Meeting Reports June 2025
Leader : Louise Hill
Other Attendees :
Object of Visit : For walks on Lindholme Island and Hatfield Moor, and a visit to the Mossery.
On the 2025 Bawtry Festival program was the following entry for Thursday 19 June
“St Nicholas Churchyard from 4pm Churches Count on Nature activity –
come and spot bugs and critters in the churchyard. All equipment supplied.”
Well, how could I resist.
Back in 1998 and 1999 I joined members of the Doncaster Nats in recording the plants of St Nicholas’s Churchyard as part of the ambitious project to record the flora of historic Churchyards across the Doncaster region (See Doncaster’s Living Churchyards Seccombe & Seccombe 1999). Bawtry scored 73 species, putting it within the top ten of the 37 churchyards visited. I remembered Lily-of-the-Valley Convallaria majalis, Fox & Cubs Pilosella aurantiaca and Purple Toadflax Linarea purpurea from 26 years ago and was pleased to note that all were still present and all were in flower. I also remembered with affection friends from the Nats who had recorded the plants at Bawtry but reflected that sadly some are no longer with us.
A cheerful group of ladies from the church had provided tables on which to examine specimens and magnifying glasses for a closer look at the promised ‘bugs and critters’.
Unfortunately, in honour of the Festival, the churchyard had been mown. Also, due to the current long-term drought, the ground was desiccated and on this, the hottest day of 2025, the headstones were actually hot to the touch and any mossey coverings were tinder dry. All-in-all, not a good situation for terrestrial invertebrates.
Fortunately, the deep-rooted canopy-forming trees of Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus and Lime Tilia x europaea provided welcome shade, their still-succulent leaves providing sap for huge numbers of aphids and thus the basis of thriving food-chain. In fact, the foliage of the Sycamore to the rear of the church was glistening with honeydew, the sugary secretions of a myriad Sycamore Aphids Drepanosiphum platanoidis. Whereas the aphids are preyed on by a range of carnivorous insects, typically Ladybirds, Lacewings and Wasps, and are picked off by small birds, the honeydew attracts Hoverflies and Bees. The Lime foliage was also heavily colonised by the Lime Aphid Eucallipterus tiliae, again the basis of a food chain. Evidence of these invertebrate food chains was in the form of the empty black and orange pupal cases of Harlequin Ladybirds Harmonia axyridis, the larvae of which would have fed well on aphids. In one case a freshly emerged Harlequin, adjacent to its empty pupal case was still in its ‘Teneral’ state, soft, unpigmented and vulnerable.
Examining the undersides of Sycamore leaves revealed sheets of geometrically arranges lepidoptera eggs, indicating an imminent population of tiny moth caterpillars. Whereas on some of the Lime leaves the subtle bulges of pouch galls had been caused by colonies of mites of the genus Eriophyes.
Perhaps the highlight of this little bug safari was a cluster of blue/green eggs perched on top of a bundle of transparent fibreglass-like filaments. These were the eggs of a delicate but lethal (if you’re an aphid) Lacewing, possibly Chrysoperla carnea, strategically placed among a colony of aphids on the underside of a Sycamore leaf.
Finally, around the limestone walls of the church, the bulging string course, designed to shed water away from the footings, was also providing daytime shelter for the spider Amaurobius similis. Although no specimens were found, copious amounts of web effectively lined this architectural feature.
Well, although many things were bright, beautiful and fascinating, nature sure was revealing itself to be red in tooth and claw on this occasion
CAH.
Leader : John Scott
Other Attendees : Joyce & Paul S., Jim B., Margaret P., John N., Samantha & Graham B., Dave & Sue W., Collin H, Les C.
Object of Visit : To look for Forester Moths and butterflies in the hay meadows.
Unfortunately, we didn’t find Foresters moths in the meadow where we have found them in the past.
We moved on to John’s favourite meadow. There we found Common Blue and Brown Argus butterflies flying in hot sunshine. The ponds had good populations of dragonflies – 4-spot Chasers, Common Blue and Azure Damselflies. Interesting plants were growing such as Water Violet, Marsh Pea, Lesser Water-plantain, Small Teasel to name but a few.
This was followed by a walk round the now well-grown woodland planted by John about 10 years ago.
