Wildflowers Archives - Page 2 of 3

Newcastle’s Urban Flora – A Project Update

An account of a busy season recording for what I’m loosely calling an ‘Urban Flora of Newcastle‘.

As many of you will know, over the past year, I’ve been working on a project to map the urban flora of Newcastle-upon-Tyne – a personal endeavor that I hope at some stage to publish.

With 82 out of 105 monads (1km grid squares) across the city now visited, often several times, some 200+ hours of time, and 32,000 words written, now seemed like the perfect time to give a wee update. Spoiler: with some 760 plant species, hybrids or subspecies now recorded this is quickly shaping up to me a mammoth task!

Common plants

Visiting so many sites across Newcastle, it is quickly becoming apparent which are our most successful urban species – the true city specialists! So far, some 15 species have been recorded in each and every square and none of these have come as a suprise. Cleavers (Galium aparine), Smooth Sow-thistle (Sonchus oleraceus), Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) and Daisy (Bellis perennis) are some familiar examples present in just about every pavement crack, rough patch or lawn if time is taken to look.

Other examples include Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and of course, Annual Meadow-grass (Poa annua). The omipresent city plants!

Totting up the ‘top 25’ most recorded plants hasn’t revealed many suprises, in truth. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) are a little more abundant than anticipated and Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) has surpassed expectations, but that’s about it. But we knew this already…

Rarities and Surprises

On the reverse, while many plants are terribly common in the city, others are not. I’ve found my far share of rarities and neophyte oddities while recording so far but what is more suprising is that they just keep coming.

Just yesterday, while grubbing around Scotswood I encountered several species new to me – Perfoliate Alexanders (Smyrnium perfoliatum), Straw Foxglove (Digitalis lutea), Upright Spurge (Euphorbia stricta) and Wild Madder (Rubia peregrina). Each somewhat out of place but interesting nontheless.

Other interesting records of late include the white form of Dark Mullein (Verbascum nigrum) on a messy city verge, a new population of Hairy Bindweed (Calystegia pulchra) engulfing a city cemetery and even House Holly-fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) growing in a gutter in Gosforth. Our urban flora if nothing if not diverse. I do wonder what else might pop up during the remainder of the survey?

It isn’t just hortals and neophytes surprising however, and some of our scarcer native species are actually proving rather abundant. Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum) is a good example, popping up just about anywhere, while Hare’s-foot Clover (Trifolium arvense) seems more widespread than anticipated in neglected carparks and building sites.

Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana), rare? Nope. Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)? More abundant than you might think. What about Great Lettuce (Lactuca virosa), a Rare Plant Register species? Everywhere! The mind boggles.

Overlooked Plants

Embarking on a project such as this, there were always going to be groups which were under-recorded, either due to ‘recorder blindness’ or simply the effort needed to check many plants that superfisially look the same. Willowherbs (Epilobium sp) and yellow composites are good examples of the former – how often do simply walk past these? Cotoneasters an great example of the latter. Recently, I’ve been trying to counteract this by focusing on these groups in greater detail.

The willowherbs have proven particularly eye-opening. Close to home in Heaton, a single stretch of pavement held six species including some less common ones in Pale Willowherb (Epilobium roseum) and Square-stalked Willowherb (Epilobium tetragonum). I’ve also been somewhat suprised to see just how abundant American Willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum) is but honestly, I’ve probably been ignoring it until now.

Notable sites

Another thing I’ve been keeping a close eye on as part of the project in the overall botanical diversity of specific squares – hopefully to create some sort of heat map when the time comes. Doing this is helping paint a clearer picture of Newcastle’s botanical hotspots, in my head atleast.

In many cases, the results of this have been unsurprising and those squares featuring a mix of relic natural or at least semi-natural habitats have come out on top. Jesmond Dene (193 species), the lower Ousburn (213 species) and Walker Riverside (171 species) are clearly rather diverse. Green spaces aside however, there have also been suprises here too. Not least the 183 species recorded in an unassuming patch of Heaton where terraced gardens provide a haven for weeds of all sorts and the square surrounding St. James’ Park stadium (193 species) where neglected building sites are rather floristically diverse. Tracking this, I definitely feel I am getting to grips with the different urban ‘microhabitats’ that matter for our plants.

Following Other’s Footsteps

Botanical recording in the city has been patchy over the years and Newcastle has only been selectively surveyed. Nathaniel John Winch was the first to begin truly mapping the flora here and many interesting records made within the city limits feature in his Flora of Northumberland Durham, 1831. In 1868, A New Flora of Northumberland and Durham, authored by John Gilbert Baker and George Tate, paid much greater heed to the neophyte flora that so often define our urban spaces, though mention of the Newcastle area is lacking.

George Swan went much further while preparing his the Flora of Northumberland (1993). Since then, however, most records have come from a few familiar names: from John Durkin, who incidentally has contributed immensely to the current project, Quentin Groom, Gordon Young etc. It is the records made by the latter recorders that I’ve been digging into recently – checking to see if the interesting plants noted 10-20 years back are still present. In several cases, they are!

I was excited to note Groom’s Common Blue Sow-thistle (Cicerbita macrophylla) at Jesmond Vale and Young’s Fragrant Agrimony (Agrimonia procera) at Scotswood. The list goes on and following in the footsteps of these recorders is helping develop a firmer pictures of our urban flora. It is also to see what has persisted and what has vanished.

