Tag: Allen Banks

Flora of Allen Banks & Staward Gorge

The ancient woodland lining the banks of the River Allen in Northumberland provides one of the region’s richest habitats for woodland plants and ferns. From the National Trust’s Allen Banks estate south to Briarwood Banks, Planky Mill and Cupola Bridge, this stretch supports an impressive diversity of species, from conspicuous spring flowers to easily overlooked botanical specialities. It is a landscape I return to repeatedly throughout the year, as each visit seems to reveal something new.

Ferns & Horsetails

Hard Shield-fern
Polystichum aculeatum

Hard Shield-fern is a robust evergreen fern of woodland, rocky slopes and shaded hedge banks. Its dark green fronds are stiff and glossy, with sharply pointed pinnules that give the plant a distinctly rigid appearance. It can be found in most areas, from Allen Banks south to Cupola.

This species is somewhat similar to Soft Shield-fern, a rare plant in the area, but can be distinguished by its adnate pinnules and tapering frond base.

Beech Fern
Phegopteris connectilis

Beech Fern is a delicate species of damp woodland, ravines and upland slopes. The soft green fronds are broadly triangular, with the lowest pair of pinnae spreading noticeably outwards from the rest of the frond. A narrow wing of leafy tissue runs along the rachis between the pinnae.

Beech Fern is one of the rarer ferns found in the area and is best sought around Cupola Bridge.

Oak Fern
Gymnocarpium dryopteris

A delicate fern of damp woodland, shaded rocks and upland screes. Its pale green fronds are thin-textured and broadly triangular, dividing into three main branches from near the base. Spreading by slender creeping rhizomes, it often forms loose patches in cool, humid habitats.

The best populations of Oak Fern can be found at Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Briarwood Banks.

Polypody
Polypodium vulgare

A familiar fern of walls, rocks, tree trunks and shaded banks. The leathery fronds are deeply pinnatifid with rounded lobes arranged along a creeping rhizome. On the underside, the round yellow-orange sori are uncovered by an indusium, helping to distinguish the species from many other common ferns.

Polypody grows abundantly throughout the area, so be sure to look up!

Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum

A graceful species of damp woodland, stream sides and shaded ground. The pale green stems carry repeated whorls of fine, drooping branches that give the plant a soft, feathery appearance. The branches themselves are branched, helping separate it from other horsetails.

Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum

Great Horsetail
Equisetum telmateia

The largest British horsetail, favouring damp woodland, stream banks and flushes on base-rich soils. The sterile stems are tall and pale green with conspicuous black-tipped sheaths and whorls of long branches, giving the plant a striking, architectural appearance.

In spring, separate fertile shoots appear first, bearing a large terminal cone before the green sterile stems develop.

Wildflowers

Wood Stitchwort
Stellaria nemorum

Wood Stitchwort is a sprawling perennial of damp woodland, stream sides and shaded hedge banks. Its white flowers have deeply divided petals that can give the impression of ten petals rather than five. The lower leaves are stalked and broadly oval, while the upper leaves clasp the stem, helping to distinguish it from other stitchworts. Compared to the much more abundant Greater Stitchwort, it is a much more delicate plant.

Again, this one is best looked for at Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Briarwood Banks.

Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis

A curious woodland orchid lacking green pigmentation and therefore unable to photosynthesise. The entire plant is pale brown to honey-coloured, with a thick stem bearing numerous small flowers and a mass of tangled roots said to resemble a bird’s nest. It grows in deep leaf litter in shaded woodland, obtaining nutrients through associations with soil fungi.

Bird’s-nest orchid is a scarce and somewhat unpredictable species, often appearing sporadically even in suitable habitat. If you fancy your chances, spend time carefully searching mature Beech woodland in spring and early summer.

Early-purple Orchid
Orchis mascula

One of the first orchids to flower in spring, equally at home in open woodland as it is in grassland and dunes. The dense spike carries rich purple flowers with spotted lips, while the broad basal leaves are often marked with dark blotches. A hood formed by the upper petals and sepals gives each flower a compact, helmeted appearance.

This is not the most abundant plant in the area, but with a little luck, you may stumble across it near Planky Mill.

