We met at Olad summit and had a long session looking at verges and along part of the cliff SSSI. Either place alone could have filled our time. The main focus was to see Fragrant Orchid and Hemp Agrimony, and we succeeded in this. Fragrant orchids and Northern Marsh Orchid were spotted along the road and track verges, along with Twayblade, and many other more common plants. We then drove up the Ward Hill track and walked via the active quarry -with John negotiating the electric fence and cows, to climb over a gate on to the cliffs. Our first Hemp Agrimony was a single plant in the old quarry, which also yielded Butterwort and our first Golden Rod - we found more of these along the cliffs.Looking over the cliffs, John spotted large areas of Hemp Agrimony growing very low down. We also came across a good clump on our grass path back, all these were just starting to flower. Some grasses were examined, and John pointed out the difference between the leaves of Meadow and Creeping buttercup. Thank ytou all for your input.

Here is the list of what we saw, with apologies for any ommissions:-

 

Orchids - Fragrant, Northern marsh, Heath Spotted

Buttercups - Meadow, Creeping

V etches - Bush, Kidney, Meadow vetchling

Sorrel, Nettle, Broad leafed Dockan

Daisy,  Dandelion, Cats Ear, White and Red Clover, Yarrow

Birds Foot Trefoil, Tormentil, Silverweed, Ragwort, Self Heal,

Twayblade, Heath Bedstraw, Lady's Bedstraw, Fairy Flax, Lady's smock,

Butterwort, Golden Rod, Red Campion, Sea Pink, Primrose, Creeping Willow

Eyebrights -Arctic and one other species, Marsh Marigold, Bog Pondweed, Common Cotton Grass

Crowberry, Bell Heather, Cross Leafed Heath, Ling, Lesser Trefoil, Coltsfoot, Yellow Rattle, Hogweed, Bog Asphodel

Marsh Thistle, Creeping Thistle, Devil's Bit Scabious, Sea Mayweed, Pineapple Weed, Ragged Robin

Lousewort, Sow Thistle, Mouse-eared Chickweed, Smooth Lady's Mantle,Marsh Horsetail, Angelica

Plantains - Sea and Ribwort

Grasses - the 2 colours of Yorkshire Fog grass, Downy oak grass, and others!

One Prunus species