Thursday walk 16th May 2024 – Report

14 members and one Norwegian past member met at Moss Rake
for a wildflower walk. We did the same walk on 3 June 2021
and saw mostly the same flowers this time, although the
weather was not as good as then. It was dry when we set out,
but that did not last long. We started up Green Dale,
immediately encountering a variety of flowers. Our volunteer
flower monitor drew our attention to different species.
Taking care not to step on a toad in a hole at the side of
the path, we pressed on. A little higher up we saw a roe deer
running along the side of the dale, and curlews could be
heard.

Reaching Batham Gate, the old Roman road, we headed up it,
soon turning off across Bradwell Moor to our coffee break
stop at an old mine shaft. By now it was spotting with rain,
and waterproofs were donned in expectation of the forecast
heavy rain (which duly arrived shortly afterwards). At the
top of the moor, we followed a track, bordered by a
different selection of flowers, to Forest Lane.

We left the road on a path heading towards Tideslow,
passing a small pond containing tadpoles. After crossing
a wall into the area of the old lead workings, we were met
with a spectacular display of purple orchids. The orchid
fields continued up to the top and down the other side.
By this time, some of the party were feeling hungry but
fortunately it was not far to our lunch place at High Rake
Mine. The usual view from the bench, north over Bradwell to
Win Hill and beyond, was less appealing in today’s rain, and
most people huddled in the remains of the old mine buildings
to eat their soggy sandwiches.

It wasn’t the occasion to linger, and we were soon on our
way again, through Little Hucklow, Coplow Dale and down
through hay meadows sprinkled with numerous buttercups and
other flowers, to Tophole Road. We soon turned off the road
(except for two who missed the turn and rejoined us at
teatime) up Jennings Dale and Hartle Dale, past many patches
of bluebells, back to the cars. Distance a tad under 7 miles.

Most of us enjoyed tea and ginger cake afterwards, courtesy
of Rosy who unfortunately could not join us on the walk.

Andy

Many thanks to Lin for the following list of flowers seen:

Alkanet (Green or Large Blue?) – Anchusa
Avens – Geum urbanum
Birsdsfoot Trefoil – Lotus corniculatus
Bluebells – Hyacinthoides, various
Buttercup – Ranunculus, various
Comfrey – Symphytum officinale
Cornflower – Centaurea montana
Cow Parsley – Anthriscus sylvestris
Cowslip – Primula veris
Cranesbill (unidentified) – Geranium ?
Crosswort – Cruciata laevipes
Daisy – Bellis perennis
Dandelion clocks – Taraxacum
Early Purple Orchid – Orchis mascula
Forget me not – Myosotis avensis
Garlic – Allium ursinum
Goatsbeard – Tragopogon pratensis
Herb Robert – Geranium robertianum
Honesty – Lunaria rediviva
Horse Tail – Equisetum arvense
Lady’s Mantle – Alchemilla mollis
Lady’s Smock/ Cuckoo flower – Cardamine pratensis
Leadwort – Plumbago zeylanica
Meadow Saxifrage – Saxifraga granulata
Mountain pansy – Viola lutea
Plantain – Plantago
Primrose – Primula vulgaris
Purple coltsfoot – Homogyne alpina
Red campion – Silene dioica
Red clover – Trifolium pratense
Speedwell – Veronica persica
Star of Bethlehem – Ornithogalum umbellatum
Sweet Cicely – Myrrhis odorata
Vetch – Vicia cracca
Violet – Viola odorata
Water avens – Geum rivale
Yellow rattle – Rhinanthus minor
Yellow Loosestrife – Lysimachia vulgaris

Linda’s photo:
She says “It was a good walk. Great flowers, company and hospitality!”