2022 County Report for North-west Yorkshire

Linda Robinson

The annual monitoring of Neotinea ustulata (Burnt Orchid) in its three remaining sites in the v.c. took place at the end of May and beginning of June.  The Glebe Field had three individual plants recorded, Swinithwaite Pasture only had two individuals but the three SSSI fields belonging to a farm below West Witton had a total of two hundred and sixty four individuals which brought it into favourable condition according to Natural England.

The Pseudorchis albida (Small White Orchid) was monitored in June at three of its sites this year, four individuals recorded at Marsett Rigg, two individuals counted at Len Pastures and forty six individuals were counted at Fotheringholme SSSI.  Also seen and confirmed thanks to Alan Gendle and his friends were Dactylorhiza × formosa (D. maculata × D. purpurella) and Dactylorhiza × venusta (D. fuchsii × D. purpurella),  Many thanks to our volunteers.

Records received in 2022 included some from Jo Parmenter who updated and discovered new sites for Teesdale rarities, including a new site for Osmunda regalis and Potentilla fruticosa in Deepdale.  Nik Aspey updated records on a visit to Cautley Spout including Orthilia secunda and Sedum rosea.  Cotula alpina the small Australian native was discovered in Marfield Wetlands by Trish New, usually found at higher altitudes on grouse moors above Masham.   Finally one of the best records came from John O’Reilly whilst surveying on Cronkley Fell, he found two bushes of Betula nana, a first for the v.c.  Amazing when you think how well the top of Cronkley Fell has been botanised in the past.