More to do

Starting out, I think I had naively assumed that copiling a flora for a lone city – a relatively small geographial area – would be an easy task. I was wrong! There is just so much still to explore and plenty of rabbit holes still to venture down – duckweeds, sedges, hunting hybrid oaks. Add to this variation in flowering times, the human tendency to miss things first time around, and the need to learn new groups and I can see I’ll be busy for quite some time. Still, I’ve made a good start…

Fitting this in around a full-time job means I’ll likely run into 2025 before I can produce anything near complete. Still, better to do it right. Hopefully, when the time comes, I’ll be able to attract enough support to publish something in hard copy but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it! Something similar to this would be nice – we’ll see if an ‘Urban Flora of Newcastle’ makes it to fruition!

An Urban Flora of Newcastle: Progress & Problems so Far

An update on ongoing survey carried out to map and record the diverse and fascinating Urban Flora of Newcastle.

Since October last year, I’ve been busy recording for what I am loosely calling an Urban Flora of Newcastle – an in-depth account of the wild and naturalised plants growing within the city limits. With some 52 tetrads visited so far, some more than once, I think it is going rather well. Indeed, to date, a total of 598 species have been found growing in a seemingly wild state. A startling number of plants, and a lot to get your head around!

While I am far from done – I’ll need to visit 103 tetrads in multiple seasons – the process of surveying is already yielding some interesting results, and a few difficulties too. An update on some of these can be found below.

Stumbling blocks

What exactly is urban?

What exactly constitutes an urban habitat? Is it is the presence of concrete, tarmac, or perhaps buildings? Is it the proportion of a tetrad or square occupied by man-made habitats vs natural ones? Who knows, but this is a question I have wrestled with quite a bit so far. It is for this reason that I have removed 43 tetrads from the present survey, particularly on the peripheries of the city but also including areas such as Gosforth Nature Reserve where the flora is altogether more natural. Some outliers remain, but only where greenspace is choked by urbanisation.

Trees

Trees pose a fairly unique problem with the origins of many mature specimens being questionable at best. For this reason, I have chosen to only include trees where there is clear evidence of natural spread. Saplings and suckers are far easier to assess. That said, mature trees in relic habitats have been included. Especially within the city’s wooded denes.

Suspicious shrubs

Shrubs pose a similar problem to trees and it is becoming clear that within the city, we have a tendency to plant a whole range of weird and wonderful bushes. For this reason, I taking an even more radical approach by ignoring any which look remotely suspicious. Still, despite this, there has been an awful lot to see as many species readily spread from planting schemes.

Garden weeds

Plants in gardens are always going to be contentious but with plenty of disturbed ground and pavement cracks, gardens are a good habitat for a whole host of species. Few people plant Hairy Bittercress (Cardamine hirtsuta) for example. Occasionally, garden plants can also be seen spreading into lawns, walls, and nearby gardens. These are fair game.

Salad Burnet (*Poterium sanguisorba*), Walker

A few discoveries so far

Cotoneasters

I wrote a little about urban cotoneasters in Newcastle here. What is quickly becoming clear with this difficult group is that there are plenty more out there to be discovered beside the usual Wall Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horozontalis). After the first record for VC67 a few weeks back, Swedish Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster x suecicus) has turned up at more sites still. What else is out there to be discovered?

Redwood-Sorrel

An odd find in Jesmond Dene recently was an expansive patch of Redwood-Sorrel (Oxalis oregana) on a wooded bank. This species hasn’t been recorded before in North East and likely stems from a historic introduction or perhaps a garden throw-out. It is native, as you might expect, to North America.

Atlantic Ivy

English Ivy (Hedera helix) is a common sight just about everywhere in the city. It wasn’t until recently, however, that I realised that many of these plants were not English Ivy at all. With its wider terminal lobe, green veining, and distinctive smell, Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) is no doubt hideously under-recorded. It is certainly common in several of the tetrads visited so far.

Redwood-sorrel (*Oxalis oregana*), Jesmond Dene

Newcastle’s changing flora

Shifting Fleabanes

Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) is a common sight in the city – in gardens, pavements, and ruderal patches. Its cousin, Guernsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis) is historically much rarer but surprisingly, is cropping up at more sites than expected often in great numbers.

Narrow-leaved Ragwort

Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecio inaequidens) is another species on the increase. Only a few years back, it was only really present at a few spots along the Tyne but is now appearing by roadsides (and within gardens) elsewhere in the city. Recently, I also encountered what could be a hybrid between this and the commoner Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) but alas, I will need to watch it throughout the summer. I live in hope!

Shrubs taking hold

Many of the shrubs beloved in urban planting schemes have an uncanny knack for escaping into the wild. Wilson’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida) is a prime example, but similar trends are being seen albeit rarely in Leatherleaf Viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum), Hybrid Coralberry (Symphoricarpos × chenaultii) and Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus). The latter of which seems to like brownfield land here in Heaton.

Water Bent

Following its lightning spread across Southern parts of the UK, Water Bent (Polypogon viridis) reached Newcastle only recently. This year alone, I have found in within gutters, roadsides, and even gardens in several squares around Heaton and Byker. I suspect it is far more widespread than the maps would have you believe…

Narrow-leaved Ragwort (*Senecio inaequidens*), Heaton

Identifying Dead-nettles

Get started identifying dead-nettles with a brand-new crib suitable for beginner botanists.

Well, our first beginner’s crib to urban ragworts seemed to go down well. Thank you for the kind comments all! Spurred on by your feedback, this week I’ve created another looking a second accessible plant family, and one just as common in our towns and cities.

I have also almost finished a festive entry on Snowdrops and hope to have a crib to small-flowered fleabanes ready soon too. Until then, let’s get started…

Identifying dead-nettles

Colourful and conspicuous, dead-nettles are some of our most familiar wildflowers. Well, at least the 1-2 species commonly spotted in flowerbeds and overgrown gardens, that is. Some dead-nettles, particularly the small red ones, can look surprisingly alike and I wanted our next crib to take a closer look at these lovely little weeds.