Mountain Pansy
Viola lutea

A colourful perennial of upland grassland, heaths, rocky slopes and areas polluted with heavy metals. The flowers are highly variable, ranging from bright yellow to purple or bicoloured forms, often marked with dark guidelines toward the centre. It is a rather distinctive and lovely little plant.

Look for this species in the small areas of calaminarian grassland around Briarwood Banks.

Upland Enchanter’s-nightshade
Circaea x intermedia

A scarce hybrid found in damp, shaded woodland and along stream sides. In appearance, it sits somewhere between Circaea lutetiana and Circaea alpina, typically showing relatively broad leaves and small white two-petalled flowers. Compared with the common enchanter’s-nightshade, the leaves are usually more strongly toothed and the petioles bear hairs on one side only.

This one is hard to spot at the best of times, but small colonies can be found scattered across the whole area.

Wood Vetch
Ervilia sylvatica

A slender scrambling perennial of woodland margins, hedge banks and rocky slopes. Its leaves are divided into several narrow leaflets and end in tendrils that help support the weak stems among surrounding vegetation. The pale particoloured flowers are followed by narrow pods.

A local rarity, it is best looked for at Stawart Gorge

Goldilocks Buttercup
Ranunculus auricomus

A variable perennial of woodland edges, hedge banks and damp grassland. The basal leaves are rounded and shallowly lobed, while the upper stem leaves are finely divided into narrow segments, giving the plant a distinctive two-part appearance.

Fun fact: what we know as Goldilocks Buttercup is actually an aggregate of many closely related but distinct microspecies, many of which are extremely difficult to tell apart in the field.

Bitter Vetch
Lathyrus linifolius

Bitter-vetch is a slender perennial of woodland edges, heaths and upland grassland. The leaves consist of a single pair of narrow leaflets ending in a branched tendril, while the reddish-purple flowers are borne in loose clusters on delicate stems.

Downy Currant Ribes spicatum

A deciduous shrub of woodland, rocky slopes and riverbanks. Its leaves are three to five lobed and softly hairy beneath when young, while the greenish flowers hang in drooping racemes during spring.

Separating this one from Red Currant is a challenge, but good resources can be found online. While it does not appear too downy, the specimen here has been identified by far more accomplished botanists than I.

Fly Honeysuckle
Lonicera xylosteum

A deciduous shrub of woodland, limestone slopes and hedge banks. The leaves are oval and softly hairy, arranged in opposite pairs along the stems, while the small creamy-white flowers are produced in pairs from the leaf axils. These develop into glossy red berries, usually borne as twin fruits, which are a distinctive feature of the species.

Yellow Pimpernel
Lysimachia nemorum

A delicate creeping perennial of damp woodland, stream banks and shaded ground. Slender stems trail across the soil and root at the nodes, bearing opposite, rounded leaves on relatively long stalks. The small yellow flowers are produced singly in the leaf axils. A little beauty!

Water Avens
Geum rivale

Water Avens is a softly hairy perennial of damp meadows, flushes and stream sides. Its nodding flowers have reddish-brown sepals surrounding smaller cream to pinkish petals marked with darker veins. After flowering, the styles elongate into hooked structures that aid seed dispersal by attaching to passing animals.

Hybrid Avens
Geum x intermedium

Geum × intermedium is the hybrid between Geum rivale and Geum urbanum, typically occurring where the parent species grow together in damp woodland and streamside habitats.

In appearance, it is intermediate between the two, with partially nodding flowers, reddish sepals and broader yellowish petals that open more widely than those of Water Avens. The plant is often recognised by this combination of mixed characters.


Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium

A low-growing perennial of shaded flushes, springs and stream margins. Its rounded leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along creeping stems, helping distinguish it from the similar alternate-leaved species. In spring, the small flowers are surrounded by bright yellow-green bracts that make patches of the plant conspicuous against damp woodland ground.

Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium


Wood Forget-me-not
Myosotis sylvatica

A softly hairy perennial of woodland edges, hedge banks and shaded grassland. Its bright blue flowers, each with a contrasting yellow eye, are borne in coiled sprays that gradually unfurl as flowering progresses. The broad hairy leaves and relatively large flowers help distinguish it from several smaller forget-me-not species.

Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica


Wood-sorrel Oxalis acetosella

A delicate woodland perennial of damp, shaded ground. Its clover-like leaves are divided into three heart-shaped leaflets that often fold down in low light or rain. The white flowers are finely veined with pinkish-purple and carried singly above the foliage on slender stalks.


Sanicle
Sanicula europaea

Sanicle is a perennial of shaded deciduous woodland and base-rich hedge banks. The glossy basal leaves are palmately lobed and long-stalked, while the small pinkish-white flowers are grouped into compact, rounded umbels on slender stems. Later in the season, the fruits develop hooked bristles that readily cling to animal fur, aiding dispersal through woodland habitats.

Wood Crane’s-bill
Geranium sylvaticum

A robust perennial of damp meadows, woodland edges and upland grassland. Its deeply divided leaves form loose clumps below tall stems carrying relatively large violet-purple flowers, often marked with darker veins. After flowering, the fruits develop into the long, tapering “crane’s-bill” seed head characteristic of the genus.

Common Cow-wheat
Melampyrum pratense

A slender annual of acidic woodland, heaths and moorland edges. The narrow opposite leaves line delicate green stems, while the pale yellow tubular flowers sit in the upper leaf axils, often subtended by reddish-tinged bracts. As a semi-parasitic species, it attaches to the roots of neighbouring plants to obtain additional nutrients.

Bugle
Ajuga reptans

A creeping perennial of damp grassland, woodland edges and hedge banks. Glossy leaves form low rosettes connected by runners, from which arise square stems bearing dense spikes of deep blue flowers. The hooded upper petals and spreading lower lip are characteristic of the mint family.

Intermediate Lady’s-mantle Alchemilla xanthochlora

A softly hairy perennial of grassland, road verges and woodland edges. Its rounded leaves are deeply pleated and divided into broad lobes with finely toothed margins, often holding conspicuous droplets of water in the centre. The frothy clusters of tiny yellow-green flowers are carried above the foliage on branching stems in summer.

Do not forget that Alchemilla are a tricky bunch to identify. Several others can be found in the area.

Lords-and-Ladies Arum maculatum

A distinctive woodland perennial of hedgebanks, shady lanes and damp woodland floors. The glossy, arrow-shaped leaves are sometimes marked with dark spots, while the unusual flower structure consists of a purple club-like spadix enclosed within a pale green hooded spathe. In autumn, the plant is especially conspicuous for its dense spike of bright red berries.

Grasses & Sedges

Wood Fescue
Drymochloa sylvatica

A robust woodland grass of shaded cliffs, ravines and steep deciduous woodland. Broad, flat leaves arise in loose tufts, while the flowering stems carry large, graceful, airy panicles. The combination of its habitat, purple-tinged stem bases and leaves that fold back towards their tips is usually enough to identify this species.

The best populations of this woodland grass are to be found near Cupola Bridge.

Wood Barley
Hordelymus europaeus

Wood Barley is a graceful perennial grass of ancient woodland and shaded hedge banks. Its broad leaves and arching stems are topped by slender spikes with long, fine awns, giving the inflorescence a soft, elegant appearance. The obviously “barley-like” flower heads help distinguish it from superficially similar woodland grasses.

Once again, the best populations of this woodland grass are to be found near Cupola Bridge.

Wood Melick
Melica uniflora

A delicate perennial grass of shaded deciduous woodland and hedge banks. Its slender stems carry a loose panicle of drooping spikelets, each usually containing a single fertile floret with a small cluster of sterile florets above.

Giant Fescue
Schedonorus giganteus

A tall, robust grass of damp woodland, riverbanks and shaded marshy ground. Its broad, dark green leaves and towering stems support a large, open panicle with drooping branches of spikelets. The combination of its size, coarse foliage and preference for wet, shaded habitats makes it one of the more distinctive woodland grasses, but if in doubt, look for purplish clasping auricles.

Wood-sedge
Carex sylvatica

A graceful woodland sedge of shady deciduous woods, hedge banks and stream sides. Loose tufts of broad green leaves give rise to arching stems bearing several long-stalked, drooping female spikes beneath a slender male spike. The elegantly hanging inflorescences are a useful feature for recognising the species in the field.