Thank you, John, for a very pleasant afternoon in your meadows.
Joyce.
Leader : .
Other Attendees :
Leader : Tricia Haigh.
Other Attendees :
Object of Visit : A general survey looking for invertebrates and any other wildlife
Leader : Mick Townsend.
Other Attendees :
Object of Visit : To search for Argent and Sable moths
Leaders : Colin Howes & Jo Carreck
Other Attendees :
Meet : 1.30 pm off Stoops Lane DN4 7PH (SE 612 006).
Duration of meeting : about 2 hours. Distance ¾ mile max.
Aims: Bolton Field, a one-time sand Quarry, wedged between Bawtry Road (the old A1 of Coaching Days, Dick Turpin and all that) and the ancient Stoops Lane (which since the 1960s became an artery of local urban development), so why is this dog-walk and kick-about futter field of any interest to the Nats ? … Well Geoff and Jo Carreck certainly found it of interest, discovering some remarkable plants, putting this mere field on the map as a potential local wildlife site.
The Local Authority has planted groups of broadleaved trees, leaving strategic areas un-mown in summer, allowing wild plants to flower and set seed, mow access paths through the vegetation, and are keen to find out, from us, what biodiversity has moved in.
Take photographs of anything you find of interest, bring identification guides and try to list the species you see, and we shall see what we can discover.
(Grid Ref SE612 006; Post Code DN4 7PH).
Date: Tuesday 3rd June 2025.
Start time: 1.30pm.
Leaders: Colin Howes and Jo Carreck.
Other Members taking part: Mr & Mrs Batty; Carol Benson; Jim Burnett; Ian Farmer and John Scot.
Preamble: Bolton Field, a one-time sand Quarry, wedged between Bawtry Road (the old A1 of Coaching Days, Dick Turpin and all that) and the ancient Stoops Lane (which since the 1960s became an artery of local urban development), so why is this dog-walk and kick-about futter field of any interest to the Nats ? … Well Geoff and Jo Carreck certainly found it of interest, discovering some remarkable plants, putting this mere field on the map as a potential local wildlife site.
The Local Authority has planted two groups of broadleaved trees including Field Maple; Ash and Hornbeam. In addition, a fine specimen of Ginco biloba has recently been added to the site. A strategic areas of damp grassland is left un-mown in summer, allowing wild plants to flower and set seed. Access paths are mown through the vegetation and the Council is keen to find out from us what biodiversity has moved in.
Alarmingly, shortly after our arrival a council lorry arrived with lawn mowers and strimmer’s on board, but the polite man in charge assured us they were only going to strim the tall ruderals around the seats and the perimeter of the sports enclosure. The main paths and kick-about areas were to be mown the following day. Interestingly the 19th century OS maps of the site show a footpath running diagonally from the south west corner to the northeast corner, precisely the path currently being mown by the local authority.
Today’s survey: Getting our species list off to a good start were the common weeds of disturbed and well trampled ground around the gateway entrance. Species such as Knotgrass Polygonum aviculare; Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea; Hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale; Mallow Malva sylvestris; Dove’s-foot Cranesbill Geranium molle; Herb Robert Geraniun robertianum; Prickly Sow-thistle Sonchus asper; Field Speedwell Veronica persica; and the grasses False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius; Wall Barley Hordeum murinum; Annual Meadow-grass Poa annua; and Sterile Brome Bromus sterilis.
Fruiting bodies of the large bracket fungus Dryads Saddle Polyporus squamosus showed that this organism was busily digesting the goodness out of the long-dead buried roots of a felled deciduous tree.
Damp Grassland: Local tradition maintains that the large area of damp grassland between the two new wooded copses is kept damp by up-wellings of spring water. Certainly the occurrence here of Milkmaids (also known as Cuckoo flower) Cardamine pratensis; Ragged Robin Silene flos-coculi’ Devil’s bit Scabious Succisa pratensis; Oval Sedge Carex ovalis, Hairy Sedge Carex hirta and Glaucous Sedge Carex flacca are indicators of wet marshy grassland. It is here that the populations of orchids thrive and here where mowing machinery leave ruts in the turf when operating in wet conditions. Although springs are not specifically indicated for this field, 19th century OS maps indicate ground water at or near to surface in the form of Pinfold Spring, Checkstone Pond and a Well on the south side of Stoops Lane
(see OS Map Yorkshire Sheet 285 surveyed 1849-50 published 1854; OS Sheet CCLXXXV NW surveyed 1888 published 1894 & OS Sheet CCLXXXV NW surveyed 1901 Published 1904).