Please note, as ever, this focuses on the species likely to be encountered in North East England, as opposed to rarer ones. It includes:

Red Dead-nettle
Cut-leaved Dead-nettle
Henbit Dead-nettle
Spotted Dead-nettle
White Dead-nettle
Both Yellow Archangels

Download the crib

Weekend Botany at Walker

This weekend provided a nice opportunity for our new local botany group to visit Walker Riverside. Here’s what we encountered.

Botany (and wildlife recording in general) can often be a solitary affair. For many of us, I suspect, myself included, that suits us just fine. At least most of the time. Sometimes, however, it is nice to do things as a group. Not least only for the company but also for the support and increased brainpower that comes with combining noggins!

It is for the reasons listed above that a few friends and I wanted to get the ball rolling on a new informal group for botanists North of the Tyne. Both to make things a little more social and support one another and to ensure that we’re working with local experts to capture important plant records. I am pleased to say that this weekend, this came to fruition with our merry band meeting for the first time at Walker Riverside in Newcastle.

As you’ll see from the photos below, we had a jolly good day and learned a lot. A big thank you to those who came along! Now, what about the plants?

Walker is a very diverse site I have written about several times. What never fails to surprise here is the tendency for it to throw up new and unusual discoveries, several of which were made during our visit. Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) was a particularly interesting one and nice to compare with some nearby Common Ivy (Hedera helix) and Persian Ivy (Hedera colchica). Megs Rogers, VCR for South Northumberland, also came up trumps with a candidate for Small Gorse (Ulex minor) and last month’s county first Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata) was also admired. The latter ID may well change now someone more knowledgeable than I has taken a look…

As a group, we also noted several other interesting plants between St. Peter’s Basin and Walker Riverside Park. Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata) was still in bloom, as was Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum) and Green Field-speedwell (Veronica agrestis). Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) was a nice find on the cycleway, and rare locally, and it was nice to note Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acer) still clinging on. A few other finds are mentioned alongside some excellent photography in Ho-Yin Wong’s tweet below.

Revisited Walker today with the new botany recording group led by @CommonByNature

Some finds include: Rubus tricolor/Chinese Bramble; Catoneaster salicifolius/Willow-leaved Cotoneaster; Erigeron sumatrensis/Gurnsey Fleabane; and some E. acer/Blue Fleabane still flowering. pic.twitter.com/t1XCNMpWWd
— Ho-Yin Wong (@Hoyinature) November 26, 2022

Adventives and Invaders at Walker Riverside

A short round-up of a glorious Saturday morning spent botanising one of my favourite local sites.

It is no secret that I am a big fan of the messy, post-industrial yet incredibly diverse riverside park at Walker. Visiting for a few years now, I’ve already amassed a fairly respectable plant list for the site yet somehow, each visit continues to turn up something new. Things were no different on a visit this weekend with local botanist, Ho-Yin Wong.

Heading first for the marina at St. Peter’s Basin and it wasn’t long before colossal fleabane caught my eye growing in no-mans-land by the side of the road. Up here, Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) tends to be the common species, so much so that I often walk past them without checking. That’ll teach me, this one turned out to be Gurnsey Fleabane (Erigeron sumatrensis) identified by its hairy phyllaries.

Guernsey Fleabane (*Erigeron sumatrensis)*

Reaching the basin itself, it was pleasing to see that the various areas of pavement and wasteground here had not been ‘tidied’ as so many places around here often are. Lots more Guernsey Fleabane was found, alongside two more invaders: Russian Vine (Fallopia baldschuanica) and Narrow-leaved Ragwort (Senecio inaequidens).

Rummaging around further, Canadian Fleabane (with glabrous phillaries) was eventually observed, alongside Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) with its conspicuous black bracts. As for the highlight among the native species, it was nice to catch Small-flowered Crane’s-bill (Geranium pusillum) still in bloom.

Making our way down to the track that runs along the North bank of the Tyne, the usual riverside flora remained conspicuous. Here, Black Horehound (Balotta nigra) remained in flower and several self-sown Italian Alder (Alnus cordata) were seen. Much more interesting, however, were two new additions to the ‘Walker list’ in Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) and better still, White-stemmed Bramble (Rubus cockburnianus). The latter a Chinese endemic long known from the riverside here yet annoyingly, one which I have struggled to find, until now.

Moving on to the site of the old tar works and a real hotchpotch of interesting plants appeared in quick succession. Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata) remained in bloom, as did Wild Thyme (Thymus drucei), though sadly, the same could not be said for the Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) which grows here too. The Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) dumped on site last summer also appear to be thriving, much to my surprise, and it was interesting to note Grey Alder (Alnus incana). Slightly further on we also encountered Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia).

Back down by the riverside and it was exciting to record both Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) and Flattened Meadow Grass (Poa compressa) – both scarce species locally. As a matter of fact, it was thanks to the aforementioned grass that we chanced upon what would turn out to be the highlight of the day – a great clump of Blue Fleabane (Erigeron acris). More on that one in an upcoming post.

Soon it was head off, though not before a quick excursion along the wooded cycleway further up the bank. Here, Chinese Bramble (Rubus tricolor) was a bit of a curiosity as was what I think is Box-leaved Honeysuckle (Lonicera pileata). Having watched it with frustration for two years now, I was also happy to make some headway with the ‘unusual’ spurge that grows here. Looking closer, it appears this might be Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata), identification made easier by the presence of fruit on this occasion.

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*)

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 close up of the green-white flowers of *Epipactis sancta*

Industrial orchids in Newcastle

A quick account of a fruitful few days spend admiring orchids in Newcastle.