In the photograph, it can be seen growing alongside Remote Sedge.

Remote Sedge
Carex remota

A slender woodland sedge of damp pathsides, stream margins and shaded ground. Its narrow leaves form loose tufts, while the thin flowering stems carry numerous small spikelets spaced widely apart along the upper stem. This unusually elongated inflorescence is the key feature behind both the common and scientific names.

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Cupola Bridge, Stawardpeel & Briarwood Banks

The wooded banks of the River Allen are one of the few places I find myself returning to year after year in search of wild plants (we all have those places, don’t we?). Typically, we follow a familiar route from the National Trust car park at Allen Banks as far as Briarwood Banks, before turning back satisfied with whatever the day has offered.

This spring, though, I was keen to try something a little different. Starting instead from the far end of the gorge at Cupola Bridge, we set out to explore some of the quieter wooded corners we’d somehow overlooked on previous visits. Our usual trips here come a little later in the season, often in search of Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis, but there was no reason to think an earlier visit would be at all dull.

Cupola Banks

Decanting at Cupola Bridge, the first stretch of our walk saw Matt and me enjoying a leisurely hour exploring Cupola Banks. It is surely one of the finest fragments of ancient woodland in the area, with a reputation for harbouring several local specialities, including Mountain Melick Melica nutans and Wood Barley Hordelymus europaeus. Spoiler: we missed both, though in fairness, we were probably a little early for the barley.

Among the highlights here was Wood Fescue Drymochloa sylvatica, a particularly elegant grass of humid cliffs, shaded overhangs and steep banks where competition from the ever-present Great Wood-rush Luzula sylvatica is reduced. We encountered several fine clumps along this opening stretch, pausing to inspect tussocks for the tell-tale purple-tinged stem bases. Scarce and seemingly in decline, this species is something of a specialist of steep-sided woodlands such as this, often confined to the most inaccessible ledges, making any meaningful monitoring a challenge.

Elsewhere, the supporting cast of woodland grasses was equally pleasing, with plenty of Wood Melick Melica uniflora, alongside Giant Fescue Schedonorus giganteus and Hairy-brome – all good indicators of long-established woodland habitats.

Wood Fescue Drymochloa sylvatica
Wood Fescue Drymochloa sylvatica
Wood Fescue Drymochloa sylvatica in its typical habitat

On the floral front, the path edges and wooded slopes were rich with interest. Yellow Pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum, Water Avens Geum rivale and Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium were all present in good quantity, joined by welcome splashes of colour from Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica, Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius and a supporting cast of familiar woodland species.

Less eye-catching, perhaps, but no less noteworthy, were the lingering remains of last season’s Bird’s-nest Orchid. A reminder that we’d arrived a little early, and that a return visit later in the month will be well worth pencilling in.

Yellow Pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum
Wood Forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
Water Avens Geum rivale
Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolium
Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius

Of course, I can scarcely go anywhere these days without giving due attention to the ferns (a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective), and the steep, wooded banks at Cupola proved well worth investigating. The usual suspects were quickly accounted for including Male-fern Dryopteris filix-mas and Lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina, while a few fine clumps of Borrer’s Male-fern Dryopteris borreri were a welcome bonus. Hard Shield-fern Polystichum aculeatum and Polypody Polypodium vulgare were also present, though both were to be expected.

The real highlight came a little higher up the slope, where we were delighted to find neighbouring populations of Beech Fern Phegopteris connectilis and Oak Fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris. Both are scarce locally, and it is always a pleasure to encounter them, particularly growing side by side as they so often do in the damp, humid, rocky woodlands they favour.

To round things off, a small, shaded hollow beside the path held a modest colony of Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum, its delicately branched foliage easily separating it from other species liable to occur.

Oak Fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Wood Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum
Beech Fern Phegopteris connectilis
Hard Shield-fern Polystichum aculeatum
Polypody Polypodium vulgare

Stawardpeel Wood

The next leg of our walk carried us through Stawardpeel Wood, tracing the banks of the Allen and skirting the edges of a sizeable clearfell area. Botanically, much was familiar, with many of the same woodland species continuing along the route. One plant, however, did give us pause: a particularly handsome Dryopteris which, on closer inspection, revealed itself as Western Scaly Male-fern Dryopteris affinis subsp. affinis. A satisfying find, and well worth a closer look.

