James Common

An Urban Flora of Newcastle – Mapping Wild Plants in the City

A short introduction to a personal passion project mapping the diverse and fascinating flora of Newcastle

As many of you will know, I have a bit of fondness for Britain’s urban flora. I’m not sure why precisely, but for me, there’s something fascinating about how our plants adapt to artificial ecosystems and how species from all around the world find themselves living side-by-side in our cities. For a good few years now, I’ve been recording urban plants here in Heaton, Newcastle, and truthfully, it never gets boring.

More recently, I have been spreading out from my usual haunts at Heaton and Walker to see what else is lurking out there in the city. The result? A mind-boggling number of plants and an intriguing mix of the common, everyday, scarce and exotic. From Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus), an exotic shrub not recorded growing wild in the city before, to coastal Buck’s-horn Plantain (Plantago coronopus) growing by a salted roadside, there’s been a lot to see. So much, in fact, that in only a few weeks, I have notched up 437 plant species within a few miles of home. All of which goes without mentioning other delights such as Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) hiding in plain sight in my local cemetery, and new and unusual escapes: Niger (Guizotia abyssinica), Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) and Shrub Ragwort (Brachyglottis x jubar).

Cape Gooseberry (*Physalis peruviana*) growing by a roadside in Jesmond

A Very Urban Flora

Of course, while pottering around looking at plants for the past few weeks, I have made an effort to record all of the species seen in each 1km square visited. These records will be shared with BSBI, of course, but thinking more on the matter, I’ve decided to go one step further and put pen to paper to create something a little more tangible. The obvious answer? An ‘Urban Flora’ for Newcastle.

Now, after some research online, it appears this isn’t something carried out frequently in the UK, nor is it entirely new. Sure, there’s the fab ‘The Urban Flora of Belfast‘ published in the 1990s but this isn’t all that relevant here. Although other studies might exist, creating a flora covering Newcastle seems a worthwhile exercise nevertheless. Britain (and my part of it) is only set to grow more urban in the future and amateur studies such as this provide a useful reference point against which to measure future change. More so, they’re also good fun!

Matt exploring some brownfield land at Heaton. We did manage one new plant….

Getting to work

So, now that I have broken the news and ensured that I can’t back out, what am I going to do?

Going forward, I’ll be visiting each 1km square within the Newcastle city boundary multiple times in multiple seasons, hopefully capturing an accurate picture of the plants growing there throughout the year. This process, I hope, will provide a semi-accurate picture of plant abundance and diversity across what is a fairly typical city. With the exception of street trees (which will form an appendix), I’ll not be recording anything planted, merely any plant spreading of its own accord in the wild.

Of course, there may be a few exceptions to the aforementioned rule. For sanity’s sake, sprawling groups such as Rubus, Taraxacum and Rosa will be omitted, except for conspicuous species. Chinese Bramble (Rubus tricolor) is a good example here. As ever, recorder bias may also play a part in the final result but I hope to counteract this by attempting to learn some of the more difficult groups (gulp, cotoneasters) or at the very least, consulting with some helpful experts.

Garden Pansy (*V. x wittrockiana*) growing as a pavement plant

This being an urban flora, it wouldn’t make much sense to survey and include Newcastle’s more scenic areas – we are blessed with a good few here and many of these resemble more rural environments. As you’ll see from the rough map below, areas of farmland to the North and West will be excluded, as will nature reserves managed to appear ‘natural’. Sorry Havannah, Big Waters and Gosforth. Resembling more of a rural pasture, the Town Moor will also be excluded. That said, greener but typically urban habitats such as parks, roadsides, roundabouts, playing fields, and the like are all fair game. Hopefully, this will help keep things decidedly urban in nature.

For simplicities sake, I’ll be using a system of 1km squares to survey the city

Even for a relatively small area such as Newcastle, carrying out a project like this will (and rightfully should) take up quite a bit of time. I have given myself three years to achieve good coverage, but it may take longer. After that, I hope that I may be able to get the final product published somewhere, though, of course, that depends on a multitude of factors including money, supportive organisations, and the end product not being entirely rubbish!

Well, that’s that. My aim over the next few years is to create something sound, accurate and of both local and hopefully wider interest. Let work on the Urban Flora of Newcastle commence…

Great sites for ladybirds in the North East

A brief and evolving list of great places to find and record ladybirds in North East England.

While out and about recording ladybirds over the last few years, I’ve found myself spending an increasing amount of time at specific local sites. Owing to a blend of habitat diversity and accessibility, these sites have come up trumps in terms of the sheer diversity of ladybirds present, including many of specialists seldom seen in the local area.

While this list is far from definitive and doubtless, many more sites are yet to be revealed, I hope this page gives a flavour of what could be encountered while visiting these places. I’ll aim to update this page as with more excellent spots for ladybirds in the North East as they come to light. I will also try to add some away from Newcastle in due course.

Havannah Nature Reserve

With a mix of heathland, wetland and both coniferous and broadleaf woodland crammed into a relatively small area, it is little surprise that Havannah Nature Reserve is so diverse. The real highlight here is the conifer specialists with Striped, 18-Spot and Pine Scymnus easy to come by and Eyed Ladybird and Black Scymnus also cropping up.

In addition to those above, the heathland at Havannah is a reliable spot for Adonis’ Ladybird, while the pools on site hold Water Ladybird and Red Marsh Ladybirds. Add to these a plethora of more familiar species including Kidney-spot, Pine and Larch ladybirds and the total species count for the site comes in at an impressive 19 species. As far as sites for ladybirds in the North East go, this has to be one of the best.

Gosforth Nature Reserve

NHSN’s Gosforth Nature Reserve is another site sporting a decent mix of woodland, wetland and grassland. While it is far harder work than Havannah, it has nevertheless turned up records of Striped Ladybird, Eyed Ladybird and Pine Scymnus in coniferous areas.