As the NHSN’s Discovering Orchids project continues, I’ve been making an effort to check in on my local orchids. Visiting a number of post-industrial sites around Newcastle this week, it is safe to say that the plants did not disappoint. From your ‘everyday’ spotted orchids to a selection of scarcer species, there has been an awful lot to see.

Silverlink

Starting out at Silverlink Park, a site I talk about often, and Bee Orchids are having a good year. Indeed, during a quick visit, Matt and I recorded over sixty in bloom across the site. Big ones, small ones, some growing in grassland, others in flowerbeds, it is great to see this species doing so well here.

Straying from Silverlink for a minute, and Bee Orchids seem to be having a fantastic year locally on the whole. Not only are they performing well at traditional sites but are popping up in a host of new places too. I mentioned those at Scotswood a few weeks back, but I have also encountered them recently at Walker, Wallsend and Cobalt. At the latter, a number could even be seen invading the landscaped gardens of various office blocks!

Back to Silverlink and it was great to see Common Spotted Orchid becoming more numerous too. As expected, these have now taken over from Northern Marsh Orchid as the most numerous species blooming on site. A few marsh orchids could still be seen, of course, though these were invariably those growing in shady locations. The vast majority of those visible only a week back had long since browned and died.

Somewhat more exciting here was the discovery of a single Pyramidal Orchid. Growing within the site’s rich calcareous grassland, this looks to be the first record for the site. Indeed, having visited for many years, I can safely say I have never seen one here until now.

Pyramidal Orchid (*Anacamptis pyramidalis*)

Northern Marsh Orchid (*Dactylorhiza purpurella*)

A surprise

Moving on, a kind tip-off from a local naturalist resulted in a bit of a surprise this week, a few Facebook messages leading to an encounter with an altogether more special orchid. The delicate plant seen below is Heath Fragrant Orchid, an entirely new species for me.

Smaller and with fewer flowers than its larger cousins, this orchid really is a beauty. Better still, it smells amazing! A scent I would describe as sweet and citrusy that others have hailed as ‘spicy’.

Heath Fragrant Orchid is a scarce species in the North East and one usually found in the uplands. To see one in urban Tyneside certainly is a treat.

Heath Fragrant Orchid (*Gymnadenia borealis*)

Newburn

To some abandoned brownfield land at Newburn now and more Common Spotted Orchids. So many in fact that we lost count at 250! An abundant and familiar species across most of the UK, it is not often I see them in such numbers. The sight of so many flowers swaying in the breeze a welcome reminder of what more grasslands in our nation should look like.

Here too, a few Northern Marsh Orchid were hanging on, though looking a little worse for wear, and we identified several Common Spotted Orchid x Northern Marsh Orchid hybrids. Seeking out the biggest visible plant before looking closer seems to be a good technique for this – Dactylorhiza x venusta tends to be a whopper.

Common Spotted Orchids (*Dactylorhiza fuchsi*i)

Down by the river, we soon discovered the first of the day’s targets: Dune Helleborine. A rare plant nationally, those on the Tyne are said to be the locally endemic Epipactis dunensis subsp. tynensis. Or Tyne Helleborine, to use simple terminology. Either way, for some, the jury remains out as to whether they truly are a subspecies or not. Personally, I quite like them, but perhaps I’m just patriotic?

It was surprising to find over sixty Dune Helleborine in just thirty minutes of casual searching at Newburn. So many, in fact, that they outnumbered their larger and usually more abundant cousin, the Broad-leaved Helleborine. These were present in good numbers, perhaps forty or so, but still seemed scarcer than in previous years. Most of the plants we noticed had yet to flower, but a few had just dared open.

A mongtage of Dune Helleborines (*Epipactis dunensis* subsp. *tynensis*)

Well, that concludes this orchid-focused ramble. The diversity of these mesmerising plants around Newcastle never fails to amaze me and I’ll be looking for more in the future!

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).

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.

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.

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…

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.

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.

Plant of the Week: Oxford Ragwort

Living as I do in the city, many of the plants encountered daily are fairly tropical in origin. One of the most prominent of these is Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) which here, in my area of Newcastle, is particularly abundant in pavement cracks, walls, and other rocky places.

Clad in the vibrant yellow flowers typical of ragworts, Oxford Ragwort flowers all year round and never fails to brighten up a walk along our street, even in winter, when little else blooms and even the omnipresent Sheperd’s-purse has given up.

The rather healthy plant above was observed growing as a pavement plant, standing tall behind the bus stop at the end of my street.

Background

The genus name of ‘Senecio’ identifies this plant as a Ragwort and its species, squalidus, means ‘bad-smelling plant’

A member of the daisy family, Asteraceae, Oxford Ragwort is native to rocky and volcanic areas of Sicily, where it arose as a hybrid between two of the islands endemic species, Senecio aethnensis and Senecio chrysanthemifolius.

This species was introduced to cultivation in Britain from Sicily by William Shepard and in the 1700s where it soon made its way to Oxford Botanical Garden. By 1794 the plant had escaped the confined of the garden and could be found growly freely on Oxford’s city walls.

With the onset of rail travel, the plant found a new habitat and quickly spread to colonise the stone chippings used to line railway beds. From here, it was able to spread across the length and breadth of Britain, using railway tracks to reach urban areas across the country.

Oxford Ragwort is now widely distributed across the UK and, true to its nature, prefers seemingly barren habitats such as wasteground, city streets and walls. It is more widespread in the South of the UK but is also found in Northern England and Scotland.

An interesting paper on the introduction of Oxford Ragwort to the UK, courtesy of BSBI, can be found here.