It was the spectacle of the large swarm of Southern Marsh Orchids Dactylorhiza praetermissa that had attracted us to investigate the site. The population occupied an area 28.5 meters by 28.3 meters and though an accurate count of flowering spikes wasn’t achieved, many photographs were taken. A sample of 61 spikes showed a size range from 11cm to 48cm with a mean height of 23.8cm.
Also present were Spotted Orchids, which Jim’s Field Guide to Orchids of Britain and Ireland (Cole & Waller) identified as including both Common Spotted Dactylorhiza fuchsii and Heath Spotted Dactylorhiza maculata. Jim also found two spikes of Bee Orchid, as yet still in bud.
Throughout our visit, the botanical expertise of John Scott was invaluable, not least in saving me from disgrace in claiming a group of tall desiccated stems and seed-heads to be evidence of the Snakes-head Fritillaries which had flowered earlier in the season … only to be informed by John, these were in fact the seed-heads of a clump of species Daffodils Narcissus sp. … exit stage left, as lonely as a cloud!
Amongst the invertebrates which Samantha Batty photographed were 4-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata, Forest or Red-legged Shield-bug Pentatoma rufipes, Dock Shield Bug Coreus marginatus and a Swollen-thighed Flower Beetle Oedemerus nobilis.
Find of the Day: Samantha also established the presence of a population of Roesel’s Bush-crickets Roeseliana roeselii along the western edge.
Perimeter Vegetation: Along the western edge, Jo was keen to show us a rather fine vine of Hop Humulus lupulous. The distribution of Hop in our region closely matches the distribution of historic farmsteads where farms ran brew houses for the benefit of their workers. This may therefore be a survival from the agricultural community of old Bessacarr located at the junction of Stoops Lane and Bessacarr Lane.
The western perimeter vegetation was heavily and interestingly influenced by escapes from adjacent households on Broughton Road and Nutwell Close. These included Barberry Berberis darwinii; Buddleja davidii; Broom Cytisus scoparius; Copper Beech Fagus sylvatica purpurea; Lilac; Oregon Grape Mahonia aquifolium; Sumac Rhus typhina; Snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus; Greater Periwinkle Vinca major varigata, Lilac Syringa vulgaris and an as yet unidentified shrub with Ivy-like flowers found by Jo.
The tips and first pairs of leaves on the Buddleja bushes were heavily disfigured, discoloured and exhibited leaf roll, caused by infestations of Aphids (species to be identified). This phenomenon has only been around in the UK since 2023 and the Royal Horticultural Society is urgently gathering evidence on the matter. The Bolton Field record and another from Balby Woodfield Green Triangle has been sent to the RHS.
The northern boundary, overlooked by the large elevated mansions at 158 and 160 Bawtry Road, is the overgrown escarpment of the old sand quarry, a small exposure of which can still be found in the north-western corner. This escarpment is masked by a range of trees, including Corsican Pines Pinus nigra the canopies of which are blanketed in rampant growths of Russian Vine Polygonum baldschuanicum. Shrubs, including Hazel Corylus avellana, at ground level supported Great bindweed Calystegia silvatica. The only ferns encountered on site was a stand of Bracken Pteridium aquilinum, an indicator of the dry sandy conditions of the former quarry.
The southern (Stoops Lane) boundary is planted up with Silver Birch (Betula pendula) and a purple form of Norway Maple Acer platanoides. For many years, at the top of Stoops Lane (highly visible from the traffic lights) has been a fine shrub of Spanish Broom Spartium junceum, today it was flaunting its dazzlingly yellow flowers and filling the air with its evocative Iberian aroma.
