Welcome to the Durham Botany Group

For anyone interested in local botany

Flora of our Nature Reserves

Hedleyhope Fell w/c 1st June 2020

by Camilla Lauren-Maatta

I really liked the idea of doing a botanic visit to a nature reserve every Monday. Not sure that I'll have the time to do this every week, but we did have a lovely walk round Hedleyhope Fell - don't think I've ever been there in such warm weather and with no wind. Below are our findings. I thought I knew cross-leaved heath but it took me a while to figure out what it was (I hope I'm right?) as it wasn't in full flower and I've never really looked properly at its glandular hairs before.

See Steven Gater's blog on his visit to Hedleyhope Fell this week

Foxglove

Bird's-foot Trefoil

Bell Heather

Bilberry

Cross-leaved Heath

Mouse-ear Hawkweed

Barren Strawberry

Tormentil

Gorse

Heath Bedstraw

Heath Milkwort

Flora of of Nature Reserves

Low Barns DWT Nature Reserve w/c 8th June 2020

by Julie Stobbs

A few photos from a visit to Low Barns this morning, the first (for us) common spotted orchids of the year plus wood cranesbill, monkey flower, burnet rose with ox eye daisies and guelder rose. We certainly didn't see an otter (as had been seen yesterday on the reserve) but did see a fox on the road shortly before we crossed the A689 heading home. It disappeared quickly into the undergrowth at the side of the road.

Lesley Hodgson added about her visit on the 10th, Spent a couple of hours at Low Barns this morning, it rained constantly, so photography was difficult, but the flowers were still looking gorgeous. [photos 6-8]. Unfortunately I forgot to take a weather writer, so didn't make a list - not that 2 hours would have been long enough! The hides are locked, but we still saw some nice birds, including a female goosander and a grey wagtail.

See Steven Gater's blog on his visit to this reserve this week

Monkey Flower

Common spotted Orchid

Guelder rose

Burnet Rose

Wood Cranesbill

Dame's-violet

Yellow-flag

Common Winter-cress

Bladder Campion

Red Campion

Teasel.jpg

Crosswort

Scarlet Pimpernel

About Us

Durham Botany Group welcomes anyone with an interest in the local flora of County Durham, whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced botanist. Our aim is to learn, educate and support. Through regular field trips, teaching sessions and surveys we work to conserve the natural diversity of plants in our area. And it's not just flowers, we explore everything including trees, fungus, lichen, mosses, grasses and sedges.

Aims of the Group

The aims of the group are to:

Provide an interest in, and enjoyment of, all aspects of flora, within and beyond the Durham Wildlife Trust area.
Develop and share botanical knowledge and understanding
Continually improve identification, survey and recording skills.
Contribute to conservation through field visits, surveys and recording.
Encourage and support young people to learn about and enjoy wild plants.
Support the wider aims and activities of Durham Wildlife Trust.

Flowers to look out for this month

MAY

(click image for larger picture)

Mouse-ear-hawkweed (Pilosella officinarum)

Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens)

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera)

Honestry (Lunaria annua)

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Wood Avens (Geum urbanum)

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)

Sweet Vernal Grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)

Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris)

Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis)

Meadow Foxtail Grass (Alopecurus pratensis)

Bugle (Ajuga reptans)

Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara)

Bird Cherry (Prunus padus)

Creeping Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans)

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Upcoming Events

Eco Church survey at Rowlands Gill
Fri, 18 Jun
Strathmore Road Rowlands Gill
18 Jun, 10:00 – 15:00
Strathmore Road Rowlands Gill, Rowlands Gill NE39 1HX, UK
We will, with the help of members of the Eco Church, Strathmore Road Methodist Church survey the grounds and adjacent wood looking at the flora but also anything else we may find.
Share
No need to RSVP

Wildflower Walk at Hendon Promenade
Sat, 26 Jun
Hendon
26 Jun, 10:00
Hendon, Promenade, Hendon, Sunderland SR2, UK
This lovely walk has become an almost annual event in conjunction with Sunderland council.. We show see many of our coastal limestone plants in flower
Share
No need to RSVP

Summer Trees identification - 2 sessions
Sun, 27 Jun
Low Barnes LNR
27 Jun, 10:00 – 12:00
Low Barnes LNR, Low Ln, Bishop Auckland DL14 0AG, UK
Want to know what that tree in the woods is? This is the field outing for you
Share
No need to RSVP

Summer Trees identification - 2 sessions (1)
Sun, 27 Jun
Low Barnes
27 Jun, 13:00 – 15:00
Low Barnes, Low Ln, Bishop Auckland DL14 0AG, UK
Want to know what that tree in the woods is? This is the field outing for you
Share
No need to RSVP

Survey of a private reserve north of the Tees
Thu, 08 Jul
Stockton-on-Tees
08 Jul, 10:00
Stockton-on-Tees, Warwick Cres, Stockton-on-Tees, Billingham TS23 4AH, UK
Details are to follow but this is an exciting opportunityt o find what is present at a site that has never been checked before,
Share
No need to RSVP