Cinnabar, *Tyria jacobaeae,* feeding on Oxford Ragwort

Identifying Oxford Ragwort

Superficially similar to any other ragwort, Oxford Ragwort is a medium-sized plant with a well-branched stem. Its leaves are deep green and strongly lobed. Leaf shape in this species can, however, vary drastically from slightly serrate (saw-like) to double-pinnate.

It also has a more spreading habit than the Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) and seldom grows to the same height as the latter species, preferring to grow outwards instead of up.

The flowerheads of this plant are bright yellow, usually with thirteen to fifteen ray florets but generally, look fairly similar to any other member of this family. Instead, the best way to identify Oxford Ragwort is to look at the bracts that form the ‘cup’ behind the flowerhead. In this species, these are tipped black. This applies to the longer inner bracts and much short outer ones.

Oxford Ragwort is commonly encountered growing as a pavement plant

For a more in-depth look at this species, a very useful page can be found here.

The flora of Walker Riverside

Walker Riverside Park is a funny old place. Created in the 1980s, it sits atop former industrial land and boasts an intriguing mix of habitats, from grassland and woodland areas to salt-strewn riverbanks and disused industrial plots. Overgrown, tangled and messy in places, the species mix here suggests the site was once tended, though now, ornamentals have merged with native flora to create a really interesting site. Truthfully, it doesn’t resemble a park at all.

This year, I have been making a concerted effort to record as many plants as possible here, focusing on plants growing in a wild or naturalised state. Plants that have been planted have been ignored, though long-established street trees and hedgerow plants have been recorded per guidance from the BSBI.

Slightly more challenging in scope than Iris Brickfield covered previously, the list below is almost certainly missing several species. I have not yet brought myself to look at grasses and yellow composites, and there are certainly other shrubs and saline-loving species to be discovered. Still, I hope this post gives a flavour of what you might encounter when visiting this rough and ready but highly interesting city reserve.

All records will (or have already been) submitted to BSBI recorders through iRecord.

Species list

In total, I have recorded 190 plant species in the park. A good count but almost certainly an understatement. Given the mix of habitats here, I wouldn’t be surprised if the actual number was closer to 250.

For the sake of simplicity, I have not broken this down into grid squares or habitats on this occasion but have aimed to indicate as to whether a particular species is historically planted or not. I have also aimed to highlight species brought to the site via seed mixes designed to boost butterfly numbers on site.

The full species list can be viewed below.

Species list

Trees at Walker Riverside

The trees of Walker Riverside are reasonably diverse. Native species including Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), English Oak (Quercus robur) and Field Maple (Acer campestre) are common and Aspen (Populus tremuloides) and White Poplar (Populus alba) exist in smaller patches across the site. Both Swedish Whitebeam (Sorbus intermedia) and Common Whitebeam (Sorbus aria) exist as relics of historic planting and in places, a good number of willow species can be seen. Among these, White Willow (Salix alba), Grey Willow (Salix cinerea) and Goat Willow (Salix caprea).

Slightly more unusual trees include False Acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia), Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris) and what I think might be Hybrid Black Poplar (Populus × canadensis), while the site provides a nice opportunity to compare alder species with Grey Alder (Alnus incana), Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and Italian Alder (Alnus cordata) all present. The latter clearly spreading along the riverbanks.

Perhaps most unusual of all is the presence of an American species, the Red Oak (Quercus rubra); though Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) is another species seldom encountered in the local area.

Shrubs and climbers

The shrubs occupying the understory of the park are an interesting bunch and many formerly planted species seem to be spreading. Among these, the two most prominent are Wilson’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida), Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) and Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus). The same likely applies to various species of cotoneaster present on site but alas, the only one I can identify with any confidence is Willow-leaved Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster salicifolius).

By the river, Shrub Ragwort (Brachyglottis x jubar) appears to have escaped what was likely a former flowerbed and is slowly spreading and Japanese Rose (Rosa rugosa) has a habit of popping up in odd places.

Elsewhere, more familiar species include Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus), Privet (Ligustrum vulgare), Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) and plenty of Broom (Cytisus scoparius). The riverbanks here are also a great place to see Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana) and odd shrubs dotted around the site include both Darwin’s Barberry (Berberis darwinii) and Chinese Barberry (Berberis julianae).

As for climbers, Russian Vine (Fallopia baldschuanica) can be found in a single spot and, by the river, a garden variety of clematis (Clematis sp.) appears to be running amock. While the brambles on-site were impossible to identify, the great, thick stems of Armenian Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) are conspicuous in places.

Grasslands

The grassland areas of Walker can be split roughly into two types: seeded and seemingly natural. The seeded areas contain several interesting species including Musk Mallow (Malva moschata), Lucerne (Medicago sativa), Greater Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa), Wild Basil (Clinopodium vulgare) and both Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria) and Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis). Common Restharrow (Ononis repens) is plentiful here too and Spiny Restharrow (Ononis spinosa) has a toehold.

Where the boundaries between sown and natural become a little fuzzy, Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) and Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor) are especially numerous and plenty of Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) and Perennial Wall-rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) can be seen.

More natural-looking grassland areas at Walker hold Meadow Crane’s-bill (Geranium pratense), Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea) and Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), among others.

Non-natives and adventives

Besides the shrubs and climbers mentioned previously, I am yet to stumble across any of the really obvious non-natives. Michaelmas Daisy (Aster agg.) can be found from time to time along the river and a small patch of what I think is Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) can be seen. Hybrid Bluebells (Hyacinthoides x massartiana) can be found in a few spots and a single patch of Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) exists close to the boundary with Walker itself.

