Sleets Gill, near Kilnsey

Saturday 13th July 2024

Leader: Nyree Fearnley

On a dull, slightly damp day, 14 of us met by Warren House, from where it is a short walk along a narrow road to the bottom of a large private field, known as Sleets Gill. As we wandered along the road there were a few interesting plants, including lots of Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata), some pretty Melancholy Thistle (Cirsium heterophyllum), and Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris).

The field is a SSSI and is grazed by cattle for part of the year, indeed the herd were present on our visit. Once into the field there were a wide variety of plants. The day had been advertised as having the potential for 6 species of orchid, so the challenge was on. We’d already seen Common Twayblade, and soon there was the most stunning area of Marsh Helleborine (Epipactis palustris), probably at least a couple of hundred, and in perfect condition.

Bird's-eye Primrose (Primula farinosa) was also present in the same damp area, but very much past it’s best. As we started to work our way up the field we found more orchids - Common Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Heath Spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata), Heath Fragrant-orchid (Gymnadenia borealis), and a single Northern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza purpurella), but all looking worse for wear. Other nice plants included Slender St John's-wort (Hypericum pulchrum), Betony (Betonica officinalis), Dyer's Greenweed (Genista tinctoria), Bloody Crane's-bill (Geranium sanguineum) and a lovely patch of Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium).

We made it to the wall at the top of the lower fields in time for dinner, and as we ate someone shouted “Anyone interested in Common Blue butterfly”, which of course I am. Despite the dull weather, a butterfly had been spotted at rest on a blade of grass. However, when I went to investigate, it wasn’t a Common Blue, but a Northern Brown Argus, a speciality of this site. The caterpillars feed on Common Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium) which is plentiful here. One advantage of a cooler day is that any butterflies tend to be less active, so everyone got a good look and were able to take photos. Soon after dinner, in the higher fields, I found a couple of Northern Brown Argus eggs, which are not too difficult to find, as they are always on the upper surface of the leaf, and plainly show as a white dot, which can then be checked with a hand lens.

For the past 2 years, on a hillside not too far up, there have been a few Dark-red Helleborine (Epipactis atrorubens), but sadly we could find no trace of any this year. There were some nice patches of Limestone Fern (Gymnocarpium robertianum), and a single Field Gentian (Gentianella campestris), which was a good find. In this area there were also some lovely fresh fragrant-orchids, and these were the Chalk Fragrant-orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea).

On returning to the lower fields we continued to the far side of the field to check out the area close to the entrance of Sleets Gill Cave - it is not recommended to enter due to a high risk of flooding. There is a large area of liverworts here, and a Rock Whitebeam (Sorbus rupicola) grows from the rocks above the cave entrance.

Then we followed the stream down, and headed back along the bottom of the field. A group of people who were a little way behind found an orchid that they were struggling to identify. Indeed there had been much debate about lots of the orchids seen on the way up. There is often very little to differentiate them, and of course there are the hybrids too. We closely examined features such as the lip shape and lip markings of the Heath and Chalk Fragrant-orchids, and the Common Spotted and Heath Spotted-orchids. It just goes to show that it’s not always easy, even for experienced botanists, so if you are new to botany don’t get disheartened. If you are out, and enjoying seeing nice plants, and hopefully having a good time chatting with people, and admiring the scenery, then that’s a good day in my opinion.

Text by Nyree

Photographs by Nyree, Ian B and Susan