species associated with hills, slopes and banks on calcareous soils elsewhere in the country. In South Northumberland, it is a rather rare plant, so much so that it warrants a place on the county’s Rare Plant Register; though in Newcastle at least, this is changing.
Small Scabious appears to be a regular component of seed mixes used by councils on derelict ground and poor soils. It has been introduced to several sites locally including Walker, Scotswood and Gosforth in this exact fashion. All of this means that its natural distribution, if indeed it was present locally, has been greatly masked. In total, I have now recorded this species from around a dozen squares where it seems to persist and spread quite readily on former industrial soils.
A nice one to finish on and an example of a native species exhibiting a welcome spread into Newcastle’s urban habitats. Formerly a very rare plant, Bee Orchid is becoming increasingly abundant in a whole host of habitats across the city, from urban lawns and roadside verges to brownfield. It has now spread to such an extent that it is the orchid most likely to be encountered in built-up habitats.
Formerly a species of Southern counties, Bee Orchid was first recorded within the city in 2002. Since then, records have grown in frequency, reaching a peak in 2023 wherein it was encountered city-wide, including on a city centre lawn. This spread is thought to be a result of favourable climatic conditions and if this year is anything to go by, Bee Orchids will be brightening up our city’s greenspaces for many years to come.
A quick account of an overdue run-in with a Northumbrian speciality – Asplenium x clermontiae
Now, I am rather dreadful at ferns and for a while now have been trying to improve by tracking down our region’s scarcer species. Top of that list for quite a while has been Lady Clermont’s Spleenwort (Asplenium x clermontiae), a hybrid between Wall-rue (Asplenium ruta-muraria) and Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes).
Now, this is a rather special fern. Despite its parents being rather widespread and growing together on walls and structures across the UK, it is only known from three sites nationally and only as individual plants. This means that population of this unassuming little plant stands at three individuals nationally, just maybe with a few more out there to be discovered.
Of the sites where Asplenium x clermontiae is known, it is a site in North Northumberland (VC68) that is perhaps the most studied. Indeed, after it was first identified in 2000 by George Swan, it was recorded 20 or so times until 2012 and visited by many more botanists keen to see it. Interestingly, local records held by the BSBI stopped post-2012 though it was reported by Stewart Sexton in this blog post. All of this means that this single little fern hasn’t been reported in almost a decade. Had it gone or was it simply being kept quiet? Today, I went north once again to try and find out, and this time, it appears I was successful!
Asplenium x clermontiae
This was my third attempt at looking for this plant in truth, but I won’t begrudge myself too much – finding a single rare fern among a sea of commoner species is actually quite a challenge. Still, I am glad to finally lay eyes on what is perhaps the scarcest plant I have encountered anywhere in Britain to date. Never a dull day, eh?
Get started identifying the naturalised crocuses you’re most likely encounter in a new, simplified crib.
Thank you all so much for continuing to read and download recent entries in this series of beginner’s plant cribs. They are evolving overtime and it is great to hear your feedback.
After tackling snowdrops, now seemed like a good time to produce another simplified crib on an equally appealing group of spring plants: our Crocuses.
Members of the Iris family, crocuses are extremely popular in cultivation owing to their early flowering and vibrant colours. This popularity means that they are a familiar sight in churchyards, parks and amenity areas across the UK. From time to time, several may also turn up in more natural settings as a result of garden discards or dumped horticultural waste.
Key factors to focus on when identifying crocuses include flower colour, colour of the petal tube, leaf width, and length of the reproductive parts. In some, you’ll also need to scrutinise the corm – often a challenging task!
Identifying Crocuses
Owing to a long history of hybridisation, our crocuses are a diverse bunch and can come in a daunting array of colours and forms. This makes identifying some, particularly garden cultivars, somewhat challenging. Still, data from botanists across the UK shows that certain species (and hybrids) are more likely to be encountered than others. This crib addresses the following species:
Enjoying this series? Please consider sharing this page with friends or, better still, providing a backlink so that more people can find it. If you have any suggestions for further groups to cover, I’d love to hear from you.
A project update following a busy old year surveying the urban flora of Newcastle.
As many readers of this blog will know, for the past twelve months I’ve been dedicating almost all of my free time to what I am loosely calling an ‘Urban Flora of Newcastle’. This, I hope, will at some stage become a publication that sets out the abundance and distribution of all wild plants growing within the city limits, along with information on our botanical hotspots, habitats and other key features. Well, after a hectic year, now seemed like a good time for an update.