These aside, the usual array of globetrotters can be seen, including Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus), Red Valarian (Centranthus ruber), Canadian Fleabane (Erigeron canadensis) and of course, Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii).

Abandoned industrial plot

At the centre of the site, an interesting former industrial plot can be seen. With lots of exposed concrete, rubble mounds and some seriously shallow soil, this plays host to a number of species absent from the wider site. To date, this is the only place in Newcastle where I have observed Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and Clustered Bellflower (Campanula glomerata).

Here too, large expanses of Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) can be seen and lurking atop the crumbling concrete, Wild Thyme (Thymus drucei) was a surprising addition.

Clustered Bellflower, *Campanula glomerata*

Riverbanks and rocky places

The rocky walls that line the river at Walker are largely dominated by a mix of common and widespread species, with a few exceptions. Peached-leaved Bellflower (Campanula persicifolia) was an odd addition here earlier in the year and Black Horehound (Ballota nigra) can be seen in a few patches.

A major exception to this rule comes where what I assume was once some sort of boating ramp allows usually coastal species to grow in close proximity to the salty waters of the Tyne. Here, Buck’s-horn Plantain (Plantago coronopus) and Sea Plantain (Plantago maritime) can be seen, as can Annual Sea-blite (Suaeda maritima). Sea Aster (Tripolium pannonicum) is another nice addition while in places, at least one Glasswort (Salicornia sp.) species can be seen.

Pavement cracks in the car parks and along the main footpath are worthy of investigation too and include species such as Henbit Dead-nettle (Lamium amplexicaule) and plenty of Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris). These areas can occasionally throw up something interesting too with Great Lettuce (Lactuca virosa) and Beaked Hawk’s-beard (Crepis vesicaria) being two recent additions.

Peach-leaved Bellflower, *Campanula persicifolia*

Notable and unusual

While plants such as Sainfoin and Clustered Bellflower are scarce in the North East, their suspect origins mean I have not included them here. Instead, two other species have made the cut, both found growing in pavement cracks along the main riverside walkway.

The first, Cut-leaved Dead-nettle (Lamium hybridum)has very few records in VC67 and made for a nice surprise earlier in the year. This species is almost certainly under-recorded, however.

The second, Musk Thistle (Carduus nutans), is another scarce species in the region and with its distinctive, nodding flowerheads is a real delight to see come summer.

The flora of Iris Brickfield Park

Iris Brickfield Park sits fairly close to our home in Heaton, Newcastle, and as such, has been a mainstay of our local walks during the pandemic. Fairly small, at least when compared to Newcastle’s other parks, and managed by Urban Green, it provides a lifeline to many people living in the local area: dog walkers, joggers, families and of course, naturalists stuck in the city.

This year, I have been making a concerted effort to record as many plants as possible growing in this small park, focusing on those growing in a wild or naturalised state. Plants that have clearly been planted have been ignored, though long-established street trees and hedgerow plants have been recorded per guidance from the BSBI. The aim of this is to create a somewhat comprehensive checklist for future visits, and for anyone else keen to know more about the flora of the park.

As very much a beginner botanist, the site list will not capture everything found within the park. I know for a fact that I have missed some grasses, while I am not yet able to confidently identify the various willowherbs found here. If anything looks out of place, please do let me know.

All records will (or have already been) submitted to BSBI recorders through iRecord.

Species list

In total, I have recorded 159 plant species in the park this year. Not bad for such a small area! For the sake of simplicity, I have not broken this down into grid squares but instead, have broken it down based on the three key areas present: the park, its pond and the nearby Iris Brickfield Allotments. The wider park contained the greatest diversity owing to a mix of both woodland and meadow habitats, though the pond too was surprisingly diverse. The exterior of the allotments held a few interesting species, including several escapes ‘tossed over the fence’.

The full species list can be viewed below.

Species list

Trees and shrubs

The trees and shrubs of Iris Brickfield are fairly diverse. Common species such as Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) and English Oak (Quercus robur) are abundant, interspersed with a small number of Field Maple (Acer campestre), Bird Cherry (Prunus padus) and Scot’s Pine (Pinus sylvestris).

Small areas of White Poplar (Populus alba) and Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) are present and Aspen (Populus tremula) appears to be spreading quickly in certain areas. Single trees and anomalies include False Acacia (Robina pseudoacacia) and Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus).

Shrubs are not particularly diverse, though the Western boundary of the site includes Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurpcerasus), Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) and plenty of Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea). To the North, Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera) is plentiful and elsewhere Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) grows in abundance.

Wildflowers

Wooded areas of the park hold several species commonly associated with mature woodland and whether these were once planted remains to be seen. Wood Anemone (Anemonoides nemorosa), Ramsons (Allium ursinum) and English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) can be found, and while scarce, one small patch of Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) can be found. The non-native Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) can be seen too, albeit in small numbers.

Grassy areas away from the playing fields and other mown areas hold a nice mix of typical ‘meadow’ species. Here, Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) and Hairy Tare (Vicia hirsuta) are conspicuous and Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans) plentiful. Also present are Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis), Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) and Goat’s-beard (Tragopogon pratensis). Both Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) and Oxford Ragwort (Senecio squalidus) also pop up sporadically.

Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Sweet Violet (Viola odorata), Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica) and Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) are less common here but exist in small patches scattered across the site.

Other highlights include scattered patches of Stinking Iris (Iris foetidissima), one of only two native iris species in Britain, and Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) which occasionally appears in unusual places.

Non-natives and adventives

Sweet Alison (Lobularia maritima) can sometimes be seen growing by path sides and befitting the park’s urban surroundings, Butterfly Bush (Buddleja Davidii) has a habit of springing up in odd places. Likely an escape from the nearby allotments, Borage (Borago officinalis) occurs but seldom persists long and occasionally, Purple Toadflax (Linaria purpurea) will take hold in a crevice or crack.

