2019 Botany Survey

The previous records we have are of 68 species on Popehouse Moor in 1987 and 192 found on the SSSI and also around the farm in 2009. The most recent survey turned up 215 species overall, with 101 in the SSSI, and 175 everywhere not including the SSSI. A handful of these (at the end, with common names only,) were not picked up on the day, but are known from earlier in the season. Of course, in conservation terms, all plants are not equal, and the rarer plants are generally, but not exclusively, in the SSSI.

Here’s a breakdown of where the plants were found.

And here’s a note of the correspondence:

Dear Maggie

We much enjoyed  our visit earlier this month and enjoying cake sheltering from the rain. I have attached the list for you. The column marked farmhouse and area to the north is in monad SS6410 and includes the orchard area and along the drive. The column marked rest of area is the part of the farm in Monad SS6409 but not in the SSSI, pond area or the turbine field. Generally we thought the SSSI was in pretty good condition except a certain amount of scrubbing over in the wetter part but I know you are well aware of this. The wetter east end of the turbine field had quite good diversity but the drier west end was not so good we thought. Many good plants in the pond area. Many thanks for our visit.

Best wishes, Bob Hodgson

If you have any queries please let me know

And our reply:

Brilliant! Thank you so much Bob and others, we really appreciated your time and knowledge.
That’s a few more than the visit a decade ago, so that’s reassuring. I’ll have to get around to comparing them properly. And inevitably there are a few others that I’m aware of – mostly common or early flowers (like scarlet pimpernel, marsh marigold, dead nettles etc) but also two more notable for the SSSI. There’s a nice patch of bogbean on Popehouse Moor, and just yesterday I spotted a flower which I looked up from the woodland. It seems to be cow wheat, which I gather is an old woodland indicator. 
Yes, I think that wet end bit of Popehouse Moor will be a high priority for de-scrubbing this comming winter. We’ve done work down there twice in the past 13 years, but it keeps coming back.
best wishes,
Maggie