Author: Josie Niemira

Our December meet took place on a drizzly but mild December day at Black Beck Woods, an area of privately owned conservation woodland in the south lakes near Bouth (previously owned by the ‘Booth’ family in fact!). Due to the size of the site, we initially met just off the A590 to then travel in fewer vehicles along the smaller roads and access tracks to the starting location. We saw a record-breaking number of group members attend, meaning Kerry had the tricky logistical job of herding 20+ bryologists and lichenologists into cars so that we could get started in a timely fashion.

Black Beck woods is owned by Edward Mills, a woodland manager with a keen interest in using practical conservation and restoration methods to create a high-quality woodland in the temperate rainforest zone. Ed gave us a great introduction to the site and provided a plan for the day so that the group could prioritise visits to the most interesting parts of the woodland.

This was a rare occasion where the bryophyte and lichen groups stayed within view for much of the day, ambling up the woody slope from the access path to find our respective treasures. While Paul gave a beginner’s group an invaluable introduction to common acid species such as Pseudoscleropodium purum and Polytrichum formosum, others set out in hopeful anticipation of the oceanic indicator species found in many similar sites in the area. To our joy, we were able to quickly locate sizable patches of Bazzania trilobata alongside regular findings of associates Plagiochila spinulosa and Saccogyna viticulosa, all great indicators of healthier oceanic woodland.  

We headed through the woodland to a locally known ravine called ‘Scholar’s Gap’, a perfect damp, shaded rocky habitat for humid-loving species with locally rare Tilia cordata (Small Leaved Lime) growing from the crags. Here we discovered many of the same oceanic indicators (a good sign of a consistently high-quality site), as well as some wonderful hummocks of Leucobryum glaucum poking out between the rocks. The find of the morning, however, was of course Andy’s delightful discovery of Syzygiella autumnalis (previously known as Jamesoniella autumnalis) on a shaded rockface right at the bottom of the ravine slope.

We were able to meet up with the Lichen group for lunch, enjoying a chat about morning finds along the banks of the Rusland Pool at the southeastern side of the site. The afternoon saw us exploring a willow carr at the south end of the site, just off the public footpath at Fish House Bridge. Although we were still close to the craggy acid woodland from the morning, this wet woodland habitat provides very different conditions for new species discoveries. The flushing of water brings in a more base-rich influence, meaning common indicator species such as Calliergonella cuspidata and Sphagnum auriculatum started to appear. There were also many epiphytes within ID availability on the sprawling willows, and those with wellies were able to access species such as Frullania tamarsicum, Bryoerythrophyllum recurvirostrum, and Neckera crispa. Between the trees on the boggy woodland floor, Sue’s keen eyes spotted the shiny leaves of Hookeria lucens, a lovely flat-leaved moss that impersonates a liverwort at first glance.

The site sports a well-maintained boardwalk to host the public right of way, allowing us good access to the more inundated areas and perfect habitat for Trichocolea tomentella, the wonderfully named ‘Handsome Woollywort’ that was growing in abundant tussocks in perfect view. These wet areas were also great for Sphagnum, and our finalcount totalled at eight,which shows great diversity at the site.

While the day was already overflowing with species, there was one habitat we were yet to explore: deadwood! Luckily for us, there were conveniently placed logs all along the boardwalk that finally allowed us to tick off some classic deadwood species such as Odontoschisma denudatum, Cephalozia lunulifolia and Lophozia ventricosa.

Overall, the site turned out to be full of surprises, and although it currently has no SSSI designation there is hope that recording such as ours can start to create a better picture of the quality of the site in the future. Thanks to everyone that attended and to Kerry and Ed for organising the day. See you in January and happy holidays to all those who celebrate!

Text: Josie Niemira
Photos: various

We started the field meeting at a small lay-by in Legburthwaite with a good turnout of around 10 bryologists. A last-minute illness meant our group lead was unfortunately unable to attend, but we still set off up the trail to High Rigg with a hopeful outlook on a drizzly but mild November day.

A brief hike up the path to Wren Crag brought us into monad NY3120 where we started our species recording on a rocky slope, finding many common upland species including Polytrichum alpinum, Orthocaulis floerkei, and Pogonatum urnigerum. There were signs of oceanic climate indicators in the rocky outcrops and sheltered crevices, particularly the liverworts Scapania gracilis and the more restricted Orthocaulis atlantica, distinguished from the aforementioned O. floerkei by the presence of red gemmae. Other liverworts here included both Lophozia excisa (with red gemmae and abundant perianths) and Lophozia sudetica (with many brownish gemmae and eroded leaves on gemmiferous shoots). The moss Leptodontium flexifolium caused some confusion. It looked rather like a Pohlia and was only identified under the microscope from its very papillose cells and large marginal teeth. It occurred in two forms in two different locations on the site: one small, looking rather like a Barbula species, and the other with more drawn-out shoots and deciduous bulbiform branchlets looking rather like Pohlia bulbils. It is fairly common in such acid habitats as this but we may be tending to overlook it as a Barbula.  

After an ambling climb uphill, we decided to pick up the pace and push further into the centre of the monad towards some promising mires and pools surrounding the High Rigg trail. While many distracting crags were found along the way, the wet heaths provided some great common acid indicator species such as Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens. As we headed down into the mire, the species composition suggested a base enrichment entering via the springs and flushes in the area, and the Sphagnum species composition highlighted this variance nicely. The group quickly totalled up thirteen species of sphagnum, including Sphagnum russowii, S. girgensohnii, and S. auriculatum in good numbers in the base-enriched areas. The base influence was also supported by further discoveries of Calliergon giganteum around a pool and Hypnum cupressiforme var. lacunosum appearing on the surrounding slopes and scree.

After a quick stop for lunch the group decided to head back down the path to enter the monad from a lower location via a riverside path. Here a few of our members parted ways and a smaller group headed out to explore the lightly wooded scree slopes on the east-facing side of Wren Crag.

The find of the day was Ptilium crista-castrensis which appeared in surprisingly large numbers across the slope, with several well-established patches discovered during the afternoon. Spirits were further raised by the discovery of the western species Frullania fragifolia, an almost-black liverwort that lives up to its name; the fragile leaves practically fall off in your hands!

Overall, we recorded 107 species of bryophyte, and the site provided a good variety of different habitats to reinforce upland species learning. With many beginners on this trip, it provided a great opportunity for knowledge sharing and conversations around how and why our species form different distributions in the uplands and in microhabitats. Thanks to everyone that attended and contributed to species recording!

Text: Josie Niemira
Photos: Josie Niemira