Muggins peering at the offending fern…

The more familiar species were in particularly good form along this stretch. Dog-violet Viola riviniana was abundant, joined by swathes of Ramsons Allium ursinum and patches of Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca – all classic woodland plants.

Dog-violet Viola riviniana
Ramsons Allium ursinum
Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca

A final point of interest before reaching Plankey Mill came in the form of a robust member of the pea family scrambling through scrub at the edge of the clearfell. This proved to be Wood Vetch Vicia sylvatica, a Rare Plant Register species in South Northumberland, though on this occasion it was still some way from flowering.

Matt, attempting to usher me along after spending way too long admiring the Wood Vetch

Plankey Mill & Briarwood Banks

The final leg of our small expedition proved to be the most rewarding. Plankey Mill itself offered little of note, aside from a patch of what was likely Upland Enchanter’s-nightshade Circaea x intermedia (one to revisit later in the season), but nearby Briarwood Banks and the pockets of calaminarian grassland in the vicinity were far more engaging.

Venturing back into the woodland, we made a point of checking on a small colony of Early-purple Orchid Orchis mascula that had delighted us on previous visits. Encouragingly, two plants had escaped the attentions of passing feet and were still standing. Nearby, Bugle Ajuga reptans formed carpets in the shade, while a thriving population of Wood Stitchwort Stellaria nemorum was just coming into flower – another northern speciality.

Early-purple Orchid Orchis mascula
Bugle Ajuga reptans
Wood Stitchwort Stellaria nemorum

Close to Briarwood Banks, several pockets of calaminarian grassland have developed on soils contaminated by heavy metals and other less savoury residues. These unusual habitats are a joy to visit early in the season thanks to the abundance of Mountain Pansy Viola lutea, which flowers here in April and May.

A short detour brought us to one such clearing, where the pansies were at their peak, forming a kaleidoscope of colour across the turf. Try as we might, we couldn’t pick out any of the pure yellow forms (a personal favourite), but with almost every other variation on display, it was hard to feel disappointed.

Mountain Pansy Viola lutea
Mountain Pansy Viola lutea
Mountain Pansy Viola lutea

And that was that, a thoroughly rewarding spring wander in what must surely be one of the most scenic and botanically rich woodlands in Northumberland. There’s clearly plenty more to come here as the season unfolds, and I’ll have to make a point of returning to Cupola later in the year to seek out some of the species that were still waiting in the wings.

Allen Banks & Briarwood Banks

It had been a few years since I last visited my favourite ancient woodland sites at Allen Banks and Briarwood Banks — my most recent visit taking place during a student field trip in 2022. I’m not entirely sure why it’s taken me so long to return, but regardless, this week I was thrilled to get back into the swing of things leading a group of keen botanists from my ‘Botanist’s Year’ course on a walk along the River Allen, taking in the sights and sounds of these remarkable reserves.

Ancient woodland is a rare thing in Northumberland, especially in a truly diverse and undisturbed state. The River Allen catchment is one of the few places where it’s still possible not only to observe many of the characteristic plants of this special habitat, but to see them in abundance — a sight sorely lacking in my local patch around Newcastle. As we set out from the National Trust car park, it was immediately clear we were in for a treat: just about everything one hopes to find in such sites was flowering merrily.

Botanists on the march

Within moments of starting our walk, ancient woodland indicators began revealing themselves at a rapid pace. The first leg of the trip took us along the drier, upper slopes of the gorge, where we were treated to glorious patches of Wood Crane’s-bill Geranium sylvaticum alongside Goldilocks Buttercup Ranunculus auricomus — two species I encounter far too infrequently for my liking. Lower down, although the bluebells and wood anemones had finished flowering, Sanicle Sanicula europaea was in full bloom, and members of the group were quick to point out some lovely patches of Yellow Pimpernel Lysimachia nemorum.