Wildflower & Butterfly walk at Bishop Middleham - 2 sessions
Tue, 13 Jul
Bishop Middleham
13 Jul, 16:00 – 18:00
Bishop Middleham, Bishop Middleham, Ferryhill DL17 9EE, UK
Bishop Middleham Quarry, an SSSI and a Durham Wildlife Trust reserve, is a disused magnesian limestone quarry which supports a very rich flora, including the best national population of the Dark Red Helleborine, Epipactis atrorubens. Butterflies include a large colony of Durham Brown Argus
Share
No need to RSVP

Wildflower & Butterfly walk at Bishop Middleham - 2 sessions (1)
Tue, 13 Jul
Bishop Middleham
13 Jul, 18:00 – 20:00
Bishop Middleham, Bishop Middleham, Ferryhill DL17 9EE, UK
Bishop Middleham Quarry, an SSSI and a Durham Wildlife Trust reserve, is a disused magnesian limestone quarry which supports a very rich flora, including the best national population of the Dark Red Helleborine, Epipactis atrorubens. Butterflies include a large colony of Durham Brown Argus
Share
No need to RSVP

Seaweeds & more at Hartlepool headland
Wed, 28 Jul
The Headland
28 Jul, 10:00 – 15:00
The Headland, Hartlepool Sea Front, The Headland, Hartlepool TS24 0UD, UK
We are still working on the details for this one. Please check back later
Share
No need to RSVP

Wildflower & butterfly walk at Wingate Quarry
Tue, 10 Aug
Trimdon Station
10 Aug, 18:00 – 20:00
Trimdon Station, Trimdon Station TS29 6NT, UK
Wingate Quarry is a Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Local Nature Reserve (LNR). It was County Durham’s first LNR in 1980 and was classified as SSSI in 1984 as a result of its magnesian limestone grassland
Share
No need to RSVP

Wildflower & Butterfly walk at South Tyneside- 2 sessions
Thu, 19 Aug
South Shields
19 Aug, 10:00 – 12:00
South Shields, Marsden Rock, South Shields, UK
This walk will be with in conjunction with South Tyneside council. We haven't finalised the details yet but put it in your diary and check back later
Share
No need to RSVP

Wildflower & Butterfly walk at South Tyneside- 2 sessions (1)
Thu, 19 Aug
South Shields
19 Aug, 13:00 – 15:00
South Shields, Marsden Rock, South Shields, UK
This walk will be with in conjunction with South Tyneside council. We haven't finalised the details yet but put it in your diary and check back later
Share
No need to RSVP

Wildflower & Butterfly walk at Sherburn Hill SSSI
Wed, 25 Aug
Sherburn Hill
25 Aug, 10:00 – 15:00
Sherburn Hill, Sherburn Hill, Durham DH6 1QR, UK
Sherburn Hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in County Durham, England. It lies just south of the road between the villages of Sherburn and Sherburn Hill, some 5.5 km east of Durham city. A disused quarry occupies part of the site.
Share
No need to RSVP

Circular come and find walk New Brancepath / Esh Wood
Fri, 28 May
New Brancepeth (south end)
28 May, 10:00 – 15:00
New Brancepeth (south end), New Brancepeth, Durham DH7 7JA, UK
This area had been little surveyed in the past. We will do a circular walk from New Brancepath of around 4 miles to see what we can find.
Share
No need to RSVP

Vascular Plants

Photographs of plants taken by DWTBG members.

Abies lasiocarpa (Subalpine Fir)

Taken at Durham Botanical garden

Adoxa moschatellina Moschatel

Antennaria dioica (Mountain Everlasting)

Taken at Winch Bridge, Upper Teesdale

Bellis perennis (Common Daisy)

Taken Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street

Briza media (Quaking-grass)

Taken at Sherburn Hill 14th June 2019

Cyperus longus (Gallingale)

Taken at The Whinnies 19th October 2017

Caltha palustris (Marsh-marigold)

Talen at Waldridge Fell

Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite)

Taken at Waldridge Fell, Co. Durham

Fumaria muralis (Common Ramping Fumitory)

Taken at Waldridge Fell 20-Jan-2020

Gagea lutea (Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem)

Taken at Gainford on one of our visits there.

Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell)

Taken at the Beldon Burn, Hunstanworth

Minuartia verna (Spring Sandwort)

Taken on Widdybank Fell, Upper Teesdale 22nd May 2016

Papaver dubium (Long-headed Poppy)

Taken at Sunderland riverside 29 07 2016

Papaver rhoea (Common Red Poppy)

Taken at Waldridge 24 July 2009

Parietaria officinalis (Pellitory-of-the-wall)

Taken at Sunderland riverside 29 June 2011

Petasites hybridus Butterbur

Populus x canescens (Grey Poplar (P. alba x tremula))

Taken at Waldridge Fell

Primula veris Chester Moor NR 24042014.

Primula vulgaris Gibside 28-Mar-2019

Prunus spinosa Chester Moor 1 Mar 2017

Prunus cerasifera (Cherry Plum) Birtley

Viola ordorata Sweet Violet Gainford

Lichens

Photographs of lichens taken by DWTBG members.

Collema cristatum. Yellow is Xanthoria p

Cladonia floerkeana.jpg

Cladonia glauca.jpg

Cladonia portentosa