The eastern (Bawtry Road) boundary is bounded by a metal fence and planted up with a row of Silver Lime trees Tilia tomentosa. Growing along the new fence is the hedgerow composed largely of Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. Also growing in the hedgerow is Elder Sambucus nigra, Holly Ilex aquifolium and Dogwood Cornus sanguinea, possibly all birds-sown; wind-blown Field Maple Acer campestre and Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus. Also present but as elements of the historical boundary hedge, were young growths of Wych Elm. These were suckering up from the rootstocks of the canopy elms which formerly lined the southern approaches of Doncaster prior to the pandemics of Dutch Elm disease. Early 20th century photographs of Bawtry Road, particularly around the Race Course, show avenues of these fine trees, all now gone. Also evidence of former times are limestone gate posts, either side of the gateway (padlocked) adjacent to the Bawtry Road bus shelter.
A bit more social history: For a short time in 1969 I used to catch the bus to work from this bus stop and remember an occupied Badger sett excavated into the Triassic sands behind the bus shelter. There were also Linnets nesting in the Gorse bushes nearby.
I would like to thank Jo for drawing our attention to this fascinating site and all you members who took part in this interesting and productive little survey … a good couple of hours work.
- In discussing the orchids, mention was made of the former local site for Lizard Orchid Himantoglossum hircinum. Due to confusion as to its former location and whether it still survives, CAH offered to take people to the site which was nearby, adjacent to one of the Lakeside flood balancing ponds. Five members visited the site but found no sign of any above- ground activity this season. However, we noted substantial earth disturbance due to the erection of metal fence sections around the pond-side gabions. Whilst at the pond we heard the loud song of a Cetti’s warbler, the whinnying calls of Little Grebes, saw 2 Mute Swans, a Little Egret and a juvenile Great-crested Grebe and scented the pungent mouse-like aroma emitted by a dense stand of Hemlock Conium maculatum.
CAH.
Appendix of species recorded at Bolton Hill Field/Park, Bessacarr (Grid Ref SE6100).
On 3rd June 2025.
| Vascular Plants | |
| Acer campestre | Field Maple |
| Acer platanoides | Norway Maple (purple form) |
| Acer pseudoplatanus | Sycamore |
| Achillea millifolium | Yarrow |
| Anthiscus sylvestris | Cow Parsley |
| Arrhenatherum elatius | False Oat-grass |
| Artemisia vulgari pratensiss | Mugwort |
| Berberis darwinii | Barberry |
| Betula pendula | Silver Birch |
| Bromus sterilis. | Sterile Brome |
| Buddleja davidii | Buddleja (Butterfly Bush) |
| Calystegia silvatica. | Great Bindweed |
| Capsella busa-pastoris | Shepherd’s Purse |
| Cardamine pratensis | Milkmaids (also known as Cuckoo flower & Lady’s Smock) |
| Carex flacca | Glaucus Sedge |
| Carex ovalis | Oval Sedge |
| Carpinus betulus | Hornbeam |
| Cerastium arvense | Field Mouse-ear |
| Cerastium fontanum | Mouse-eared Chickweed |
| Chamerion angustifolium | Rosebay Willowherb |
| Chenopodium album | Fat Hen |
| Cirsium arvense | Creeping Thistle |
| Cirsium vulgare | Spear Thistle |
| Convolvulus arvensis | Field Bindweed |
| Cornus sanguinea | Dogwood |
| Corylus avellana | Hazel |
| Corylus avellana | Hazel |
| Crataegus monogyna | Hawthorn |
| Cytisus scoparius | Broom |
| Dactylis glomerata | Cock’s-foot grass |
| Dactylorhiza fuchsii | Common Spotted Orchid |
| Dactylorhiza maculate | Heath Spotted Orchid |
| Dactylorhiza praetermissa | Southern Marsh Orchids |