One of the other curiosities during this leg of the trip was a mature variegated Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus which may or may not be the cultivar Simon-Louis Freres. Presumably this was planted here by the Victorian custodians of the site but either way, it made for an impressive sight.

Sanicle Sanicula europaea
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Simon-Louis Freres’
(I think)
Yellow Pimpernell Lysimachia nemorum
Wood Crane’s-bill Geranium sylvaticum

Continuing along the riverside path, our attention briefly turned to ferns, with sightings of most of the common species one might expect in a woodland like this: Hard Fern Blechnum spicant, Hard Shield-fern Polystichum aculeatum, Lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina, and others. Great Horsetail Equisetum telmateia was also noted, and several attractive woodland grasses gave us reason to pause. The most abundant was the delicate Wood Melick Melica uniflora, but we also recorded Hairy-brome Bromopsis ramosa, Giant Fescue Schedonorus giganteus, and perhaps most exciting of all, Wood Fescue Drymochloa sylvatica — a completely new plant for me, despite having unknowingly wandered past it for years. The Tyne catchment is one of the key strongholds for this rare woodland grass.

It wasn’t long, however, before our focus returned to flowers, with plenty of Bugle Ajuga reptans in bloom and Hybrid Avens Geum x intermedium growing alongside both of its parent species in a damp depression. Bitter-vetch Lathyrus linifolius and Wood Vetch Ervilia sylvatica were also observed, and a brief pause to key out specimens rewarded us with Intermediate Lady’s-mantle Alchemilla xanthochlora.

Bugle Ajuga reptans
Wood Melick Melica uniflora
Hybrid Avens Geum x intermedium

Another curiosity spotted on this leg of the trip was the attractive shrub shown below. Clearly a honeysuckle but which one? My money is on Fly Honeysuckle Lonicera xylosteum – likely an old introduction here.

Fly Honeysuckle Lonicera xylosteum

Reaching the end of Allen Banks, we soon crossed the invisible boundary into the Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s reserve at Briarwood Banks. This is a fantastic site, carefully managed for a wide range of wildlife, including Hazel Dormice which are said to lurk in the undergrowth. Before venturing further, we stopped for lunch on a stunning patch of Calaminarian grassland, brimming with Mountain Pansies Viola lutea. As you can see, these little beauties come in a delightful range of colours, and personally, I’m especially fond of the less common yellow ones! This same area also held Common Bistort Bistorta officinalis on the riverbanks.

Mountain Pansy Viola lutea
Mountain Pansy Viola lutea
Mountain Pansy Viola lutea

After lunch, it was time to begin our ascent up the banks, with Mel Rockett taking the lead, drawing on his extensive volunteering experience at the site. Our main target was Bird’s-nest Orchid which we had missed on the way in, but along the way we encountered a fine selection of species not seen earlier in the day, including Early-purple Orchid Orchis mascula and Common Cow-wheat Melampyrum pratense. Only when we reached the summit (and I’m not being melodramatic — the walk is genuinely steep at this point) did we finally find our quarry…

Early-purple Orchid Orchis mascula
Uphill we go…
NWT’s Briarwood Banks

Thanks to Mel’s expert guidance, we finally caught up with Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis. Two, to be exact, growing beneath a mature Beech Fagus sylvatica in a rocky patch of earth, far removed from the ‘rich humus’ they’re said to prefer in the textbooks. A quirky little plant, it may not be as striking as some of its orchid relatives, but it’s certainly fascinating: parasitic on the roots of its host tree and lacking the chlorophyll that gives most plants their green colour. These specimens weren’t fully open yet, but a few flowers had begun to reveal themselves.

Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis
Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis
Bird’s-nest Orchid Neottia nidus-avis

While at Briarwood, we were also lucky enough to catch up with the rather delicate fern shown below. This is Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris), a pretty uncommon species in our region, typically found in rocky, ancient woodlands. It was such a treat to see a thriving patch of it as we made our descent down the bank.

Oak Fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris

And that, folks, is a wrap. It’s always such a pleasure to get out and about with a group of keen botanists, especially when their local insight leads to unexpected encounters. A big thank you to Mel for taking the reins at Briarwood Banks.