I already have written about this project several times (here, and here, for example). With so much time in the field, you might think that I’d have cracked it by now but truly, things are only getting more interesting as new species crop up, interesting sites are discovered and certain trends become clearer. We’ll start with the headline facts, however…
The Survey
At this stage, I have now spent 245 hours in the field and carried out 110 visits to 90 of the 143 monads that make up Newcastle-upon-Tyne. No easy feat while working a full-time job, I tell you. Some of these squares (I will call them that for simplicity) have been visited upward of five times while others, just once. I will need to visit each multiple times in all seasons to do even a remotely good job.
During my time rummaging around in the city’s alleys, car parks, side streets and occasionally, more appealing green spaces, I have now recorded 790 species growing in a wild or naturalised state. Of these, roughly a quarter are neophytes – human introductions. A far smaller portion arre what we would call archaeophytes, the historic introductions, while most are simply native plants etching out a living in the city. An interesting mix to say the least.
With several more recorders now regularly surveying the city, these records are now being supplemented by new additions to the BSBI database and iRecord which should go some way to painting an accurate picture of the flora here. With the best will in the world, a single person cannot find every plant in every square…
It will come as no surprise to learn that a select bunch of plants have thus far been found in each and every square. These are often habitat generalists or those who have adjusted to life perfectly in the urban environment. So far, they include White Clover (Trifolium repens), Wood Avens (Geum urbanum), Annual Meadow-grass (Poa annua), Nettle (Urtica diocia), Cleavers (Galium aparine), Smooth Sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus), Daisy (Bellis perennis), Dandelion (Taraxacum agg.) and Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.).
Following close behind these is another suite of species which may well prove omnipresent. Examples include Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), Broad-leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius), Greater Plantain (Plantago major), Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare).
Only Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) have surprised me with their abundance as a component of our urban flora. Otherwise, much of this could have been guessed in advance!
Birdseed Aliens
Over recent weeks, I’ve been paying closer attention to areas where the feeding of birds is commonplace. Such places often hold a wealth of cultivated and contaminant plants linked to stray seeds. This has proven worthwhile with plenty of records of the common escapees in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Oat (Avena sativa), Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum), Six-row Barely (Hordeum vulgare) and interestingly, Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), a stowaway from North America.
These places have also yielded surprises too with Canary-grass (Phalaris canariensis) found on a street in Heaton, Cockspur (Echinochloa crus-galli) at two locations, Two-row Barely (Hordeum distichon) and yet more Niger (Guizotia abyssinica). I do wonder what might emerge in such situations during the rest of the survey.
Earlier, I mentioned trends becoming clearer. One such trend comes from my own biased underestimation of the abundance of certain plants I had assumed were rare in the city. Marsh Woundwound (Stachys palustris), while far scarcer than Hedge Woundwort (Stachys sylvatica), seems to grow in a far wider range of habitats than previously thought, including entirely dry ones, while Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a surprisingly abundant pavement plant.
Other examples include the recent colonist Water Bent (Polypogon viridis), which seems to be gaining ground almost daily and Great Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) which while listed on the county Rare Plant Register, grows almost anywhere.
Perhaps I am just ‘getting my eye in’ but equally, Relfexed Saltmarsh-grass (Puccinellia distans) seems far more widespread than anticipated along salted roadsides too. The list goes on.
New additions
Aside from the interesting aliens listed above, the past few weeks have brought several firsts for the urban flora. Vervain (Verbena officinalis) in Leazes Park, found by Philip Griffiths, Flax (Linum usitatissimum) on a residential street and Ivy-leaved Cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium) oddly growing on a verge beneath an underpass in the city centre. The latter did not look obviously planted and may stem from when the road was created.
On a recent trip to Big Waters, a nature reserve managed by Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Matt and I were lucky to find several areas of Great Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza), rare up here, as well as Rigid Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum). Havannah Nature Reserve, ever throwing out interesting plants, revealed Marsh Cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum) and Gosforth Nature Reserve surprised with Blue Water-plantain (Veronica anagallis-aquatica).
Closer to home in more gritty, urban habitats the surprises have continued also. Chasing an old record from Gordon Young, I was pleased to encounter Sea Fern-grass (Catapodium marinum) growing on a roadside wall in Heaton while Chick Pea (Cicer arietinum) staddling a wall in an inner-city cemetery at Fenham came as somewhat of a surprise.
