Skipwith Common (NNR)

Saturday 3^rd September 2022

Leader: Alan Schofield

Number of attendees: 14

Skipwith Common is one of the last and largest areas of North Atlantic lowland heath in northern England, characterised by Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix) and the Bog-moss Sphagnum compactum. It is being managed to restore open heathland by felling of invasive Silver Birch (Betula pendula) and Willow (Salix sp.), scrub clearance and seasonal grazing by Hebridean sheep, Exmoor ponies and Longhorn cattle. Other habitats include ponds, mire, fen, scrub and woodland. However, following an exceptionally dry summer, the ponds and fens were entirely dry. We found only one small area of standing water, so we had a very different site visit than anticipated when it was planned.

The weather was a pleasant mix of cloud and sunny spells but as rain was forecast for mid afternoon, Alan first directed us to the most significant plant, the Marsh Gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe). It is found very locally in Britain from Dorset and E Sussex to NE Yorkshire and Westmorland. He had counted c16 flowering spikes in an open area of short vegetation, which were in good condition.

From there we walked directly to another significant local plant, the Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis), behind a protective barrier. There was just one large specimen, unlike at nearby Askham Bog, which we had visited in July, where there has been a successful reintroduction programme.

We then walked round the perimeter of the site across some very localised damp areas and also open heathland. The largest colony of flowering plants was of Autumn Hawkbit (Scorzoneroides autumnalis). We also found scattered Common Centaury (Centaurium erythraea) and Scarlet Pimpernel (Lysimachia arvensis).

In normally damp areas we found Marsh Cudweed (Gnaphalium uliginosum) and in dried up ponds Marsh Pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) and Water-purslane (Lythrum portula).

Near the end of the walk we came across several fine flowering specimens of Skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata). Jesse also found a Pigweed (Amaranthus sp.), near the car park, for which we are awaiting full identification.

It was a very interesting site visit and although the dry conditions made walking easy, it would be good to go again after a more normal amount of spring/summer rain.

Text by Brigid

Photographs by Brigid and Graham