Rougemont Carr and Weeton Lanes

Saturday 27^th April 2019

Leader: Carmen Horner

Rougemont Carr is a fantastic site for bluebells, and Carmen had timed this trip perfectly to catch them in full bloom. I last visited this site with Bradford Botany Group 5 years ago and I was interested to see if anything had changed and if we could find any new species. 17 members met at the church car park, having been given permission to park there prior to our arrival. As we set off, it began to rain quite heavily and there was a definite chill in the air, in stark contrast to the hot and sunny weather of last weekend. After a rush to don our waterproof trousers, we set off along the picturesque lanes of Weeton towards the woodland at Rougemont Carr.

The hedgebanks were well in leaf and with a good range of species in flower including abundant Greater Stitchwort, Cow Parsley and White Dead-nettle. We also saw Bush Vetch, Crosswort, a few Bluebells (possibly hybrids), Lords and Ladies, Field Maple, Crab Apple, Dogs Mercury, Meadow Foxtail and Garlic Mustard all in flower. Goldilocks Buttercup was spotted, it’s flowers often characteristically having some petals missing or not fully formed, as was the case here. Ian amusingly said ‘They look like they’ve got up in a hurry and not got themselves dressed properly’, which I rather liked.

Swallows and House Martins were seen in good numbers swooping low over the fields, feasting on insects, while above us we frequently saw Red Kites, including a pair not far from the church. A Yellow Hammer was heard singing not too far away.

The leaves of Hop had emerged and were already entwining themselves through the hedge. A close inspection of the hawthorn flowers resulted in successfully finding Midland Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata). Midland Hawthorn has flowers with more than one style and the leaves are less divided whereas Hawthorn (C. monogyna) has flowers with only one style and more divided leaves.

A section of more closely cropped grass verge revealed a good patch of Dove's-foot Crane's-bill, with unusually pale flowers (such a pale pink they looked almost white). Nearby in flower was Shepherd's-purse and Common Field-speedwell. Near the edge of a field we came across a mound of earth, partly colonized by a variety of opportunistic species including Winter-cress (Barbarea vulgaris) in flower bud and Thale Cress showing flowers and fruits.

The squally showers were off and on, but our slow progress along the lanes meant many felt chilled to the bone and we were glad to head into the woodland where there was a little more shelter. A mass of bluebells dominated the ground layer almost throughout the wood and were as spectacular as my last visit. Near to the Beech trees dominating this part of the wood, a large patch of Leopard's-bane didn’t show any signs of flower buds as yet.

After lunch, the sun made an appearance intermittently, providing photographers a chance to catch the bluebells highlighted in sunshine. Chiff-chaffs and a Blackcap were heard singing close by as we walked in single file along the top of a narrow bank. Ash dominated the upper storey here and the leaves of Sweet Violet and Three-nerved Sandwort were spotted. There was also a good patch of Cowslip in flower on the bank, with the occasional flower of Wood-sorrel. We re-joined the main path and passed a Hawthorn which unusually had had the opportunity to reach a good height (a guess of 10m tall was suggested).

Shortly after this, our party began to reduce in size gradually as some people decided to leave early (I don’t blame them if they were as cold as I was!). Those who felt able, took a steep uneven path and were rewarded with a good number of Toothwort growing below a poplar. Nearby were a few patches of Few-flowered Garlic and the leaves of Moschatel and Dame's-violet. Later on, Greater Chickweed was found, declared by Bruce to be the plant of the day (not recorded on our trip 5 years ago). Greater Chickweed is a native plant usually found in shady, damp places, and although common in some parts of Britain, it’s not commonly recorded in West Yorkshire. It looks similar to Common Chickweed but the flowers have 10 stamens (unlike Common Chickweed which has 8 stamens at most).

After brief stops to see Water Figwort, Branched Bur-reed (not in flower) and Soft Shield-fern (most of the fronds had not yet fully unfurled), Carmen lead us back out of the wood and we continued our circuit of the lanes in Weeton back towards the cars. On route we spotted garden escapes of a hybrid Leopard’s-bane and Perennial Cornflower, both in flower.

Back at the cars, a search for False Oxlip (the hybrid between Cowslip and Primrose) in the churchyard was unsuccessful, however it had been seen on a visit to the site a week ago. The 9 of us remaining thanked Carmen for leading, a thoroughly worthwhile trip despite the mixed weather.

Text by Susan

Photographs by Tom