Another oddity comes from Cabbage Thistle (Cirsium oleraceum) in woodland at Armstrong Park – I wonder how long that has been lurking there? Truly, you never know what will crop up in the city!
Cabbage Thistle (Cirsium oleraceum)Fodder Vetch (Vicia villosa)Greater Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza)Cider Gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) seeded in a city centre pavement
Emerging Priorities
While botanising the city, there have been several groups I have ignored until now and a few communities that have been poorly surveyed. That means that once I have finished my initial sweep of all squares this year, there’ll be several blank spots to fill in 2024.
Aquatic plants – so far these have only been lightly surveyed where specimens are located close to banks or at least within reach with the aid of wellies. I’ll soon be investing in a grapnel to hopefully begin a more thorough exploration of these next year. There must be some exciting pondweeds lurking in the city’s pools and lakes…
Polypodies – thus far, all polpodies have been aggregated but with the help of our new microscope, I plan on taking a closer look at these soon. Those in the city’s wooded denes must surely be Common Polypody (Polypodium vulgare) but those on city walls may yet prove different.
Spirea agg – I’m rather rubbish at these but with several naturalised spirea existing in various corners of the city, I’ll be making a concerted effort to learn very soon. Starting with that growing on the railway lines by my house!
Grasses – I’d like to feel that I’ve put a good dent in the city’s grasses in 2023. However, it is difficult to record each and every one while simultaneously recording everything else. Next year, I think many squares will need revisiting with the sole intention of recording grasses (and possibly carex too).
These targets aside, I look forward to another year spent exploring our urban flora. It really is incredible what can be found within build-up, seemingly inhospitable environments and the relics of our natural ones strewn among them. With 39,000 words written so far, I sincerely hope I am able to do something with this beyond just blogging about it in due course!
Get started identifying the naturalised cotoneasters likely to be recorded in Northumberland and several others that may occur here soon.
Over the past year, I’ve been down a rabbit hole with cotoneasters. With around 80 species now recorded in a wild and naturalised state across the UK, these alien shrubs are quickly becoming a familiar part of our flora. This is especially true in urban areas where with a little help from our feathered friends, they can turn up just about anywhere.
The problem with cotoneasters is that many species look awfully alike and while there are several more abundant and easily recognisable species, identifying them is still somewhat of a pain. Adding to this, accessible information to aid in identifying cotoneasters is rather scattered. Cotoneasters: A Comprehensive Guide to Shrubs for Flowers, Fruit, and Foliage by Fryer and Hylmo (2009) is by far the best resource available but I find, is much more suitable for checking specimens at home than in the field. Likewise with Stace! Websites such as The Flora of East Anglia and Alien Plants of Belgium are useful too but cover only small groups of species, albeit with lots of useful insight.
To help with identifying cotoneasters in the field, recently I set about creating a resource that was a little more portable. Having stumbled across this fabulous crib for cotoneasters in Hampshire by John Norton and Phil Pullen (2016), whose basic format I have unashamedly borrowed here, I have since created an account for all the cotoneaster species currently known in Northumberland, and further species known from elsewhere in the UK which may turn up soon.
The accounts here are summarised from Fryer and Hylmo (2009) with some additions from other resources. In many cases, features have been checked against plants in the wild or those currently growing in our yard here in Newcastle. Rather than stick to known sections and series within the genus, I have also tried to group species by shared features noticeable in the field e.g. bullate leaves or tomentose undersides. Whether this is helpful remains to be seen.
Version one of the resource can be downloaded below but remember, this is a work in progress and I am no expert. Still, I hope a few botanists out there may find it useful.
Get started identifying the wild and naturalised clovers likely to be recorded in Northumberland.
A distinctive group of flowers familiar from garden lawns, roadside verges and other everday habitats, as well as more typically wild places, clovers are a recognisable bunch. Members of the pea family, fabaceae, they sport familiar clustered flowerheads and trifoliate leaves and some of them at least, represent some of the wildflowers we’re most likely to encounter on our daily walks wherever we find ourselves.
In a change to these plant identification posts, this time I am including a short talk recorded for the Natural History Society of Northumbria sharing a few tips for identifying the clovers likely to be encountered across North East England. Around 9 of them to be precise, though of course, there are several more out there.
I’ll be sharing more of these videos here over the weeks and months to come as, I confess, they are far easier to put together than a lengthy post on plant ID. I hope you enjoy it and perhaps feel inspired to start identifying clovers yourselves. Give it a go!