Spring Botany at Allen Banks

With my Natural History Society of Northumbria hat on, yesterday I had the pleasure of leading a small group of students from Newcastle University to one of my favourite local haunts: the glorious National Trust reserve at Allen Banks. The wooded areas here making for a superb location at which to enjoy a range of seldom seem woodland wildflowers and of course, to try our hand at a spot of orchid hunting too.

Starting out from the public car park and heading South on the West side of the river, things started out well with a range of interesting ferns spotted along the way. Among these, Broad Buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilatata), Hard Fern (Blechnum spicant), Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) and both Soft Shield-fern (Polystichum setiferum) and its cousin, the Hard Shield-fern (Polystichum aculeatum). If you had told me a year back that I’d be getting exciting over ferns, I’m not sure I would have believed you…

In flower here was Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum) and Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium), while a little further in, we were treated to remains of Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria) and an Alchemilla later [tentatively] ID’d as Intermediate Lady’s-mantle (Alchemilla xanthochlora).

Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria)
Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum)
Intermediate Lady’s-mantle (Alchemilla xanthochlora)

Making plenty of pitstops along the way to our chosen destination, it was interesting to stumble across a mature variegated Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) which made for an impressive sight with its marbled, yellow leaves. Whether this was a naturally occurring mutation or something planted by the Victorians, I am not sure…

Also nearby were a number of white form English Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), as well as Bitter-vetch (Lathyrus linifolius), Wood Sedge (Carex sylvatica) and plenty of woodland indicator species. Bugle (Ajuga reptans) and blooming Woodruff (Galium odoratum) certainly made for a pleasing sight.

Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)

Further into the wood, after quite a bit of searching, we stumbled across the first of the day’s intended targets – a glorious clump of Bird’s-nest Orchids (Neottia nidus-avis). Growing under Hazel, as opposed to Beech on this occasion, these were not quite in flower yet but still gave plenty of cause for celebration. Nearby a separate, individual flower spike was found soon after.

Bird’s-nest Orchids (Neottia nidus-avis)

Next came a pause and lunch break at a small area of calaminarian grassland strewn with countless Mountain Pansies (Viola lutea). The fantastic array of colour forms on show here certainly made for an enjoyable break with the countless blooms ranging from deep purple to lilac and of course, yellow.

Mountain Pansy (Viola lutea)

Reaching Planky Mill, it didn’t take us long to find our first Early Purple Orchids (Orchis mascula) of the day. While less numerous than on my last visit in 2020, we still managed to count seven flower spikes during our short stay. A few non-blooming rosettes were observed nearby also.

More run of the mill wildflowers were abundant here too with Wood Speedwell (Veronica montana), Common Dog-violet (Viola riviniana) and Sanicle (Sanicula europaea) spotted, among others. A brief foray into a square known for Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia) yielded no results but alas, it hasn’t been seen here in a good few decades…

Early Purple Orchids (Orchis mascula)

As ever, it wasn’t long before time got the better of us and we were forced to head back. It always amazes me how little ground you cover when looking for plants…

Dashing back, a few interesting species were noted along the upper reaches of the gorge, not least Wood Crane’s-bill (Geranium sylvaticum) and Goldilocks Buttercup (Ranunculus auricomus) – the latter a great find by a member of the group. In addition to these, we were pleased to find yet more Bird’s-nest Orchids in a new square. This particular group looking particularly striking against the dull, grey woodland floor.

Wood Crane’s-bill (Geranium sylvaticum)
Goldilocks Buttercup (Ranunculus auricomus)
Bird’s-nest Orchids (Neottia nidus-avis)

All in all, a great day in great company. Our orchid sightings will be added to NHSN’s ongoing Discovering Orchids project seeking to map the distribution of these fascinating plants across the North East. If you’re out and about locally, please do consider sharing a sighting.







	


	
	






	
	

		
Into the Wild Woods at Allen Banks
	


	

		

Spurred on by the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions in England, this weekend past saw us venture forty-five minutes inland to the wild reaches of Allen Banks. An ancient woodland site situated on the banks of the River Allen and maintained by the National Trust.





