Wheatley Rakes and Stead near Ilkley

Thursday 23^rd June 2022

Leader: Bruce Brown

This was a joint field meeting with the Wharfedale Naturalists’ Society. We assembled at the meeting place on Ben Rhydding Road where there was easy street parking and immediately found a nice example of Wood Meadow-grass (Poa nemoralis) on a shaded bank. We then headed up a wooded footpath in the direction of the Cow and Calf. The woodland here has many garden escapes, some I’d never seen before. Plants here included Broad-leaved Bamboo (Sasa palmata), Abraham-Isaac-Jacob (Trachystemon orientalis), Lesser Knotweed (Koenigia campanulata) and Ornamental Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum). There were also 3 different species of Crane’s-bill growing near each other (thought to be Geranium x oxonianum, G. endressii and G. nodosum). Growing next to the path a little further up the hill was a single plant of Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) and near by were numerous pretty pink flowers of Pink Purslane (Claytonia sibrica). A good find were at least 5 spikes of Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), also right next to the footpath, although it was too early for the flowers to be out.

Heading out of the woodland we followed a path to the right near houses where we found Apple-mint (Mentha x villosa) and, a new one for me, Honey Garlic (Allium siculum). On a grassy bank near by we found Spiked Sedge (Carex spicata) and Changing Forget-me-not (Myosotis discolor). We then headed south-east on footpaths, initially skirting a golf course, in the direction of the hamlet of Stead. Lunch was taken on a grassy bank, some opting to sit in the shade as it was now a gloriously sunny, hot day.

On route to Stead we encountered a stream where there were some nice natives such as a patch of Bog Stitchwort (Stellaria alsine) but unfortunately a rather large amount of the invasive Skunk-cabbage sp. (Lysichiton sp.). A little further on, myself and a couple of others were lucky to spot a weasel which ran from a drystone wall into some tall vegetation.

We continued on and came to a wonderful patch of orchids, the highlight of the day for many. Here we found Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella), Southern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa), Common Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) and, most interestingly, some very likely hybrids between these species, Dactylorhiza x insignis, Dactylorhiza x venusta and Dactylorhiza x grandis. Neil helpfully pointed out the main id features of these orchids. A little further down the slope we came to a warm sheltered spot that seemed to act like a heat trap. Here we found some Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera), both the ordinary form with pink petals and a much more unusual form with white petals.

On our way back towards the cars, we came across a refreshments kiosk at a farm and made the easy decision to stop to have a drink or ice cream which was very much appreciated on what felt like the hottest day of the year so far. A few more plants caught our eye on the way back, such as Small Sweet-grass (Glyceria declinata) and a planted shrub of Common Juniper (Juniperus communis). Back into the residential streets of Ben Rhydding we were very pleased to happen across good numbers of more Broad-leaved Helleborine, growing below some trees. This was an unexpected find and it would be good to come back in a few weeks time when they will be in flower.

Text and Photographs by Susan and Tom