Rainford / Holland Moss.

 June 19^th 2010.

 Leader David Bryant.

Thirteen chipper members met at Rainford Junction to explore relict mossland that at one time covered huge swathes of this part of Lancashire. A short walk took us to the now cultivated farmland where we encountered a nice range of grasses. Cocksfoot, Dactylis glomerata in full flower, Crested Dog’s Tail, Cynosurus cristatus, two meadow grasses, Smooth, Poa pratensis and Rough, Poa trivialis and Italian rye grass, Lolium multiflorum gave members plenty of opportunity to look for distinguishing features. Also encountered were Timothy, Phleum  pratense, Common Bent, Agrostis capillaris, Yorkshire Fog, Holcus lanatus, Soft and Barren Brome.Bromus hordeaceus, and Anisantha sterilis Common Soft Grass,Holcus mollis, and Wild Oat, Avena fatua.                                                           

A really nice specimen of Goatsbeard,Tragopogon  pratensis was in flower and also carried seedheads, The open flowers, well it WAS only half eleven, were attracting lots of insect attention. Field Pansy,V iola arvensis, Fat Hen, Chenopodium album, Corn Spurry, Spergula arvensis and Black Bindweed, Fallopia convolvulus, were good examples of field margin plants.                

As farmland gave way to domed mossland the group could see the changes in vegetation taking place. A very distinctive Bramble found on acid mossland was noted but not specifically identified, Where is David Earl when you need him? 

The Mossland itself gave up some great plants, Two Cotton Grasses, Common, Eriophorum angustifolium and Harestail, Eriophorum vaginatum and Cross Leaved Heath, Erica tetralix told us we were on the old moss. Silver and Downy Birch, Betula pendula and Betula pubescens looked as if they had been introduced in some numbers. 

And so we came to the orchids. Many members had been waiting for this part of the trip. We were not to be disappointed with a nice selection. Common Spotted, Dactylohriza fuchsii, Southern Marsh, Dactylohriza praetermissa and the hybrid Dactylohriza  x grandis were the first to be found. Common Twayblade,  Listera ovata came next quickly followed by Early Marsh, Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. coccinea. A few Marsh Helleborine, Epipactus palustris were in bud but not full flower. I don’t think such a collection is often encountered on an inland site. Let me know if I am wrong. 

Two good size bushes of Bog Myrtle, Myrica gale were, for me the stars of the show. I would suppose relict plants from a bygone times. Back at the railway station car park Long Headed Poppy, Papaver dubium seemed to say “I know you have seen some lovely plants today, but I am worth a look as well.” It wasn’t wrong. 

Thanks to David Bryant for arranging and leading the day, and the group who stayed behind to contribute to this write up. Had the pub been open it might have been much longer, or then again it may have been much shorter! 
                                                                             Peter Tipping.