Keen to explore other wildflower groups? Why not check out previous posts on speedwells, ragworts and snowdrops.
An account of a busy season recording for what I’m loosely calling an ‘Urban Flora of Newcastle‘.
As many of you will know, over the past year, I’ve been working on a project to map the urban flora of Newcastle-upon-Tyne – a personal endeavor that I hope at some stage to publish.
With 82 out of 105 monads (1km grid squares) across the city now visited, often several times, some 200+ hours of time, and 32,000 words written, now seemed like the perfect time to give a wee update. Spoiler: with some 760 plant species, hybrids or subspecies now recorded this is quickly shaping up to me a mammoth task!
Common plants
Visiting so many sites across Newcastle, it is quickly becoming apparent which are our most successful urban species – the true city specialists! So far, some 15 species have been recorded in each and every square and none of these have come as a suprise. Cleavers (Galium aparine), Smooth Sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) and Daisy (Bellis perennis) are some familiar examples present in just about every pavement crack, rough patch or lawn if time is taken to look.
Other examples include Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and of course, Annual Meadow-grass (Poa annua). The omipresent city plants!
Totting up the ‘top 25’ most recorded plants hasn’t revealed many suprises, in truth. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) are a little more abundant than anticipated and Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) has surpassed expectations, but that’s about it. But we knew this already…
Rarities and Surprises
On the reverse, while many plants are terribly common in the city, others are not. I’ve found my far share of rarities and neophyte oddities while recording so far but what is more suprising is that they just keep coming.
Just yesterday, while grubbing around Scotswood I encountered several species new to me – Perfoliate Alexanders (Smyrnium perfoliatum), Straw Foxglove (Digitalis lutea), Upright Spurge (Euphorbia stricta) and Wild Madder (Rubia peregrina). Each somewhat out of place but interesting nontheless.
Other interesting records of late include the white form of Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum) on a messy city verge, a new population of Hairy Bindweed (Calystegia pulchra) engulfing a city cemetery and even House Holly-fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) growing in a gutter in Gosforth. Our urban flora if nothing if not diverse. I do wonder what else might pop up during the remainder of the survey?
It isn’t just hortals and neophytes surprising however, and some of our scarcer native species are actually proving rather abundant. Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum) is a good example, popping up just about anywhere, while Hare’s-foot Clover (Trifolium arvense) seems more widespread than anticipated in neglected carparks and building sites.
Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana), rare? Nope. Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)? More abundant than you might think. What about Great Lettuce (Lactuca virosa), a Rare Plant Register species? Everywhere! The mind boggles.
Embarking on a project such as this, there were always going to be groups which were under-recorded, either due to ‘recorder blindness’ or simply the effort needed to check many plants that superfisially look the same. Willowherbs (Epilobium sp) and yellow composites are good examples of the former – how often do simply walk past these? Cotoneasters an great example of the latter. Recently, I’ve been trying to counteract this by focusing on these groups in greater detail.
The willowherbs have proven particularly eye-opening. Close to home in Heaton, a single stretch of pavement held six species including some less common ones in Pale Willowherb (Epilobium roseum) and Square-stalked Willowherb (Epilobium tetragonum). I’ve also been somewhat suprised to see just how abundant American Willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum) is but honestly, I’ve probably been ignoring it until now.
Notable sites
Another thing I’ve been keeping a close eye on as part of the project in the overall botanical diversity of specific squares – hopefully to create some sort of heat map when the time comes. Doing this is helping paint a clearer picture of Newcastle’s botanical hotspots, in my head atleast.
In many cases, the results of this have been unsurprising and those squares featuring a mix of relic natural or at least semi-natural habitats have come out on top. Jesmond Dene (193 species), the lower Ousburn (213 species) and Walker Riverside (171 species) are clearly rather diverse. Green spaces aside however, there have also been suprises here too. Not least the 183 species recorded in an unassuming patch of Heaton where terraced gardens provide a haven for weeds of all sorts and the square surrounding St. James’ Park stadium (193 species) where neglected building sites are rather floristically diverse. Tracking this, I definitely feel I am getting to grips with the different urban ‘microhabitats’ that matter for our plants.