Now, I visit Allen Banks at least once every year to make the most of the aged woodland setting and enjoy the species that come hand-in-hand with such places. This visit, however, felt extra special following months couped up at home with only short, urban walks from which to derive enjoyment. After a few minutes of gazing upwards at the canopy of old oak, ash and towering beech trees, it was clear I had made the right decision.





Allen Banks is a fantastic location at which to enjoy a suite of scarce Northumbrian birds and, sure enough, upon entering the wood, the song of a Pied Flycatcher drifted down from the canopy of a, particularly tall beech. One of four heard during the course of the day. Elsewhere, a Sparrowhawk rode the thermals above the river and riparian species – Dipper and Grey Wagtail – held our attention for some time.





Rather unusually, birds were not the purpose of the day’s visit, however, and we soon set off uphill intent on some botanising around Morralee Tarn. On route, we were pleased to note a single Early Purple Orchid blooming amid a rather desolate patch of brash. A new species for me and one which stood out like a sore thumb, the purple flower spike contrasting sharply with the browns and greys of the fallen timber.










Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula)





At the tarn, we noted another new species for this [very] amateur botanist: Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage, a rather lovely, moisture-loving plant characteristic of stream-sides and damp places in upland Northumberland. Other plant species observed here included Wood Ruff, Mare ‘s-tail, Marsh Marigold, Marsh Cinquefoil and introduced White Water Lily. I confess I was unable to identify the small Stitchwort species growing around the pool margins; though a patch of Wild Strawberry in bloom was less tricky.





On the tarn-side vegetation, Large Red Damselflies rested, freshly emerged and looking rather radiant; while the shallows held the tadpoles of Common Toad and what was likely a Palmate Newt.
























Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium), Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula)





Heading downhill this time and west along the river, the diversity of ferns on show in the lower reaches of the wood was impressive. Hart’s-tongue and Polypody were identifiable though the rest, not so much. As such, we made do with appreciating the somewhat primordial sight before dashing off in search of something a little more colourful.





Upstream, we spent a good hour combing the tussocky grassland of a riverside meadow having been stopped dead in our tracks by a sprawling patch of delicate Mountain Pansy – more on these later. Here, the queer-looking flowers of Crosswort were obvious, as were plenty of English Bluebells; though more interesting were the sunny, yellow flowers of Yellow Pimpernel. A low-growing plant with a Northumberland distribution limited [in the most part] to inland sites such as this.





























Yellow Pimpernel (Lysimachia nemorum), Mountain Pansy (Viola lutea), Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and Crosswort (Cruciata laevipes)





With plenty of wildflowers in bloom, there were a great many invertebrates to admire here too. The best of which, a rather large and colourful sawfly apprehended for closer inspection. Advice from the knowledgable folk on Twitter would suggest this is Tenthredo maculata, a rather impressive, if intimidating looking beastie and a species with few records in the North East.





Other insects observed were Gipsy Cuckoo Bee, Orange-tip, Green Long-horn and the unusual, outlandishly hairy fly shown below. After some excited Googling, I suspect this is Tachina ursina.



















A Sawfly (Tenthredo maculata) and a fly (Tachina ursina)





Crossing the river further upstream and doubling back towards the car park, we were surprised to stumble upon a glade chock-full of purple blooms. Mountain Pansies, yet again, blooming en masse right across the clearing. Closer inspection of these beautiful little flowers revealed an impressive mix of colour forms: deep purple, violet and yellow.





Further reading on this eye-catching viola seems to suggest that they grow and proliferate so well here due to the presence of heavy metals in the soil – a relic of the [thankfully] long-gone days of lead mining in the county.





























Mountain Pansies (Viola lutea)





Setting off towards the car, it was wonderful to see another, a far larger swath of Early Purple Orchid blooming on a south-facing bankside. These, alongside the countless flowers of Ramsons, Wood Speedwell, Dog Violet, Wood Ruff and Red Campion painting the woodland a vibrant mix of colours. A stark reminder of what could and should be in woodlands across Northumberland.





Another new species on walk home came in the form of a dense clump of Wood Crane’s-bill; while Barren Strawberry was also noted and it proved impossible not to pause briefly to admire the deep-blue spikers of Bugle protruding from the riverside grasses.