Slightly more troubling, Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) has begun colonising and the small pond is blanketed with New Zealand Pigmyweed (Crassula helmsii).

Wetland area

The small pond in Iris Brickfield makes for an interesting pitstop throughout the year. Despite facing problems from the aforementioned pygmyweed, and the rampant spread of Common Reed (Phragmites australis), Sweet Reed Grass (Glyceria maxima) and Bulrush (Typha latifolia), a few interesting species can be found tucked away in nooks and crannies. The most colourful of these being Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris) and Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris).

Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus) was observed for the first time in 2021, and the margins hold a healthy population of Water Mint (Mentha aquatica) and Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). Bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata) and Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) persist here too.

A little less showy than the aforementioned flowers, a good variety of rushes and sedges can be found here too including Jointed Rush (Juncus articulatus), Lesser Pond Sedge (Carex acutiformis), Soft Rush (Juncus effusus) and Common Spike-rush (Eleocharis palustris). The alien-looking seedheads of Branched Bur-Reed (Sparganium erectum) are also interesting.

Whilst not numerous, Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella) can also be found in the surrounding damp grassland.

Allotments

Whilst the allotments at Iris Brickfield are private and access is not permitted (or possible), a poke about the margins of the area can reveal some interesting plants. Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) is notable here in Summer and in spring, Three-cornered Garlic (Allium triquetrum) can be seen.

The hedges that screen the site are comprised mainly of ornamentals such as Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea), Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) and Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum), though native species such as Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra) have found their way in too. Perhaps the oddest occurrence here is that of a sprawling Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) which appears to have escaped cultivation to colonise the hedge.

Notable and unusual

Two plants in Iris Brickfield stand out as notable. The first, Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum), is a peculiar one. With two small plants found in the grassland this year, I was optimistic about seeing these flower. Alas, they now appear to have been trodden to death…

The occurrence of Marsh Mallow (Althaea officinalis) close to the pond was most unexpected and represented a notable vice-county record. An escape from cultivation at some point in time, its large, pink flowers stand out like a sore thumb at the height of summer.

And there we have it. I’ve certainly found it interesting getting to grips with the flora of my local patch this year and will endeavour to keep similar lists for other sites I frequent in the future. I hope someone may find this type of post interesting and it goes without saying, if you notice any errors or ‘unusual’ records, please let me know.

Bees, butterflies and botany at Lesbury

Beginning a week of annual leave, a fortnight past, I hopped on the train keen to explore surrounds of Lesbury in North Northumberland. Arriving at Alnmouth station and taking the short walk North to where the circular walk begins beside the River Aln, a roadside field rife with Common Knapweed provided an interesting first port of call.

Here, the plentiful purple flower-heads were strewn with countless bumblebees, making for quite the sight as I set about trying to identify those in front of me. A male Buff-tailed Bumblee came first, followed by Common Carder Bee and a handful of vibrant male Red-tailed Bumblebees. White-tailed were present too, though proved too quick for the camera, and it soon became clear that plenty of cuckoo bumblebees were present also.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee, *Bombus terrestris*

With many of these looking somewhat bleached and faded, identifying them was quite a task and I stress that my current identifications are entirely provisional. That said, most numerous was Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee, followed the red-tailed Hill Cuckoo Bumblebee. More interesting still what was what likely amale Field Cuckoo Bumblebee with its extensive tail markings, and a rather fluffy looking bee may have been Barbut’s Cuckoo Bumblebee. A new species for me if so – I just hope that someone with more knowledge than I can confirm or correct.

Here too, a solitary bee feeding on Cat’s-ear was likely Gwynne’s Mining Bee. My first since spring and no doubt part of a second generation.

Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee, *Bombus rupestris*

Finding myself heading North along the margins of a nearby arable field, my attention soon turned to plants. Most interesting among the lush riverside vegatation was an abundance of Hemp Agrimony, while the lovely white blooms of Common Hemp-nettle were plentiful. Closer to the crop, and at times interwoven with the planted broad beans, a number of interesting arable ‘weeds’ were also spotted. Field Pansy, Sun Spurge, Common Poppy and Redshank were numerous, and Welted Thistle was nice to see.

A closer look at the invertebrate life here revealed a number of 14 and 7-Spot Ladybirds, while Small Copper, Small Skipper and Peacock butterflies made the most of the abundant thistle blooms. Lesser numerous (and not at all interested in the thistles) it was also nice to encounter Wall Brown here, alongside a lone Silver Y.

Perhaps the most interesting insect of the trip, the inconsicuous ladybird, Rhyzobius litura, was found here too while sweeping a stand of Tansy. Tiny and anything but brightly covered, I confess that at the time, I had no idea this was in fact a ladybird. Thank goodness for the UK Ladybirds Facebook group, and many thanks to Richard Comont for the speedy ID.

7-spot Ladybird, *Coccinella septempunctata*

Further North along the Aln, the vegatation changed somewhat with smaller, arable plants giving way to an abundance of Wild Carrot and Common Ragwort. As ever, these proved popular with pollinators and a number of hoverflies were recorded, among these, Leucozona laternaria and Cheilosia illustrata pictured below. Also spotted here were plenty of Marmalade Hoverflies, along with Syritta pipiens and the striking Leucozona lucorum. More Hill Cuckoo Bumblebees could also be seen, while butterflies included more Small Copper and new for the day, Large White.