The wetlands hold Spotted Marsh Ladybird, Water Ladybird and Red Marsh ladybirds and the grassland areas have lots of 14-Spot and the occasional Adonis’ Ladybird. Pine Ladybird and Larch Ladybird can also be exceptionally abundant here resulting in a species tally of 17 species so far.

Given the number of pines on site, 18-Spot Ladybird has to be there somewhere…

Water Ladybird a Gosforth Nature Reserve

Prudhoe Spetchells

Prudhoe’s chalk mounds make for an interesting walk whatever the season, though the chalk itself has little bearing on the ladybirds present. Once again, the diversity here stems from a nice mix of grassland, woodland and pools. The highlight across grassland areas here is 24-Spot Ladybird, a scarce species locally, while 18-Spot Ladybird and Pine Scymnus can be found in the pines alongside a host of more common species. Water Ladybird is also present on the nearby pools. Not too bad at 12 species so far but doubtless more to be discovered…

Jesmond Old Cemetery

The first local cemetery to make the list and a great place to visit during the winter months. Here, a fantastic range of ladybirds can be found overwintering on headstones including 10-Spot, Pine and Cream-spot Ladybirds. More interesting perhaps is the presence of a single large pine on site which in 2022 alone yielded sightings of 18-Spot, Adonis, and the locally scarce Cream-streaked Ladybird. A more modest 11 species this time but a great range for an inner city greenspace.

That big old pine tree must also hold Striped and Eyed Ladybird and it will be interesting to see if they pop up in the near future.

Cream-streakeed Ladybird in Jesmond Old Cemetery

Benton Cemetery

Another cemetery now and like Jesmond, one sporting a fantastic set of isolated conifers. With suitable habitat condensed into a relatively small area, it can be easy to find a host of specialists here and sightings to date include Eyed, Striped, Cream-streaked and 18-Spot Ladybirds, as well as Pine Scymnus. From Larch Ladybird to Orange Ladybird, the common city-dwelling species are also represented here producing a fantastic site list of some 12 species.

Newburn Riverside

The industrial estate, riverside and nearby brownfield land at Newburn lends itself well to ladybird hunting. With a mix of grassland, ponds and evergreen planting, a good day can reveal a surprising number of ladybirds. This is one of only two sites in Newcastle (so far) where Rhyzobius chrysomeloides has been recorded and the grassland here also holds it’s cousin, Rhyzobius litura. Add to these Water Ladybirds around the pools, conifer specialists such as Striped and Eyed Ladybirds and plenty of common species and there’s an awful lot to see. 13 species and counting!

Plant of the week: Italian Toadflax

Entry number #4 in our Plant of the Week series follows an unexpected find in my local cemetery.

In what is quickly becoming a trend in this little series, this week’s plant is not one native to the UK. No, much like our previous Forked Catchfly, this one has its roots in the Mediterranean and is found naturally in Italy. A far cry from a dreary urban cemetery in Newcastle…

Italian Toadflax, Cymbalaria pallida

Italian Toadflax (Cymbalaria pallida) is a small but striking member of the Figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. This delicate little flower was introduced into cultivation in Britain by 1882 and was known to be growing in the wild by 1924. The first report of a naturalised population comes from Bardsea, Westmorland prior to 1977.

Italian Toadflax growing among the headstones in Jesmond Old Cemetery

The natural habitat of Italian Toadflax is rocky outcrops, shingles, scree and mountainsides. In the UK, it has readily adapted to inhabit man-made structures such as buildings, walls and other rocky places. At Jesmond Old Cemetery, where I encountered it, it was found growing in the cracked foundations of various old graves, as well as among the pavement.

In the North East, records of this plant are scarce but widespread. Here, it has been recorded in several towns and villages across Northumberland and County Durham, likely where it has escaped from cultivation. Only in one area does it appear common and widespread – Teesside where it has been recorded in several squares south of Middlesborough. Nationally, the picture is much the same with infrequent but widespread records and particular aggregations around urban centres.

What does it look like?

Italian Toadflax is superficially similar to the much more abundant Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis), a species many of us encounter on a daily basis. The leaves of the two species are similar in shape being dark green and lobed, although those of Italian Toadflax are hairy. In contrast, those of Ivy-leave Toadflax are glossy and hairless.

The flowers of Italian Toadflax are fairly impressive and while they do resemble those of its common cousin, they are far larger and more prominent. Indeed, this is one of the first things noticed about the plant in the field. Look closer and you’ll see that these flowers are an attractive shade of violet with an extensive yellow patch on the flower lip.

It is worth noting that a white form of this species, Cymbalaria pallida ‘Alba’, also exists. As you would expect, the flowers of this cultivar are white as opposed to purple. This has only been recorded a handful of times as a garden escape.

Italian Toadflax has noticable bigger flowers

Looking closely, you can just make out the hairy leaves

Ladybirds along the Tyne – Elswick, Heaton, Havannah & Prudhoe

From the city car parks and urban cemeteries to chalk mounds at Prudhoe, it has been a fantastic fortnight for ladybird recording.

With little time for trips further afield, walks during the closing days of September have seen me sticking closer to home than usual. That said, it has still been a busy few weeks on the ladybird front. With trips to the glorious Prudhoe Spetchells, local cemeteries and a handful of urban areas, there’s been an awful lot to see.

Starting with 24-Spot Ladybird and once again, this usually scarce ladybird has proven itself exceptionally abundant along the Tyne. Visiting Prudhoe, Matt and I found no fewer than 30 while exploring a small patch of grassland by the sewage works. More interesting still, several were also found high up in a pine tree – an odd location for a primarily terrestrial insect. Elsewhere, 24-Spot Ladybirds have also cropped up of late at Wylam and in the city at Elswick.

24-Spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata), Prudhoe, Northumberland

Seldom numerous, Pine Ladybird is not a species I encounter frequently here outside of the winter months. With this in mind, it was good to find decent numbers while exploring the Spetchells – the majority being swept from immature Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). Away from Prudhoe, last week, a single Pine Ladybird was also found in the car-park of the Mercedes garage at Scotswood – who says ladybird recorders don’t visit some glamourous locations?

