Eaves Wood and The Lots, Silverdale

Saturday 11th May 2024

Leader: Julie Clarke

This meeting was led by Julie Clarke, who knows the area well, so well in fact, that I am unable to follow her route in this report, as at times I was completely lost!  But what a trip we had, with lots of interesting natives and some exciting aliens seen as we strolled around Silverdale.

We set off through Eaves Wood, soon finding Small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata) and Herb-Paris (Paris quadrifolia). Other good finds included Solomon's-seal (Polygonatum multiflorum), Goldilocks Buttercup (Ranunculus auricomus) and Spurge-laurel (Daphne laureola).

On the western side of the woodland, Julie showed us Fly Honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum), rather splendidly in flower. Around the corner on Castle Bank she managed to find, hidden in a rather rough grassy corner, an unusual Polypody which had been confirmed by the BSBI referee as Polypodium x mantoniae ‘Cornubiense’. I don’t think anyone in the group would have called it a Polypody at first glance, as it was a much dissected form, but I was later able to confirm it on the internet from my photo.

Later, we found more garden escapes, including some rather splendid self-seeded Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias) and, growing on a verge, Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor ‘Varigata’), with variegated leaves. Colorado Stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium) was growing on a wall on Cove Road and nearby we were shown Slender Borage (Borago pygmaea) in flower. On a wall by a snicket was Lamb's-tail (Chiastophyllum oppositifolium), which many of us had seen before in Silverdale. It seems to have become a rather common weed. We then headed to the beach for our lunch, many of the group seeking some shade under the cliffs on this unusually hot day.

We eventually got to the orchid meadows, known as The Lots, which were rather splendid, with hundreds of Green-winged Orchid (Anacamptis morio) and some Early-purple Orchid (Orchis mascula). The orchids were quite spectacular, varying in size and colour – from white to pale pink to dark pink/purple. Also found in the meadow were some fine Adder's-tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum).

A short excursion along the coast allowed us to take a look at some coastal plants such as Sea Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimus) and Sea Beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima). On the cliffs were Lance-leaved Hawkweed (Hieracium stictum) and Lancastrian Whitebeam (Sorbus lancastriensis).

Walking through the streets of Silverdale, Yellow-flowered Strawberry (Potentilla indica) was a nice find. After a well deserved cafe stop, Julie showed us a good patch of Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata) growing tall in a churchyard, and at the edge of a field was Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum).

As we headed back towards the cars we also saw Dappled Hawkweed (Hieracium scotostictum), a garden escape grown for its blotched foliage, well established on the pavement, and Cornish Bellflower (Campanula alliariifolia) in some bushes nearby. All told, a splendid day, with lots of rare natives and some interesting aliens.

Text by Jesse

Photographs by Susan