This is an update of the 1985 publication of the same name by M. Jill Lucas and Jack Middleton. The new publication is a useful checklist of the wild plant species that have been recorded in the drainage area of the Holme and Colne Valleys, from 1986 to the present day. However, it is more than just a list of plant names. An indication of local abundance (number of monads the plant was found in) is shown for each species and, for some species, there is additional information such as when and where it was first recorded and habitat information for the local area.
Although the book is entitled Flowers and Ferns Around Huddersfield, the species also include clubmosses, horsetails, conifers, grasses, rushes and sedges. The 119 page paperback is just larger than A5 size and appears to be printed on good quality glossy paper. Instead of the line drawings of selected plants in the 1985 version, the updated version has 14 pages of colour photographs, two photographs per page, in the centre of the book, giving a flavour of some of the plants to be found in the area.
The preface explains that records were collected on a monad (1km Ordnance Survey square or part thereof) basis, with a total of 1,009 species recorded from 227 monads. The plants recorded include native and introduced species that were found growing wild, including hybrids and garden escapes. However, I noticed that some of the species listed in the main section, such as several conifers, are noted as ‘planted’. I assume that Jill collected many of the records herself but the list of people or groups who have supplied botanical records numbers 45 and Jill thanks seven people by name in the acknowledgements for their assistance in either contributing records, confirming/correcting records or identifying species at Jill’s request. It’s worth noting that for the 1985 version, the records were collected on a tetrad (2km square) basis and garden escapes were not included.
The preface includes a brief description of the geology and typical habitats of the area and an interesting summary of historical natural history recording in Huddersfield. The majority of the publication is taken up by a table, called the ‘Systematic List’, with a column for the plant name, whether it is native or introduced to the British Isles, the number of monads the plant was found in and ‘comments’. The publication includes a glossary (very short), a bibliography and an index of plant species.
Although there are a number of aspects I would have done differently myself, I feel I should mention the following minor issues:
The 1985 version included a map of the survey area and another map showing the river basins of the Huddersfield area, which I think would have been useful to include in the updated version, as they make it easier to visualise the survey area.
The Systematic List mainly follows the sequence and nomenclature of Stace’s New Flora (1991). It’s a shame the nomenclature doesn’t follow the most recent edition of Stace’s New Flora, but there is no confusion over the species being referred to.
I noticed an error with a grid reference on page 9 listing the monad locations (SE0202 should read SE0209).
Jill’s book is not only an important record of the plant species to be found in this area, but will surely be an inspiration to many, demonstrating the importance of collecting and sharing plant records. There is an element of humour, where Jill explains her heroic efforts to visit as much of the survey area as possible with some interesting tales to tell! Jill has clearly put a great deal of work into carefully collecting records and she should be very proud of her achievement of ensuring this accumulated knowledge is passed on to others. This book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in the flora of the Huddersfield area.
The book is available from Jill directly and costs £8 (postage and packaging are extra). If you are interested, let me know and I will forward your email to Jill.
Review by Susan Simcock
Jill has since contacted me to ask that I share the following:
Corrections to the monads list in my Flowers and Ferns book:
SE0202 should be SE0209
The following should be added to the monads list:
SE0808 Great Green
SE0809 Meltham Moor
SE0903 Wilmer Hill
SE0904 Kaye Edge
Please accept my apologies for the above errors and my thanks to Rita, Anthony and Peter for pointing out my mistakes. Jill.