Pine Ladybird (*Exochomus quadripustulatus*)

Whereas Pine Ladybird is a species I see infrequently, a couple of other ladybirds are far more reliable. I won’t spend much time on 7-Spot Ladybird and 2-Spot Ladybird – both are somewhat omnipresent here – but both were encountered at Prudhoe too, predominately on pine.

7-Spot Ladybird (*Coccinella septempunctata*)

Slightly more exciting now and the short walk between Wylam and Prudhoe provided a nice opportunity to explore Moo Pond, a small but productive wetland en route to the Spetchells. With plenty of Bulrush (Typha latifolia) it is usually reliable for Water Ladybird and sure enough, with only a few minutes of searching, the individual below was found tucked away in a leaf-sheath.

Water Ladybird (*Anisosticta novemdecimpunctata*), Prudhoe, Northumberland

Something a little different now and on the same visit to Prudhoe, it was nice to encounter 18-Spot Ladybird while scrutinising the pines growing on Spetchell three. A scarce conifer specialist, this is one of the species I come by least often. This record looks to be the first for the site but seems somewhat overdue given the wealth of conifers present.

A few days later, it was nice to also three of these ladybirds at the ever-reliable Jesmond Old Cemetery, while this weekend, two more were found at Havannah Nature Reserve.

18-Spot Ladybird (*Myrrha octodecimguttata*), Jesmond, Newcastle

18-Spot Ladybird (*Myrrha octodecimguttata*), Havannah Nature Reserve, Newcastle

Taking a quick detour into the world of inconspicuous ladybirds now and as ever, Pine Scymnus remains relatively easy to find locally. The one pictured below was beaten from Scots Pine atop the Prudhoe Spetchells though others were found recently at Gosforth Nature Reserve and Havannah.

Pine Scymnus (Scymnus suturalis), Prudhoe, Northumberland

One of the easier ladybirds to find locally, 22-Spot Ladybirds have been encountered recently at Prudhoe, as well as at Gosforth. Most interesting was a sighting of six ladybirds feeding on a mildew-ridden Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) at Elswick, while a few more were found secreted away in some ornamental Euonymus. I must remember to check planted shrubs too!

22-Spot Ladybird (*Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata*), Elswick, Newcastle

Having driven past it many times, our visit to the Western side of Newcastle provided the perfect opportunity to explore some of the roadside grasslands that fringes the busy main road at Scotswood. Planted by the council with an interesting chalky mix, it has always looked fairly promising. After ten minutes of searching, I’d all but given up hope when the beautiful Adonis’ Ladybird below appeared in the net. A real treat.

Searching for ladybirds along Scotswood Road, Newcastle

Adonis’ Ladybird (*Hippodamia variegata*), Scotswood, Newcastle

Now for the undisputed highlight of the last fortnight’s ladybird searching. Cream-streaked Ladybird remains a scarce species in the North East, though one which is evidently spreading northward. I’ve recorded this species at a few sites locally of late but each time the encounter comes as a surprise. It has been great to catch up with this species twice recently: firstly at Jesmond Old Cemetery, a known haunt, and secondly, in an isolated pine at Scotswood. Surely this is one of the best-looking British ladybirds?

Cream-streaked Ladybird (*Harmonia quadripunctata*), Scotswood, Newcastle

Cream-streaked Ladybird (*Harmonia quadripunctata*), Jesmond, Newcastle

Last but not least, something a little closer to home. Continuing a good run of Striped Ladybird encounters and having noticed a few as yet unladybirded pine trees behind my local Sainsbury’s in Heaton, I opted for a quick look a fortnight past. After a little searching, it was exciting to find this handsome individual below at rest on a nearby fence post. A full-fat tick for my little urban patch…

Spotted Marsh Ladybird, Coccidula scutellata, at Gosforth Nature Reserve

This week, I was delighted to record what appears to be the first Spotted Marsh Ladybird recorded in South Northumberland (VC67).

Searching various local wetlands this year for Red Marsh Ladybird and Water Ladybird, one thing that has persisted at the back of my mind had been the possibility of finding the former’s far scarcer cousin: Coccidula scutellata.

A tiny but striking wetland specialist, this little ladybird is fairly common in the South of England but records grow incredibly scarce up North. It is apparently completely absent from Scotland, with only a few records in Cumbria and only one in the North East – a report from Newton Links, North Northumberland, in 1990.

Spotted Marsh Ladybird (*Coccidula scutellata*), Gosforth Nature Reserve, Newcastle

A small, orange ladybird sporting two distinctive dark spots on the elytra, as far as inconspicuous ladybirds go, this isn’t a hard one to identify. The problem with recording this species seems to be the difficulty associated with finding it. Flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) seems to be a good place to start according to Andrew Jewels and sure enough, this ladybird was swept from the leaves of emergent irises.

Wildflowers on the web: great botany blogs and resources

If like me, you’re someone who often finds yourself perusing the internet about wild plants, you’ll know that there are some fantastic resources out there to be discovered. Whether you’re frantically Googling a potentially exciting find, planning a trip or attempting to live vicariously through others, there are many helpful botany blogs and resources out there to be explored.

While the list below is not comprehensive, I wanted to share some of the botany blogs and resources I’ve been enjoying lately. Some I visit almost daily, others I’ve just discovered but either way, all are worth a look.

I’ll do my best to keep this page live and update it as I discover new resources. Until then, I hope you find something to interest you.

Resources

NatureSpot

A Leicestershire-based charity concerned with the recording of the county’s wildlife, NatureSpot is an incredible online resource. Not only does it profile many of the county’s plant species (and other taxa too, for that matter) but it offers a great deal of helpful information on everything from habitat and identification to confusing lookalikes.

Given that many of the plants that occur in Leicestershire and Rutland can be found elsewhere too, this is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about a specific species.

