April’s trip took us to Hardknott Forest, where members cheerily met along the banks of the River Duddon after winding trips over various mountain passes. The aim of the day was to explore Great Wood and the variety of surrounding habitats around the river. We were lucky enough to be joined by team members Jess, Jon and Issy of the ‘Restoring Hardknott Forest’ project, who gave us a detailed introduction to the management practices on site and the aims of restoring natural deciduous woodland in felled plantation areas over the next 10 years. They explained that our bryophyte data would be of huge benefit to the project,and that our records could only improve on the current list for the monad SD2399… of two whole species!
Our journey into Great Wood was immediately waylaid not 200 meters from the car park by the discovery of a nice stone wall and surrounding acid grassland. The recent dry weather had heavily impacted the bryophytes’ look and ID features, and the group was armed with an array of misting methods to help with identification. Those newer to mosses were supported with the identification of species such as Polytrichum commune, Rhitidiadelphus squarrosus, and Pleurozium schreberi, and nice patches of the classic upland moss Racomitrium lanuginosum were easily spotted in the dry weather by the obvious white-looking hyaline hairpoints. Alongside this were less obvious examples of Racomitrium fasiculare, and later R. obtusum was found (and checked via microscope after the fact for confident ID).
Once we swiftly made it past this first distraction, the woodland displayed some great micro-habitats of bare rock-faces and deadwood amongst the taller trees. Epiphytes included the common Metzgeria furcata, as well as some nice examples of M.violacea and M. consanguinea. Some traditional oceanic indicator species were present in abundance, particularly Scapania gracilis and Bazzania trilobata. There were also decent patches of Anastrepta orcadensis displaying it’s bright red gemmae, and the Orthocaulis species O. atlantica, and O. floerkei appeared at various points throughout the day.
As we travelled through the woodland, we slowly started to add some Sphagnum species to the list. Traditionally known as a harder genus to identify, the team worked together to help everyone learn some key characteristics of the wider sphagnum groups before diving into species ID. Discoveries started with the traditional upland acid woodland species S. quinquefarium and S. girgensohnii, both preferring the drier (but still damp) acid woodland floors. S. auriculatum started to appear in the wetter flushes along the path as we headed towards our lunch spot by a stream at the western edge of the monad. From here, a small wet woodland and associated rush mire presented lovely swathes of S. squarrosum, carpeting the ground beneath the willow trees with its spiky-looking capitula and large prominent buds. Within the rushes were smaller patches of S. fallax, S. fimbriatum, S. subnitens, and S. palustre, shaded out by trees to reduce pigment vibrancy and make ID all that much harder. A Fissidens growing in a tiny stream cutting through the woodland turned out to be Fissidens bryoides var. caespitans (previously known as F. curnovii), clearly identifiable with its vibrant red/violet coloured rhizoids.
We followed the stream until it went underground, reappearing as a base-rich flush on the banks of the river. Here we found some great examples of Palustriella commutata, Scapania undulata, and Hyocomium armoricum. Further along there were quite good quantities of Nardia compressa, not very often seen. By using the stream as an anchor through a large series of microhabitats, learners were given a great opportunity to see how variations in humidity and water levels can change bryophyte species compositions at scales of even a few centimetres.
Our last stop of the day was to a large rocky outcrop that hinted at rarer discoveries. Unfortunately, the recent lack of rain meant that previously saturated rock faces were now completely dry, and ID of small and fragile liverworts was proving tricky. A mat of Cephalozia on rock proved under the microscope to be Cephalozia lunulifolia. Crispy examples of the common Marsupella emarginata and rarer Mylia taylorii were found, and it was nice to see Rhabdoweisia crenulata,doing surprisingly well in humid crevices, where it formed quite good-sized cushions, some with abundant capsules.
Thanks to everyone who came out to help with recording this month; it’s great to know our records will be contributing to an ambitious restoration project within the valley.
Text and photos: Josie Niemira