Botanical recording in the city has been patchy over the years and Newcastle has only been selectively surveyed. Nathaniel John Winch was the first to begin truly mapping the flora here and many interesting records made within the city limits feature in his Flora of Northumberland Durham, 1831. In 1868, A New Flora of Northumberland and Durham, authored by John Gilbert Baker and George Tate, paid much greater heed to the neophyte flora that so often define our urban spaces, though mention of the Newcastle area is lacking.
George Swan went much further while preparing his the Flora of Northumberland (1993). Since then, however, most records have come from a few familiar names: from John Durkin, who incidentally has contributed immensely to the current project, Quentin Groom, Gordon Young etc. It is the records made by the latter recorders that I’ve been digging into recently – checking to see if the interesting plants noted 10-20 years back are still present. In several cases, they are!
I was excited to note Groom’s Common Blue Sow-thistle (Cicerbita macrophylla) at Jesmond Vale and Young’s Fragrant Agrimony (Agrimonia procera) at Scotswood. The list goes on and following in the footsteps of these recorders is helping develop a firmer pictures of our urban flora. It is also to see what has persisted and what has vanished.
More to do
Starting out, I think I had naively assumed that copiling a flora for a lone city – a relatively small geographial area – would be an easy task. I was wrong! There is just so much still to explore and plenty of rabbit holes still to venture down – duckweeds, sedges, hunting hybrid oaks. Add to this variation in flowering times, the human tendency to miss things first time around, and the need to learn new groups and I can see I’ll be busy for quite some time. Still, I’ve made a good start…
Fitting this in around a full-time job means I’ll likely run into 2025 before I can produce anything near complete. Still, better to do it right. Hopefully, when the time comes, I’ll be able to attract enough support to publish something in hard copy but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it! Something similar to this would be nice – we’ll see if an ‘Urban Flora of Newcastle’ makes it to fruition!
A botanical hotspot tucked away amid industrial units, Silverlink Park is a great place to visit come summer.
Background
The Silverlink Park local nature reserve occupies 18 hectares of the busy Cobalt Business Park in North Tyneside. Perched atop the site of a former rubbish tip, this little green oasis was created as part of a new development scheme in 1996 making it one of the youngest nature reserves in the local area.
Located amid offices, shops, and industry, many surely overlook this site, but with an intriguing mix of habitats, it has much to offer the visiting naturalist. Among the most interesting are:
Two areas of calcareous grassland,
Patches of exposed scree/rock.
Several ponds complete with dense riparian vegetation
Rough grassland and scrub
Hidden among these habitats are a great many interesting plants. Many of these go unnoticed by the regular users of the site – dog walkers, local residents, and office workers out for a lunchtime stroll.
A small site, it is possible to explore the entirety of Silverlink Park in an hour or so but with plenty of reasons to stop and pause, you’ll likely find your visits lasting much longer.
The main draw of Silverlink is its diverse and interesting grassland areas. Here, a low-nutrient substrate keeps grasses at bay and enables a great many wildflowers to thrive. Among commoner odds and ends, species such as Betony (Betonica officinalis), Wild Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. carota), Lady’s-bedstraw (Galium verum), and Salad Burnet (Poterium sanguisorba subsp. sanguisorba) are present in abundance. You’ll also observe plenty of Cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris radicata) Rough Hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus) and Quaking-grass (Briza media) – the latter almost becoming dominant in places. In spring, grassland areas are awash with hundreds of Cowslips (Primula veris), a declining sight in the nearby area.
Strewn among the species listed above, it is possible to note several more elusive plants. Devil’s-bit (Succisa pratensis), Field (Knautia arvensis), and rarer still, Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria) are all present, as are Musk-mallow (Malva moschata) and Fairy Flax (Linum catharticum). Look closer at the knapweeds present and you can also find Chalk Knapweed (Centaurea debeauxii) while in high summer, large areas are painted blue by the blooms of Meadow Crane’s-bill (Geranium pratense).
Betony (Betonica officinalis)Devil’s-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis)Cowslips (Primula veris)Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria)A typical view of the calcareous grasslands
Areas of exposed rock nestled among the grassland are perhaps the most interesting feature of the site. Here you’ll find some true surprises, including Northumberland’s only colony of Pale St. John’s-wort (Hypericum montanum) discovered on site in 2022. Perhaps surprisngly, Wood Sage (Teucrium scorodonia) and Great Wood-rush (Luzula sylvatica) are abundant here too and among the rubble, you’ll also spot Viper’s-bugloss (Echium vulgare), Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata), Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris) and Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia). All plants able to cope with inhospitable environments.
There are several oddities in these areas too, including several birdsown aliens represented by Small-leaved Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster microphyllus),, Wall Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) and Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa). For years, a large example of Orange-peel Clematis (Clematis tangutica) also grew here but this seems to have perished as of 2023. Still, it goes to show that anything can turn up on sites such as this!
Once you’ve had your fill of the grassland, it pays to visit the small ponds dotted about the site. The margins of these are particularly lush and among copious stands of Bulrush (Typha latifolia) and Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) you’ll note the cheery blue flowers of Water Forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides), the tall stems of Greater Spearwort (Ranunculus lingua) and plenty of non-native New Zealand Pygmyweed (Crassula helmsii), a less welcome addition. Somewhat scarcer are Amphibious Bistort (Persicaria amphibia) and Lesser Water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides) but both are present also.
Pale St. John’s-wort (Hypericum montanum)Greater Spearwort (Ranunculus lingua)Yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata)Orange-peel Clematis (Clematis tangutica)
Grassland and ponds aside, one of the most interesting aspects of Silverlink are the various bridleways and walkways that pass through and by the site. The well-trodden grassy areas on the margins of these have an interesting flora of Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea), Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa subsp. sylvestris) and both Slender (Hypericum pulchrum) and Perforate St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum). Keen-eyed botanists may note plenty of Ribbed Melilot (Melilotus officinalis) and Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), as well as Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium) which while scattered, is easy enough to find. Given their proximity to nearby homes, these transport links can also yield surprises from time to time. In 2021, I stumbled across a small population of Early Dog-violet (Viola reichenbachiana) here – a rare species of ancient woodlands occasionally grown in gardens.
Scrubby areas along these tracks are fairly generic but do contain a good range of bird-sown cotoneasters, including Late Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lacteus) and Hollyberry Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster bullatus). Hop Trefoil (Trifolium campestre) and Scarlet Pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis) are known to grow on the paths themselves so it is worth watching your feet from time to time.
Of course, visiting botanists are interested in more than just the pretty, flowering things. Grasses, rushes and sedges are not too diverse on site but you will encounter Glaucous Sedge (Carex flacca) and False Fox-sedge (Carex otrubae) at the very least. Trees are marginally more interesting thanks to some curious decisions made while restoring the site. There are some nice examples of Bay Willow (Salix pentandra), a scarce species locally, strewn across the site and elsewhere Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) and Mougeot’s Whitebeam (Sorbus mougeotii) have been added. Relics of long-forgotten municipal plantings exist too in Dwarf Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo) and White Dogwood (Cornus alba).
Site Highlight – Orchids
With a nice mix of chalky soils and damper areas, Silverlink is a marvelous site for orchids. Most numerous are the Northern Marsh Orchids (Dactylorhiza purpurella) which inhabit damper areas around the margins of pools but you’ll also find Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and the hybrid between the two (Dactylorhiza x venusta). In the chalky grassland, Pyramidal Orchids (Anacamptis pyramidalis) have recently colonised and across the whole site, Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) can be extremely numerous popping up in just about any grassy area in varying numbers each year. Altogether more scarce, Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata) are also present, and in hidden corners, it is possible to see Heath Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia borealis). How the latter ended up here I do not know…
While these blogs are intended to focus on the plantlife of my favourite haunts, many will also be keen to learn about the other wildlife one can expect to encounter when visiting.
Deviating into the world of invertebrates, Silverlink is a phenomenal site for a whole manner of butterflies. Among these, Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Dingy Skipper (Erynnis stages), and huge numbers of Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus). Linked to this, moths can be interesting also with Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet (Zygaena lonicerae) very numerous during July and other treasures like Blackneck (Lygephila pastinum) lurking in the grass.
Many people visit Silverlink to look for dragonflies and the site has a superb track record for turning up oddities. Beyond these, however, you are more likely to notice commoner species such as Broad-bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa), Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea) and Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella). Bees have noticeably been better recorded in recent years and a few key species include the Large Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus signatus), a specialist of Wild Mignonette, and Fork-tailed Flower Bee (Anthophora furcata).
On a final insect-related note, it is worth looking closer at the ladybirds present on site. In 2022, the tiny Epaulet Ladybird (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides) was discovered on site – the first recorded for North East England.
Blackneck (Lygephila pastinum)Epaulet Ladybird (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides) Common Blue DamselflyBlue-tailed Damselfly