WildflowerFinder

WildflowerFinder is a fantastic resource for botanists looking to identify a pesky plant. Here, plants are searchable by factors such as colour, month, habitat and species accounts tend to be extremely detailed. Take this one on Sea Spleenwort, for example.

What I find most helpful about this site is the author’s tendency to showcase multiple photos covering all aspects of a particular plant. Stems, leaves and flowers, all are routinely covered, making it easy to compare your finds.

BSBI Cribs

For those who don’t own the book, BSBI’s online crib sheets are a godsend. Made available by Dr Tim Rich, they tackle some of the plant families most likely to confuse botanists in the field. Sure, they can be fairly academic (so much in botany often is) but the keys, identification aids and general tips contained within are extremely useful. Take a look at this one on Bugles, as an example.

Bonus: BSBI’s YouTube Channel

Given that this is BSBI we’re talking about, you won’t be surprised to learn that they also have a pretty fantastic YouTube channel covering just about anything you could wish for on British botany. Plant identification, beginner-friendly talks, informative workshops and updates on exciting projects across the country, whatever your poison, they’ve got you covered.

Botany blogs

Botany Karen

I can’t believe it took me so long to discover this blog. A website by botanist, Karen Andrews, Botany Karen is a fantastic collection of all things botanical in the British Isles. With no end of beautiful photography, this site is useful for plant identification but more importantly is a treasure trove of information about the plants themselves. Take this post on Frog Orchids, for example. Overall, this blog is both beautiful and detailed. I can’t recommend it enough.

Botany in Scotland

I really like this one, especially the author’s long-running ‘Plant of the Week’ series. Coupling incredibly detailed accounts with lovely photography, these posts provide a complete overview of a particular plant. Narrow-leaved Ragwort, for example. If like me, you’re into biological recording, this is the website for you.

Heather Kelly’s blog

A local one now, at least if you live in the North East. A long-standing nature diary, Heather’s blog brings together observations on the natural world focusing predominately on plants but covering other taxa too. With lovely photography, lots of facts, and a focus on flora in the North East. It is a great regular read for botanists in our region.

Bug Women – Adventures in London

Bug Woman’s blog is another gem. Coupling the excitement of everyday observations with well-researched deep dives into single species, it is one of the few blogs I read each week. The author’s Wednesday Weed series is a particular highlight and whether we’re talking folklore, taxonomy or intra-species relationships, never fails to reveal new information about the plant in question. Take the humble Gooseberry, for example.

Botanising in Huntingdonshire, Yorkshire and Beyond

A fantastically informative blog focused on botanical recording in two vice counties: West Yorkshire and Huntingdonshire. Collating and sharing interesting discoveries from these areas, the author provides a fascinating account of what can be encountered in the British countryside. While the plants featured may be restricted to two small areas, the information contained within and photographic aids are universally helpful. Take this post on a new cultivar of arum, for example. I didn’t even know this existed…

Bonus: Mick Crawley’s Twitter account

It may seem odd to feature a Twitter account while discussing botany blogs but really, this one is a corker. Mick Crawley is an incredible botanist regularly sharing his finds on Twitter where he often shares helpful identification threads too. What is perhaps the best about Mick’s feed is his tendency to focus on difficult groups not often tackled elsewhere. Verbascum? Check. Daffodils? Yep. Non-native street trees? Sure!

Plant of the week: Forked Catchfly

Entry number #3 in our Plant of the Week series follows an exciting and unexpected find in Newcastle last week.

Unlike our last entry, this week’s plant is not one native to the UK. Nor is it one I suspect many people will have heard of – I certainly hadn’t. As you’ll see, Forked Catchfly is not a species one would typically expect to find growing in a patch of messy grassland within Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Forked Catchfly, Silene dichotoma

Forked Catchfly (Silene dichotoma) is a rather lovely member of the pink family native to parts of Eastern Europe. It occurs from Italy in the West eastward as far as Russia. It can also be widely encountered outside of its natural range in Western Europe, Africa and parts of America where it’s seeds often arrive alongside exports of grain and clover seed.

Forked Catchfly, spotted at Gosforth Nature Reserve in Northumberland

The natural habitat of Forked Catchfly is said to be disturbed grasslands and open forests. It also readily exploits man-made habitats including roadsides, wasteland and agricultural margins where soil disturbance is common. At Gosforth Nature Reserve, where I encountered it last week, it was found growing on a patch of formerly disturbed dry grassland. Had the seeds been in the soil already or had they escaped from nearby farmland? Who knows…

This sighting represents the first recorded of Forked Catchfly for Northumberland. Elsewhere, it has been recorded widely but infrequently across the UK, with the greatest concentration of records in the South of England. This species would appear to have been much more common pre 1930s, possibly suggesting a decline with increased biosecurity.

Like some other catchfly species, the flowers of Silene dichotoma open fully at dusk or on overcast days

What does it look like?

Forked Catchfly is a rather ragged-looking, unkempt plant. In fact, it is this messy appearance which strikes you first, helping seperate it from its native cousins. An erect and very hairy plant, it has many flowers sporting deeply lobed white petals. These can sometimes take on a curled form, as shown in the picture below.

The flowers of this species are encased within an inflated calyx of sepals marked with ten distinctive black veins.

The leaves of this species are lanceolate and up to 8cm long. These decrease in size as you move up the stem towards the flowers and like the rest of the plant, are rather hairy.

*Silene dichotoma* appears to be a rather messy, unkempt plant

The leaves of Forked Catchfly at Gosforth Nature Reserve, Northumberland

A Quick Guide to Black Ladybirds

A short guide to some of the black ladybirds you could encounter while ladybird spotting across the UK.

Britain is home to some 26 species of conspicuous ladybird. Far from your storybook red ladybird, many of these species are black in colour. Whether we’re talking about black ladybirds with red spots or melanistic (black) forms of familiar species, the similarities between these can be confusing. Below, you’ll find a little more information on some of Britain’s black ladybirds…

Identifying black ladybirds

Harlequin Ladybird, Harmonia axyridis

Probably the commonest of the UK’s black ladybirds, the Harlequin Ladybird is incredibly variable. Both the Conspicua and Spectabilis forms of this large invader are black in colour, albeit with differing patterns of red spots.

