Day 11 of 30 Days Wild - Quarry Moor Nature Reserve, Ripon

 In 11 June I visit Quarry Moor nature reserve next to the roundabout at the south end of Ripon. It has been a hot sunny day.

I want to look at the rock in the cliff to see how Maganesian Limestone compares with the sandstone of Sharow Church

I am really really lucky. 

The nettle area in front of the geological SSSI has just been cut - A week earlier and it would have been waist deep in nettles - and a week  later will would be shin deep with regrowth .

I notice that Wood Melic is still growing here beside the cliff

Further along  Rough Chervil is out  
THere are three similar umbelifers that come out at different times: 
((April-)May(-June) - Cow Parsley  June-July: Rough Chervil  July-August: Upright Hedge Parsley

Rough Chervil stem

Oh dear the Himalayan Balsam is here

This is the part where a river made its way
through the sand at the coast and then filled with lime

Looking closely at the layers - there are layers of limestone (whitish, with a smooth texture) then layers of sand.

I am pleased to find Caloplaca limonea again having found it at Sharow Church

Caloplaca limonea close up

In a wet are there is some Gynmostemum

Elsewhere on the reserve there were less good parts - e.g these nettles - though perhaps covering the council tip. Look carefully and you will see the bare branches of two Ash trees with die-back

Several wild roses were still out.
The leaves, but not flowers of Yellow-wort were out.

But the hawthorn was almost over - This is the only one I noticed still out. We are only 44m above sea-level at the low end of Quarry Moor. (The river Ure  at the other end of Ripon is 22m above sea level. Settle n comparison is 147 at the Swimming Pool Bridge end, and c 180m where I live and 446 m near Capon Hall and 406m at Malham Tarn House)