Download dubwath beck pastures - Dubwath Silver Meadows

DUBWATH BECK PASTURES
(This is not a report but a series of notes – see if it has what you need)
(Latin names can easily be provided for the plants if needed)
This reserve is an area of marshy grassland growing on alluvial soils where
Bassenthwaite once extended its waters.
Entering the boardwalk area, into the marshy grassland there is initially an
area with abundant soft rush and reed canary grass with lots of
meadowsweet, hemp nettle, valerian, marsh bedstraw and ragged robin.
Further back from the boardwalk are sallows with the plumes of tufted hair
grass growing up below.
Opposite to the hide the marsh is dominated by soft rush with frequent
valerian, tufted hair-grass, sorrel, greater bird foots trefoil, marsh bedstraw,
meadowsweet and sedges.
Beyond the hide to the left are a light scattering of sallows amongst abundant
soft rush with a patchwork of meadowsweet and valerian; and occasional
tufted hair grass, ragged robin, marsh thistle, cotton grass, yellow iris,
angelica. Small patches of water are associated with marsh cinquefoil, marsh
pennywort, marsh violets, lesser spearwort, water horsetail and sneezewort.
1 Fritillary butterfly seen here 23rd June.
Past digger pool and another gate this is a shaded section of boardwalk
through a patch of willow carr made of sallows and occasional alder over well
developed tussocks of tufted hair grass with frequent soft rush,
meadowsweet, reed canary grass, valerian and occasional skullcaps, lesser
spearwort, marsh marigold and water mint.
Past the willow carr and the site opens out again. To the right the area is
dominated by tall herbs such as valerian and meadowsweet with frequent
tufted hair grass, reed canary grass, hemp nettle, marsh bedstraw, skullcap,
angelica and occasional water forget-me-not.
Continuing down along the boardwalk to the right and through the gate is an
open area with the few sallows mostly near to the boardwalk. This area is
covered by reed canary grass and soft rush with frequent yellow loosestrife,
purple loosestrife, meadowsweet and occasional marsh marigold.
Or after the willow carr turn left at the junction in the boardwalk. Near the
path are a few small pools with water starwort floating in the water. There is a
light scattering of alder trees amongst a grassland with abundant tufted hair
grass, but also false oat grass, Yorkshire fog, creeping soft grass, meadow
grass, tufted vetch valerian, meadowsweet, sorrel and occasional angelica
and common spotted orchid.
Further along the path this becomes alder woodland over a ground flora
dominated by tufted hair grass.
The path comes to a small stream flowing to the right of the boardwalk. This
follows an old hedge boundary of ash and hazel over dogs mercury and ferns.
The boardwalk turns left, with an alder woodland to one side. There are also
ash, rowan, hazel, hawthorn and bird cherry along the edge of this path.
Through another gate and over the stream. Here the stream has pooled and
along its edges are sallows with reedmace, water horsetail, meadowsweet,
valerian and the highly poisonous hemlock water dropwort with its delicate
white flowers. In the stream float the starry leaves of water starwort.
Through another gate and the path takes you from the marsh ground back to
higher and drier meadowland.
Spring
The yellow flowers of marsh marigold brighten the landscape from March
through to May.
Summer
The spikes of red-purple flowers of purple loosestrife can be seen mainly
around July to August
The fragrant creamy heads of meadowsweet start appearing throughout this
marshy grassland from June onwards. Rub the leaves and smell the
distinctive smell of antiseptic (TCP).
The small yellow buttercup flowers of lesser spearwort appear between May
and September.
The tiny white 4-petalled flowers are scattered across the marsh from June to
August.
Blue-violet tube like flowers appear on Skullcap between June and
September. Small numbers of this plant can be seen peeping out from
among taller plants all over the site.
From June to August the very pale lilac to pinkish-white flower heads of
valerian bob around on tall stems and can be clearly seen across much of this
site.
The mauve rounded flower heads of water mint appear above their minty
leaves from July though to October.
The very poisonous hemlock water dropwort shows its attractive white flowers
in June and July. This native plant is common along the rivers and becks of
Cumbria, though it is quite restricted in its distribution across this site.
The white to pink flowers of wild angelica appear from June to September.
The green candied cake decorations called angelica come from the close
relative of this plant the garden angelica. .