| Fagus sylvatica | Beech |
| Fagus sylvatica purpurea | Copper Beech |
| Festuca rubra | Red fescue |
| Fraxinus excelsior | Ash |
| Galium aparine | Cleavers |
| Geranium molle | Dove’s-foot Cranesbill |
| Geraniun robertianum | Herb Robert |
| Ginco biloba | Ginco |
| Hedera helix | Ivy |
| Heracleum sphondylium | Hogweed |
| Holcus lanatus | Yorkshire Fog |
| Hordeum murinum | Wall Barley |
| Humulus lupulous | Hop |
| Hypochaeris radicata | Cat’s Ear |
| Ilex aquifolium | Holly |
| Jacobea vulgaris | Common Ragwort |
| Lamium album | White Dead-nettle |
| Lunaria annua | Honesty |
| Mahonia aquifolium | Oregon Grape |
| Malva sylvestris | Mallow |
| Matricaria discoidea | Pineappleweed |
| Medicago lupulinus | Black Medic |
| Ophrys apifera | Bee Orchid |
| Pinus nigra | Corsican Pines |
| Plantago coronopus | Buck’s-horn Plantain |
| Plantago lanceolate | Lanceolate Plantain |
| Poa annua | Annual Meadow-grass |
| Poa trivialis | Rough Meadow Grass |
| Polygonum aviculare | Knotgrass |
| Polygonum baldschuanicum | Russian Vine |
| Polygonum baldschuanicum | Russian Vine |
| Potentilla reptans | Creeping Cinquefoil |
| Pteridium aquilinum | Bracken |
| Quercus robur | Common (pedunculate) Oak |
| Ranunculus bulbosus | Bulbous Buttercup |
| Ranunculus repens | Creeping Buttercup |
| Rhus typhina | Sumac |
| Rumex acetosa | Common Sorrel |
| Rumex crispus | Curl Dock |
| Rumex obtusifolius | Broad Dock |
| Salix viminalis | Osia |
| Sambucus nigra | Elder |
| Silene flos-coculi | Ragged Robin |
| Sisymbrium officinale | Hedge mustard |
| Spartium junceum, | Spanish Broom |
| Sonchus arvensis | Perennial Sowthistle |
| Sonchus asper | Prickley Sowthistle |
| Succisa pratensis | Devil’s bit Scabious |
| Symphoricarpos albus | Snowberry |
| Tilia tomentosa | Silver Lime tree |
| Trifolium dubium | Lesser Trefoil |
| Trifolium repens | White Clover |
| Ulex europaeus | Gorse |
| Ulmus glabra. | Wych Elm |
| Urtica dioica | Stinging Nettle |
| Veronica persica | Field Speedwell |
| Vicia hirsute | Hairy Tare |
| Vicia tricolor | Heartsease (Wild Pansy) |
| Vinca major varigata | Greater Periwinkle (variegated form) |
| Fungi | |
| Polyporus squamosus | Dryads Saddle |
| Invertebrates | |
| Hemiptera | |
| Aphis rumicis | Aphid on Curl Dock |
| Coreus marginatus | Dock Shield Bug |
| Pentatoma rufipes | Forest Shield Bug |
| Odonata | |
| Enallagma cyathigerum | Common Blue Damselfly |
| Libellula quadrimaculata | 4-spotted Chaser Libellula quadrimaculata |
| Lepidoptera | |
| Maniola jurtina | Meadow Brown Butterfly |
| Rivula sericealis | Straw Dot Moth |
| Vanessa atalanta | Red Admiral Butterfly |
| Coleoptera | |
| Adalia decempunctata | 10-spot Ladybird |
| Oedemerus nobilis | Swollen-thighed Flower Beetle |
| Diptera | |
| Syrphus ribesii | A Hover Fly |
| Hymenoptera | |
| Apis mellifera | Honey Bee |
| Bombus pascuorum | Carder Bee |
| Tettigonidae | |
| Roeseliana roeselii | Roesel’s Bush-cricket |
| Arachnida | |
| Araniella cucurbitina | Cucumber Spider |
| Eriophyes tiliae | Mite (nail) gall on Silver Lime leaves |
| Phytoptus abnormis | Mite gall on Silver Lime leaves |
| Birds | |
| Chroicocephalus ridibundus | Blackheaded Gull (over) |
| Corvus corone | Carrion Crow |
| Corvus monedula | Jackdaw |
| Larus argentatus | Herring Gull (over) |
| Larus fuscus | Lesser Blackback Gull (over) |
| Pica pica | Magpie |
| Streptopelia decaocto | Collared Dove (in tall conifers) |
| Sturnus vulgaris | Starling |
| Troglodytes troglodytes | Wren |
| Turdus merula | Blackbird |
| Mammals | |
| Talpa europaea | Mole (Hills) |
| Vulpes vulpes | Fox (scent in NW corner). |