Strensall Common

Saturday 1^st September 2018

Leader: Michael Knaggs

Strensall Common is a SSSI, as it is one of the largest areas of lowland heath in the north of England. It belongs to The Ministry of Defence. On a warm sunny day, which became extremely hot in the afternoon, 16 BBG members arrived to meet fellow BBG member Michael Knaggs. He had ensured we could access the live firing areas, which we did via the “red route” way-marked trail, walking a total of c 5 miles.

The terrain consisted mainly of bare sandy ground with patches of Heather (Calluna vulgaris) and Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix) and scattered clumps of Pussy Willow (Salix caprea), host plant on one of only two sites in England for the the Dark-bordered Beauty moth. Having entered the restricted access area, our first stop was the Pillwort scrape, which was completely dry, but allowed us to have a close look at the Pillwort (Pilularia globulifera), as it was on a dry area. This tiny fern gets its name from the small spherical spore-producing sporocarps at the bases of the leaves. We also found Quillwort (Isoetes lacustris), another small aquatic fern and Marsh Cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum). We had lunch here, leaving when a small herd of black heifers got too friendly.

We then walked on to the Kidney pond, which is a good example of the floating fen habitat - even in this year's dry conditions. We had hoped to find Tubular Water-dropwort, (Oenanthe fistulosa) and the rare to locally frequent Marsh Stitchwort (Stellaria palustris) here. Jesse showed us the common hybrid sedge Carex nigra x Carex acuta and Brian more hybrid willows, building on learning from the Swinsty reservoir visit. The attractive little Woody Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) provided some colour.

On the way to the third pond, Rifle Range pond, Michael showed us where the Marsh Gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) a plant which is only very locally frequent in Yorkshire, would normally be found among the heather clumps. In the fourth and final pond, outside the restricted area, Lesser Water-plantain (Baldellia ranunculoides) had been seen earlier in the year.

We saw a kestrel, sparrow hawk, buzzard and maybe a hobby in the wide open skies.

Text and photographs by Brigid