In general, Harlequin Ladybirds are large and domed in shape. While size is a good indicator, the best way to separate this from other species is by the markings on the pronotum (the area behind the head). Harlequins usually sport two conspicuous white patches on either side. Melanistic 10-Spot and Hieroglyphic ladybirds also have these, albeit to a lesser extent.

If your ladybird is exceptionally obliging, you’ll also notice that the legs of this species are brown.

Pine Ladybird, Exochomus quadripustulatus

The Pine Ladybird is a small species sporting four red spots, two of which are distinctively comma-shaped. Positioned towards the front of each wing case, these are the best way to separate this species from other black ladybirds.

In contrast to the Harlequin which shows a variable amount of white on the pronotum, that of the Pine Ladybird is entirely black.

Another good feature to look for is the pie-like rim around the outside of the wing cases. This feature is shared only by species within the same family and helps narrow down your choices.

Kidney-Spot Ladybird, Chilocorus renipustulatus

The Kidney-spot Ladybird looks a lot like the Pine Ladybird to which it is closely related. It shares the same domed shape, pie-like rim around the wing cases and black pronotum.

Kidney-spot Ladybirds are best identified by their large, red and parallel spots. One on each wing case. The only other ladybird boasting a similar pattern is the Harlequin; though these have white on the pronotum and brown legs.

This species is a bit more particular in its habitat choice and prefers deciduous woodland. It is often spotted on the trunks of willow or Ash in spring.

10-Spot Ladybird, Adalia decempunctata

The 10-spot Ladybird is perhaps the most variable ladybird in Britain. With dozens of colour forms, they can look like any other British ladybird, at least at first glance.

The chequered decempustulata form of the 10-spot Ladybird is black with a grid-like pattern of red or orange markings. Unlike many other black ladybirds, its legs are orange in colour and the pronotum features an extensive area of white. A melanistic form, lacking these features, also exists.

10-spot Ladybird is a generalist species and can be encountered in a diverse range of habitats. They are one of the ladybirds most often spotted in urban areas.

2-Spot Ladybird, Adalia bipunctata

Just to confuse things further, like the 10-spot Ladybird, the familiar 2-spot Ladybird also comes in various dark forms. Most often, these will have either four or six red spots sat atop black wing cases.

The four-spot form of this species has elongated, sometimes rectangular, red spots at the front of the wing cases. The six-spot form has four red spots, as opposed to two, towards the rear of the wing cases.

Fun fact: black forms of 2-spot Ladybird are thought to be more common in Northern areas where the darker base colour helps them absorb more heat from the sun.

Heather Ladybird, Chilocorus bipustulatus

One of Britain’s scarcer or at least harder to come by black ladybirds. The Heather Ladybird is a specialist species favouring Heather plants, most often in an upland setting. It can also be found in lowland and coastal heaths and can turn up in gardens where it may occur on cypress trees.

Closely resembling the Kidney-spot and Pine Ladybirds in shape and jizz, what sets this species apart is the distinctive line of red markings on the elytra. This can be fused or divided and may look like a solid line or a line of spots.

Hieroglyphic Ladybird, Coccinella hieroglyphica

The typical form of the Hieroglyphic ladybird is unmistakable and wouldn’t usually fit into a like blog post like this. Unfortunately, however, a melanistic form of this species also exists!

Black Hieroglyphic Ladybirds lack any visible markings on the elytra but do possess a pair of small white marks on the pronotum. They also have black legs and sometimes, two small ‘wedge-shaped’ white markings where the pronotum meets the wing cases.

This is a scarcely recorded species most associated with the uplands, though they do turn up elsewhere from time to time. Black forms are uncommon but cannot be ruled out.

A ladybird extravaganza – local recording in July

With visits to some of my favourite haunts and lots to see elsewhere, July has been a great month for ladybird recording.

I haven’t been as active in my ladybird hunting this month – peak wildflower season leaving little time for insects. That said, I’ve still managed a few trips out in search of these fascinating little insects. Mostly to familiar sites which continue to turn up new and exciting species, though also a few new locations too.

With adult ladybirds present again after an early-summer hiatus, I have managed a respectable eighteen species in July. Among these, some nice scarcities and a number of new site records. Some highlights of July’s ladybird recording can be found below.

Rising Sun Country Park

Early in the month, a Friday off saw me walking to Rising Sun Country Park in search of conifer ladybirds. Before even getting started with the trees, several familiar species were noted on the walk in. 7-spot Ladybird was ubiquitous and 22-spot Ladybird was observed on a stand of mildew-addled Hogweed. More interesting perhaps was an Orange Ladybird found atop a bin in the Asda car park. Not a bad start…

Searching the trees at the base of the park’s pit heap, it wasn’t long until the first of the days specialist ladybirds put in an appearance. The lovely 18-Spot Ladybird below was one of two adults found on Scots Pine.

18-Spot Ladybird (*Myrrha octodecimguttata*)

In a different area of the park, it was nice to catch up with not one but three Eyed Ladybirds. Britain’s largest ladybird, I seem to have good luck finding this species on the lower branches of Scots Pine, though, for something so large, they can be quite cryptic. A sweep net helps!

Newburn

Two visits to Newburn last week for entirely different reasons, one an Natural History Society bioblitz and the other, a riverside walk with the other half. Despite their differences, both came up trumps with a fantastic haul of ladybirds.

On Saturday, some searching and sweeping around Urban Green Newcastle’s Tyne Riverside Country Park yielded the usual trio of 7-Spot, 14-Spot and Harlequin ladybirds. Better still, Larch Ladybird was found in the memorial garden and later, a 24-Spot Ladybird was swept from some riverside Mugwort. So much for only being found on campion and grasses, eh?

