BSBINews - BSBI Archive - Botanical Society of the British Isles

Notes - Alchemilla micans at Keepershield Quarry, S. Northumb. (v.c.67) I Polemonium caeruleum 11
probably been lost. Despite ongoing interest
from Natural England, and one early site visit
by representatives of NWT, little if any information
about the success of the scheme had
filtered through to the Botanical community, a
process not helped by the considerable security
attending access to the Keepershield site.
Although it is a priority BAP species, no information
as to its current status is found for
either the 2005 or 2008 surveys, nor does the
Plantlife website reveal any accurate information.
I have meant to visit the site for several years,
and finally arranged a meeting with Bruce
Lowdon, the Unit Manager for Hanson Aggregates
who now own the Quarry, on June 9 th
2009. The North-East of England had enjoyed
a particularly dry spring, so that although some
rain had fallen during the previous week, most
Whin sites were sere and the annual communities
typical of the shallowest soils were in poor
condition.
Bruce Lowdon proved to be very welcoming,
and was knowledgeable about the translocation,
and indeed many of the plants that had
been moved. It would be fair to say that he was
very proud of the translocated site, and I
thought he had every right to be. The translocated
site is about 2 ha in extent. Most of it is
high quality Whin grassland with a high diversity,
but in which species such as Sanguisorba
minor (SaId Burnet), Galium verum (Lady's
Bedstraw), G. cruciata (Cross-wort), Helictotrichon
pubescens (Downy Oat-grass), Briza
media (Quaking Grass), Koeleria macrantha
(Tufted Hair-grass), Carex flacca (Glaucous
Sedge), Thymus polytrichus (Common
Thyme), Primula veris (Cowslip) and Centaurea
nigra (Common Knapweed) were
abundant, while Orchis mascula (Early Purple
Polemonium caeruleum
Orchid) also occurred. At one end, limestone
rocks had been imported from the limestone
side of the original site to form a low cliff, and
in this several species of fern had established.
Alchemillas in excellent health and vigour
abounded throughout the site. These were
roughly half A. micans and half A. filicalis
ssp.vestita. Although most plants were flowering,
many small seedlings of both species
could be found. There were not less than 500
flowering size plants of both species present;
maybe more.
Cleverly, soil depths, slopes and aspects had
been varied at the far (west) end of the site, and
here could be found the remains of abundant
annual communities, including the locally rare
Geranium columbinum. Several healthy
patches of Trifolium striatum were also found,
but no Scleranthus annuus. The latter species
was difficult to find at the original site during
dry years, so it may not have been lost.
In my opinion this translocation has been a
resounding success, and might well serve as a
model should similar exercise prove necessary
elsewhere. What has been created from
scratch is one of the best examples of a whin
grassland still in existence. My only reservation
is that the communities have now reached
the point at which they would benefit from
autumn and winter grazing (at present they are
locally strimmed at the end of the season).
Bruce Lowdon is well aware of this, and
promises to initiate discussions with local
farmers. Unfortunately, the adjacent land is
presently ungrazed by the tenant.
Bruce Lowdon welcomes prearranged visits
by interested parties, and there is much more to
admire than just Britain's rarest lady's mantle.
He can be contacted on 01434 681893 or
07764241936.
NORMAN A.THOMPSON, 6 The Grove, Marton-in-Cleveland, Middlesbrough, TS78AA
Donald Pigott wrote in the January BSBI
News (110: 23): "My study of native habitats
in England had shown them to be almost always
on steep, north-facing, often rather unstable
slopes, with seepage of water ... "
I found the white variety of Polemonium
caeruleum (Jacob's-ladder) on 19 th June 2008.
The clump was growing on the roadside verge
on the main road from Horton-in-Ribblesdale,
far from steep slopes and cliffs (see inside
Front Cover).