Further on towards the stepping stones at Greenrigg, edible crops gave way to what could almost be described as a somewhat beautiful meadow habitat, chock-full of Musk-mallow, Red Clover and Bird’s-foot Trefoil. This might just have seemed natural if it were not for the the striking (but introduced) flowers of Lucerne and Sainfoin also present. Plants which together with the native species here proved a magnet for insects – new species here including Early Bumblebee and the impressive Pied Hoverfly.

Crossing the river at Greenrigg, a hasty rush along the opposing bank ensued as I tried to squeeze in a look around Lesbury itself before needing the board my train. Trying and failing to ignore the plantlife here, a few interesting finds included Small Bugloss (not a plant I see very often) and an extensive patch of Enchanter’s Nightshade tucked away in a small roadside copse.

Owing to a few too many pauses, I did not have time for a proper look around Lesbury, though I did squeeze in wander along the river. Here, riparian plants proved interesting with Water Figwort spotted first, followed by two mint species. One of which looked a lot like Apple Mint while the other remains a mystery. Both Purple and Yellow Loosestrife were notable here too, and the beautiful yellow flowers of the non-native Monkeyflower were conspicuous.

Botany on the coast: Alnmouth to Boulmer

A few weeks past, a Saturday free of commitments provided a rare opportunity for a trip North. Opting for a walk on the Northumberland coast, on this occasion we headed for Alnmouth, intending to walk a few miles up the shoreline towards Boulmer, recording as we went.

Arriving at Alnmouth train station, it was interesting to note a profusion of “sweet peas” clambering through the track-side vegatation. Not something I have seen before; though with a little digging I am fairly confident the culprit was Two-flowered Everlasting-Pea. Walking through Alnmouth, we paused breifly to admire Black Horehound by the roadisde, and a number of Pot Marigolds that that escaped the confines of nearby gardens to colonise the pavement.

Arriving at the beach and setting off North through the dunes, it was interesting to encounter Wild Onion, and a glut of Common Restharrow, Common Ragowort and other dune-loving species in full bloom made for pleasant viewing.

The strandline here was dominated by Sea Rocket, and a breif look elsewhere revealed Sea Sandwort, and both Frosted and Spear-leaved Orache. A little further up the beach, a solitary and rather odd looking plant was revealed to be Caper Spurge – a noxious weed in Southern parts of the UK but a new species for me nontheless.

Owing to a wealth of Hemlock Water-dropwort in full bloom nearby, insects were particularly numerous along this stretch. Most of the common and familiar bumblebees were represented and a couple of Vestal Cuckoo Bees were spotted nectaring on the frothy white flowers. A small, solitary bee potted for closer inspection was likely Sandpit Mining Bee but alas, I will await confirmation on iRecord!

Butterflies were well represented too with Small Skipper, Common Blue, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Ringlet and Meadow Brown all observed nearby, and on the moth front, Matt drew my attention to a Yellow Shell at rest on some nearby bracken.

Back to plants now and as we drew closer to Boulmer a number of new species began to appear. First came Agrimony with its deligtful yellow flower spikes and next, the delicate pink flowers of Field Bindweed.

A slightly more unusual sighting came in the form of twenty or so Tomato plants growing merrily along the strandline, some in flower and others starting to fruit. We contemplated these arriving as a result of a discarded picnic but the number and spread of the plants would suggest they arrived as a result of sewage washing up on the beach. No doubt having passed through a human first!

Arriving at Boulmer, the dune flora changed somewhat with lots of Bloody Crane’s-bill and Red Bartsia observed. Near the village, two more garden escapes were noticed in the form of Horse-raddish and Onion, the latter complete a towering, purple bloom. More interesting was an expansive (and rather beautiful) patch of Musk-mallow.

Bloody Crane’s-bill, *Geranium sanguineum*

After a prolonged search, we finally stumbled across what I confess had been the target of the day’s outing. A hulking speciment of Henbane, almost completely in seed. Thankfully, a single flower was still present and I can now at least say I have seen this impressive wildflower in bloom in Northumberland.

Boulmer is a known site for this locally rare species but even then, an encounter is far from guaranteed with Henbane seeds able to lie dormant for many years until disturbance encourages them to germinate.

Further North ,where dunes give way to a concrete seawall, the flora here took an interesting turn with countless garden escapes blending with native plants to create an intriguing mosaic of colour. While it was quite difficult to discern what was self-sown here and what had been planted, a hulking brute of Cotton Thistle certainly appeared ‘wild’. It was also interesting to note a wealth of White Stonecrop strewn across the rocks and Wormwood was plentiful.

Slightly more interesting was a fine example of Monk’s-hood in full flower and Dwarf Mallow, as ever, was nice to see. Little of note was found in the grassland where the village gives way to fields besides a good sized patch of Good-king-henry .

Common plants

Rarities and Surprises

Overlooked Plants

Notable sites

Following Other’s Footsteps

More to do

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Stumbling blocks

What exactly is urban?

Trees

Suspicious shrubs

Garden weeds

A few discoveries so far

Cotoneasters

Redwood-Sorrel

Atlantic Ivy

Newcastle’s changing flora

Shifting Fleabanes

Narrow-leaved Ragwort

Shrubs taking hold

Water Bent

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Identifying dead-nettles

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Starting out

Nine species and counting

Other wildlife

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Lindisfarne Helleborine, Epipactis sancta

What does it look like?

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Silverlink

A surprise

Newburn

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Background

Identifying Oxford Ragwort

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Species list

Trees at Walker Riverside

Shrubs and climbers

Grasslands

Non-natives and adventives

Abandoned industrial plot

Riverbanks and rocky places

Notable and unusual

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Species list

Trees and shrubs

Wildflowers

Non-natives and adventives

Wetland area

Allotments

Notable and unusual

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