24-spot Ladybird (*Subcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata*)

Returning to Newburn on Sunday, Matt in toe, we decided to spend some time beating some of the riverside conifers having spotted the larvae of Eyed Ladybird earlier in the summer. No such luck but we did encounter the rather handsome Striped Ladybird shown below.

Having only encountered my first Striped Ladybird in early 2022, I am now stumbling across this species pretty much anywhere with good-sized Scots Pines, but more on that later…

Striped Ladybird (*Myzia oblongoguttata*)

Adonis’ Ladybird is a scarce species of dry grassland habitats. Known to favour brownfield sites, I wasn’t too surprised to find the striking individual below at Newburn. Perched atop a stand of Wild Parsnip, it was nice to compare this to the larger 7-Spot Ladybirds nearby. Both species had clearly been drawn here by the glut of aphids and could be seen feeding on Willow-Parsnip Aphids (Cavariella theobaldi).

Adonis’ Ladybird (*Hippodamia variegata*)

Highlights aside, there were lots of other ladybirds to see at Newburn. Searching pines, it was nice to see Pine Scymnus again after quite some time. Likewise, the tiny Epaulet Ladybird appears to be increasing again at what is only the second known site for this species locally.

Finally, the melanistic 2-spot Ladybird below seemed worthy of a photo too…

Cramlington Industrial Estate

While I’ve been visiting regular sites in search of ladybirds, I have also been trying to fill some gaps too. Having noticed several accessible pines by the A1068 at Cramlington, on Friday I decided to take a look.

Almost immediately upon arriving at Cramlington Industrial Estate, the Striped Ladybird below was found on the tip of a pine branch. A new square for what might just be my favourite British ladybird.

Searching the trees that line the road by the big factory here, I was surprised to find five 18-Spot Ladybirds too. Usually the scarcest of the conifer ladybirds, at least in my experience, they seem to be more abundant than previously thought. Or perhaps I am just getting my eye in…

The isolated Scots Pine pictured below grows on the central verge South of Cramlington Industrial Estate. Having driven past it many times, I have always thought it looked ‘good for ladybirds’. I was right! Dodging traffic, a search of the tree in question yielded more Striped and 18-Spot Ladybirds, as well as four Pine Scymnus.

An isolated pine rich in ladybirds – a lesson for ladybird recording in the future

Conifer specialists aside, Cramlington held a good variety of other ladybirds too. Predictably, 22-Spot Ladybird was found by searching Hogweed and Pine Ladybird was discovered by shaking a non-native conifer of some description. A single Meadow ladybird was also found in the somewhat barren grasslands at Northumberlandia.

22-Spot Ladybird (*Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata*)

More on North East ladybirds

As I visit more local sites in search of ladybirds and add more sightings to iRecord, I am becoming increasingly interested in this fascinating group of insects.

Keen to take this further, I have created a dedicated space on this blog where I’ll share everything ladybird related in the future. Take a look below.

A guided tour of the patch

Nature is better when shared with others and last week, it was great to welcome several local naturalists to the patch.

Another weekend, another trip to Silverlink, albeit with company on this occasion. Joined by Fiona Greenwold from ERIC North East, I helped lead a small group of Natural History Society members on a 2-hour walk around the site looking at plants and insects. A mini bioblitz, if you will.

On the plant front, little had changed since the week before. Except, perhaps, for a noticable increase in the amount of Small Scabious and Wild Carrot in bloom. The latter of which, alongside the copious flowers of Wild Parsnip, were attracting a fantastic variety of insects. Everlasting Pea is a species familar from the site but the white form below, spotted by a group member, was also a highlight. This no doubt grows here as an escape from cultivation.

Having recorded around 170 plant species at Silverlink, it is not often these days that a visit yeields a new species, never mind two! With more eyes on the lookout, however, today we found two exciting additions to the site’s flora. The first we think is Chalk Knapweed, despite appearing somewhat more robust than it should be. It certainly had the deeply-lobed leaves but alas, it could be an intermediate form. The second plant was Hoary Ragwort, a scarce species in the North East.

With a wealth of umbellifers in the bloom across the site, pollinating insects were present in abundance. Among these, hoverflies were particularly promitent and it was a nice to note a range of common species including Myathropa florea and Episyrphus balteatus. Slightly more interesting was the striking little hoverfly shown below: Riponnensia splendens. The parrallel lines on the thorax help identify this species.

Finally on the hoverfly front, we also noted large numbers of Chrysogaster solstitialis. With their vivid red eyes and black colouration, these hoverflies always stand out – particularly when perched atop the white flowers of Wild Carrot. Not a hoverfly and not identified with certainty, but I think the sawfly below could be Tenthredo distinguenda.

Slightly larger and more conspicuous than the aformentioned insects, while exploring one of the ponds on site, we were delighted to catch sight of this vibrant Southern Hawker. Perching for some time on a nearby rock, it surely proved a highlight of the day for many.

No trip to Silverlink in summer would be complete absent a look downward among the grasses and wildflowers. After last week’s fruitful search for bugs, this week there had been a noticable increase in another species, Calocoris roseomaculatus. This species has distinctive rosy patches on its forewings.

Finally, while seaching Silverlink’s grassland, it was nice too to stumble across my first Green Leafhopper. Fairly distinctive, at least as far as leafhoppers go, the turqoise colour of this little insect really stood out.

Fern of the Week: Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort

For our first plant profile, we’ll cover an unobtrusive yet beautiful little fern found in only a select few corners of North East England: Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort.

This is an extremely rare plant that thanks to an unexpected trip to Hareshaw Linn in Northumberland, I recently had the chance to see for the first time.

Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort

Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis

Many of us are familiar with with Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes), the delicate, trailing fern adorning garden walls and other structures throughout our towns and cities. What you may not know, however, is that the UK is home to several subspecies of this lovely little fern, one of which is the Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis).

