Male Fern Unfurling18 people set off for this walk through Clapdale en route to Ingleborough Cave. We returned along the same route. The weather was disappointingly cold but dry. We were walking in the steps of Reginald Farrar, one of the famous plant hunters who was born in Clapham and went onto become a plant hunter, rock garden designer, writer and painter. During the course of the walk we observed both the natural and introduced plants and trees as well as ferns. One of the significant features was the area of colourful rhodendrons introduced by Farrar growing on the acid soils exposed by the Craven fault. We recorded 170 species of plant, 100 of which were flowering. The typical plants of the woodland were wild garlic, water and wood avens and hybrids which were seen in abundance, bugle which was seen through out as well as woodruff, wood sorrell, bitter vetch, wood cranesbill and wood rush. Ferns included hard fern, broad buckler fern, brittle bladder, oak fern- a rareity, hard shield , male fern, lady fern, maidenhair spleenwort and wall rue. 10 ferns in all were recorded. Our exploration of the limestone grassland beyond the cave proved productive. Donald was sent to scout for birds eye primrose and butterwort. He led us to the birds eye primrose and reported that there were butterwort leaves. Other floral gems were mossy saxifrage, marsh valerian and abundant early purple orchids growing on the crags.
Grey WagtailThe bird life was less profuse with 27 species seen. Highlights were the grey wagtails by the stream at Ingleborough Cave and redstart and spotted flycatcher which were seen in the valley. A dipper was spotted by the lower waterfall in Clapham Village.
Ice creams and hot chocolate were enjoyed in the environs of the cafe. We all returned safely to the minibus for 4 30 pm for our return journey to Bradford with an abundance of literature supplied by one of our leaders to be read contentedly in the evening.
Margaret