In and around Arncliffe, Littondale

Saturday 9th August 2025

Leaders: Rita and Anthony Grainger

On a surprisingly windy and cloudy day we arrived in Arncliffe to find our visit coincided with the village fete. Stalls were being erected on the village green, a car park had been set up in a field and groups of runners set off at intervals, closing the road.

We started by walking around the village verges and then along the River Skirfare, stopping to look at plants on the stone walls and the bridge. We soon found the tall Broad-leaved Ragwort (Senecio sarracenicus), also known as Saracen's Woundwort. It is thought to have been introduced by monks on monastic lands.

Rita showed us Bear's-breech (Acanthus mollis), an attractive garden escape growing above the river, where we also found a pink-flowered Bridewort (Spiraea sp.). As we walked under huge Sycamore and Hornbeam trees, the dominant smell was of Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata). Hybrid Monkeyflower (Erythranthe x robertsii), originally from North America, was growing in the river. Ferns included Brittle Bladder Fern (Cystopteris fragilis), Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) and a Polypody (Polypodium sp.). In the short grass of the riverside meadows, grew Autumn Hawkbit (Scorzoneroides autumnalis) and Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia).

Leaving the busy village, we walked south on a wide stone track with broad verges and stone walls, which was damp in places where a stream runs in wet weather. Here we found Good-King-Henry (Blitum bonus-henricus) and Sharp-toothed Mint (Mentha x villosonervata), thought to be a garden escape. Also here was Apple-mint (Mentha x villosa) and Rough Hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus).

Instead of taking the Monk’s Path up the hill, we followed Rita and Anthony to a stream with a marshy area, rich in plants. Here we found Red Bartsia (Odontites vernus), Amphibious Bistort (Persicaria amphibia), a small Eyebright (Euphrasia sp.) and Marsh Lousewort (Pedicularis palustris). Bruce explained the several differences between this and Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica). Other highlights were Flat-sedge (Blysmus compressus), Common Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) and Bird's-eye Primrose (Primula farinosa).

Only some of the many Grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) flowers were open, but we enjoyed them along with Knotted Pearlwort (Sagina nodosa), Square-stalked St John's-wort (Hypericum tetrapterum) and a few Autumn Gentian (Gentianella amarella), also in bud. By the stream, Marsh Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustris), was difficult to photograph in the wind.

We then thanked Rita and Anthony, who had shown us the plants they had previously identified, and set off for some limestone scars and old limestone pavement up the Monk's Path. Here we found Lesser Meadow-rue (Thalictrum minus), Limestone Fern (Gymnocarpium robertianum) and Green Spleenwort (Asplenium viride). Other ferns we found included Scaly Male-fern (Dryopteris affinis) and Hart's-tongue (Asplenium scolopendrium).

Text by Brigid

Photographs by Brigid, Tom and Susan