This unassuming fern grows on calcareous rocks such as limestone in shaded, humid settings. Often under rock overhangs, on steep valley sides or beside waterfalls, such as at Hareshaw Linn. Unlike it’s more familiar cousins, it is seldom found on mortared walls and is unlikely to crop up in towns.

A genuinely rare subspecies in the UK, Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort is found at only a scattering of sites. A notable concentration can be found in south Wales, with a further cluster of records near Chester. Elsewhere, it is found sporadically in small populations at isolated sites.

This fern is widespread in Southern Europe, particularly in Spain, France and Italy, so may well be under-recorded in the UK.

The specific epithet trichomanes refers to a Greek word for fern

Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort, spotted at Hareshaw Linn in Northumberland

Identification

Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort is a small, tufted plant that often appears to grow flat against the surface of rock. Its narrow, green fronds are usually 5-30mm long and contain at their centre a dark, glossy mid-rib – a useful feature for seperating this group from Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride). The pinnae or leaflets usually number in at 20-30 pairs and are arranged oppositely along the frond. All of this, however, appeals to other Maidenhair Spleenworts too, so what sets this subspecies apart?

The main difference between Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort and other subspecies is the margin of pinnae. As its name suggests, those of this fern are distinctly lobed, almost scalloped. In contrast, those of other subspecies may be asymmetrical or rectangular but only slightly toothed. It may only be an anecdotal observation, but I think the lobes give the leaflets of this fern an arrow-like shape…

Given it’s similarities to other Maidenhair Spleenworts, it is little wonder this fern is poorly recorded. Sure, it may be rare, but it must be present unnoticed at further sites. Will you find it?

Distribution

In the North East, Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort is restricted to just a few locations: one in South Northumberland (VC67) and three in County Durham (VC66).

In Northumberland, the most notable colony is found at Hareshaw Linn SSSI, where the species thrives on the humid rock faces surrounding the site’s waterfall. In County Durham, it has been recorded at two sites near Barnard Castle and on crags along the River Tees near Bowlees.

A festival of ferns at Hareshaw Linn

An account of a fantastic day spent exploring fern identification at the glorious Hareshaw Linn.

Ferns have always scared me a little if I am honest. Sure, I can identify the easier ones but by large, I often ignore them on my travels in favour of less intimidating flowers. That said, I have been keen to improve my fern identification skills for a while now and on Friday set out with a friend to one of the most fern-rich sites in Northern England.

Hareshaw Linn is SSSI designated for its rare ferns and bryophytes. A scenic river gorge sporting ancient woodland and a rather beautiful waterfall, it is a site I had always wanted to visit but had not yet had the chance. Until now. Expectations already high, I am pleased to say I was not disappointed with fourteen fern species observed during our stay, including several new for me.

Starting out

Having given only an obligatory glance to the Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) during our walk in, it wasn’t long until the first of the day’s more interesting ferns was discovered. The pictures below show Lady-fern (Athyrium filix-femina) found growing beside the path through the gorge. A lovely, feathery species with distinctive crescent-shaped sori, the best way to identify them is, of course, to turn them over.

Next up, a new species for me and further into the gorge, it was great to finally stumble across Lemon-scented Fern (Oreopteris limbosperma). Quite a nice one to identify, the best way to tell it apart from the pack is that the pinnae decrease in size as they go down the stem. It also gives off a pleasant citrus smell when crushed.

Hardly worthy of a mention but two more abundant ferns were added here too: Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) and Broad Buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilatata).

Feeling brave, further into the walk, we decided to take a quick look at some of the other Dryopteris on site. I think the fern pictured below is a Golden-scaly Male Fern (Dryopteris affinis) having ruled out the Narrow-scaly Male Fern (Dryopteris cambrensis) based on the length of the lowest pair of pinnules. It also didn’t seem to fit Borrer’s Scaly Male Fern (Dryopteris borreri) either but I’d be happy to be corrected!

Golden-scaled Male Fern (*Dryopteris affinis*)

Moving on, new ferns soon started to come thick and fast. First came the first of many Hard Shield Ferns (Polystichum aculeatum) spotted during the trip and secondly, lots of Hard Fern (Blechnum spicant). Feeling empowered by the earlier male fern, we also chose to take a closer look at the Polypodys growing alongside the river. With pointed tips and fronds which gradually taper towards the top and bottom, I think these were Intermediate Polypody (Polypodium interjectum).

Hard Shield Fern (*Polystichum aculeatum*)

Nine species and counting

Drawing closer to the waterfall, a quick detour from the track revealed another new species for the day: Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris). With fronds split roughly into three triangles, this is another nice one to identify and another new species for me.

Reaching the waterfall, it was difficult not to be taken aback by the visible storm damage. The plunge pool beneath the waterfall was littered with the corpses of felled trees, likely brought down during Storm Arwen. I wouldn’t have liked to be here that night…

The plunge pool beneath Hareshaw’s waterfall

Back to the ferns, and Hareshaw Linn is the only North East site for the rare Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis). A nationally scarce subspecies of Maidenhair Spleenwort, the difference between them comes from the lobed, crinkley-looking pinnae. We saw many plants during our stay, all concentrated around the waterfall where they grow within cracks in the bedrock.

Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort (*Asplenium trichomanes subsp. pachyrachis*)

Here too, the steep cliffs of the gorge and fallen rocks beneath them held a number of other ferns. Some, like Hart’s-tongue (Asplenium scolopendrium) were somewhat common, though others much less so. Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride) is a rare species locally and took some finding among the much more numerous Maidenhair Spleenwort.

Slightly more conspicuous, Brittle Bladder-fern (Cystopteris fragilis) could be seen in abundance too. The latter species concluded the day’s tally at a very respectable 14 fern species.

Other wildlife

While ferns were the purpose of the day’s trip, plenty of other wildlife was seen at Hareshaw Linn. The plantlife was particularly interesting with sightings of several species I see infrequently in the North East. Among these, Wood Horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum), Wood Melick (Melica uniflora) and Marsh Hawk’s-beard (Crepis paludosa). Of course, several Giant Bellflowers (Campanula latifolia) were also a highlight.

