WFV June 10th 2025, Bolton Percy and Askham Bog

Our visit today encompassed two Yorkshire Wildlife Trust sites starting with Bolton Percy, which was originally an old station yard where nature has been allowed to take over.  Such sites provide a wealth of opportunity for seeking out botanical treasures and our party of 9 set to work.  There were 3 different thistles in flower: creeping, musk and welted as well as much evidence of St John’s wort, both perforate and imperforate.  Scarlet pimpernel provided a splash of colour and it was interesting to compare the leaf structure of weld and mignonette, which were growing in close proximity.  Great lettuce was noted and we saw much hedge-parsley coming into flower.  John spotted a female broad-bodied chaser resting high up in the canopy.  Butterflies seen were small tortoiseshell and speckled wood with greenfinches, whitethroats and house martins also in evidence.  Mention should be made of a rather sorrowful mullein being devoured by the mullein moth caterpillar.

After our lunch we left for Askham Bog which occupies the site of an ancient lake left behind by a retreating glacier 15,000 years ago.  Here we were treated to the sight of the nationally rare water violet looking glorious in the afternoon sun.  The Royal fern looked magnificent and was admired by us all.  Fine-leaved water dropwort, climbing corydalis and narrow buckler fern were also noted.  On the grass verge in the car park we also saw common spotted and pyramdial orchids.  Moths seen were straw dot, common carpet and common marbled.  A large red damselfly was seen at rest and brimstones and large skippers were on the wing.

Botanically this was an excellent day with over 100 spcies being recorded over the two sites and thankfully the weather remained good throughout.  Our thanks must go to Alice for so ably leading and also to Julia and Kevin who shared the driving.

Sally Tetlow