It was one of those 'what to wear days'. For those who chose a warmer outfit, they had made the correct decision. Heavy clouds & a chilly breeze persisted for much of the day & the sun didn't put in an appearance until after lunch. We had travelled along the Aire Valley with several pick ups along the way.
After a toilet stop at the National Park Centre our full mini-bus headed down Wood Lane & parked up in the small, rocky car park at the foot of Grass Woods. This was no easy matter as the site was almost full and the largest of the rocks presented a significant hazard. Two members had travelled there by car & helped to guide us in. We then crossed over the road & entered Lower Grass Woods which is the area bordered by the road & the river. Because it is such a linear site it is hardly visible on an OS map!
It is a splendid limestone woodland with much to excite anyone with an interest in botany. The most striking of the flowers is the Wood Cranesbill which we saw in plenty. Alice recorded a total of 70 species in flower that included: Yellow Pimpernel, Pignut, Marsh Valerian, Hairy Rock Cress, Rough Hawkbit, Quaking Grass, Rock-rose, Milkwort, Salad Burnet, Dame's Violet, Bugle, Bitter Vetch, Mouse-eared Hawkweed & Melancholy Thistle (only just emerging). There was also a patch of White Forget-me-not.
The wood rang to the sound of birdsong & we identified, some with the help of the Merlin app, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Song Thrush, Garden Warbler, Blackcap & most curiously Lesser Spotted Woodpecker? This was precisely where we were observing a Great Spotted W/pecker going to & from its tree hole so the jury is out on this one. Some of us had excellent views of a singing Garden Warbler. Later by the river we saw Sand Martins, Pied Wagtails & Common Sandpipers.
The paths through the site are for the most part narrow & stony & there are steep sections & in one place a flight of stone steps. Naturally, the group very quickly got strung out. The advance party reached the riverbank picnic spot some 25 minutes before the rear guard arrived ! With the emergence of the sun the butterflies & other insects began to appear & we saw a Large White, Orange Tips, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, several Brimstones & a Wall. Sue had apparently been sitting on a large Cockchafer Beetle ! It took a while for it to fully recover!
Earlier in the day we spotted a Bird Cherry tree festooned with the larval webs of the Bird Cherry Ermine moth. Other moths seen were Brown-silver Lines & a grass moth Crambus lathoniellus. Ashy Mining Bees & a Green Dock/Sorrel Beetle were also identified. The latter on Tracey's camera !
As it was still only three o'clock when we arrived back at the bus most of the group were up for a walk in Grass Woods. It had warmed up considerably by this stage so I was now feeling far too warm. Several had already turned back by the time the rest of the group decided enough was enough! Sweet Woodruff was seen in flower.
After another toilet stop we left Grassington at 16:00 & were back in Bradford just after 5.
A lovely day & thanks to the drivers, Kevin & Julia.
See the photos here.
John Gavaghan