The combination of beaming sun and rain showers did not prove overly encouraging to insects. However, we did see a few goodies including new hoverflies for me in Epistrophe grossulariae and Leucozona laternaria. Returning to the car park, the bee below was also spotted foraging on a Solidago sp. Thanks to Chris, this was revealed to be Grey-banded Mining Bee (Andrena denticulata), an incredibly rare species in our region.

Grey-banded Mining Bee (*Andrena denticulata*)

Recent sightings from Silverlink

With summer in full swing, there has been lots to enjoy on the local patch.

Pottering around at Silverlink last weekend, there was a great deal to see. Now, at the height of Summer, the site’s grassland areas are looking particularly good and it was great to sit back and enjoy the variety of wildflowers on show.

Among the plants in bloom, Betony, Viper’s-bugloss and Yellow-wort were the most conspicuous. Zigzag Clover was flowering too and, while far less numerous than back in June, a few Bee Orchids clung on.

More interesting perhaps were some new discoveries for the site: Small Scabious, a plant I see very infrequently around here, and Pale St. John’s wort, a regional rarity. Despite being much more common locally, I’m not sure I have spotted Musk-mallow at Silverlink before either…

With so much in bloom, the bees were out in force. Among the commoner species, it was nice to see a female Patchwork Leafcutter Bee visiting the flowers of Viper’s-bugloss.

Patchwork Leafctter Bee (*Megachile centuncularis*)

Wild Mignonette is an abundant plant at Silverlink and where it grows, you can bet that the striking Large Yellow-faced Bee won’t be far behind. A mignonette specialist, eleven or so were spotted around a particularly bountiful clump.

Other bees on the wing included Davies’ Collettes and Fork-tailed Flower Bee. While I didn’t stop to photograph them, butterflies too were out in abundance with Common Blue, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet the most numerous.

Large Yellow-faced Bee (*Hylaeus signatus*)

Owing to its series of small, shallow ponds, Silverlink tends to be a good place for Odonata. The only problem is that I can’t for the life of me identify most of the blighters…

On the wing at the weekend were Emperor and Southern Hawker dragonflies, the largest of the bunch, while smaller Four-spot Chasers were seen patrolling the pond margins. Smaller still, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies were numerous; though it was the striking Emerald Damselfly below which caught my attention.

Turning my attention down into the undergrowth, a small amount of sweep netting in search of ladybirds turned up the striking Blue Shieldbug shown below. Not a species I often encounter, these iridescent insects are always a pleasure to behold.

Slightly less showy was the superb variety of true bugs discovered while searching a nice area of rank grass and knapweed. Of course, many of these were hard to identify and I inevitably gave up. The three below, thankfully, were a little easier.

Potatoe Caspid (*Closterotomus norwegicus*)

Plant of the Week: Lindisfarne Helleborine

Entry numer #1 in our new Plant of the Week series

It is not every day you encounter an endemic species, nevermind one found exclusively at a single site. That said, that’s exactly what happened this week. To celebrate a fantastic trip to Lindisfarne, the first plant in our new Plant of the Week series is of course, the Lindisfarne Helleborine.

Lindisfarne Helleborine, Epipactis sancta

The Lindisfarne Helleborine is found exclusively on Holy Island, a small island lying just off the coast of Northumberland. Found on the western part of the island, it grows in dune slacks and on dunes themselves alongside Creeping Willow and other plants typical of this habitat.

Originally known as Epipactis dunensis, a species found elsewhere in the UK, the Lindisfarne Helleborine has been on quite the taxonomic journey. Early on it was reclassified as a variety of Narrow-lipped Helleborine, and later as Epipactis pietzi var. sancta. In 2002, researchers settled on a new name, Epipactis sancta, and classified the species as a British endemic.

This plant’s status as a full-fledged species seems to have been short-lived, with new research again demoting it to a subspecies. Either way, it is still a very interesting plant and a joy to behold when spotted.

Part of this plants name, sancta, means ‘sacred’ in reference to it growing on Holy Island.

*Epipactis sancta*, photographed on a visit to Lindisfarne in July 2022

What does it look like?

Lindisfarne Helleborine is a subdued beauty. Reaching a maximum of 30cm tall, almost all parts of the plant are green. Typically orchid-like, its flowers are green too excluding the lip which is white on the outside on chocolate-brown on the interior. It is easy to overlook where it grows in the company of myriad other green plants.

Given it’s similarities to Epipactis dunensis, identifying this orchid is challenging. Indeed, if all three plants were seen together, I doubt most botanists would be able to tell the difference. Thankfully, this is the only of the group growing on Lindisfarne. As a result, if you spot a green helleborine on the island, it is safe to say you’ve found one!

A Very Urban Flora

Getting to work

Share this:

Havannah Nature Reserve

Gosforth Nature Reserve

Prudhoe Spetchells

Jesmond Old Cemetery

Benton Cemetery

Newburn Riverside

Share this:

Italian Toadflax, Cymbalaria pallida

What does it look like?

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Resources

Botany blogs

Share this:

Forked Catchfly, Silene dichotoma

What does it look like?

Share this:

Identifying black ladybirds

Harlequin Ladybird, Harmonia axyridis

Pine Ladybird, Exochomus quadripustulatus

Kidney-Spot Ladybird, Chilocorus renipustulatus

10-Spot Ladybird, Adalia decempunctata

2-Spot Ladybird, Adalia bipunctata

Heather Ladybird, Chilocorus bipustulatus

Hieroglyphic Ladybird, Coccinella hieroglyphica

Share this:

Rising Sun Country Park

Newburn

Cramlington Industrial Estate

More on North East ladybirds

Share this:

Share this:

Lobed Maidenhair Spleenwort

Identification

Distribution

Share this:

Starting out

Nine species and counting

Other wildlife

Share this:

Share this:

Lindisfarne Helleborine, Epipactis sancta

What does it look like?

Share this: