Malham Tarn Fen and Bog and 70 years of the FSC

Seventy Years of the Field Studies Council

International Bog Day

Malham Tarn Fen and Bog

Malham Tarn Field Centre

A quality community event - 1000 ft above sea level at a source of the river Aire.
30 Years of Craven Conservation Group

Field studies courses are a brilliant experience.
The Field Studies Council (FSC) has been running them for 70 years.

Well done to those before and in the war period who set it up - and to all those who have run centres and courses ever since!

There are lots more pictures lower down this post.

I dedicate this page to everyone who has stayed or come on a course at Malham Tarn Field Centre,..

and also to those who have come on National Trust guided walks and to the area on school trips.

 And a big thank you to the National Trust, and its workers and volunteers  who maintain the estate,
and to landowners and farmers and workers who have looked after the place in the past..

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27-28 July 2013 were  set aside by Malham Tarn Field Centre as an Open Day to celebrate 70 years of the FSC.

The FSC now has 17 centres.

"Field courses" are environmental study courses:-
a "holiday" to learn about some aspect of the environment!
 Whether your choice is birds, geology, insects and learning skills such as art, painting, navigation, fly fishing...

• School children enjoy a first residential stay away from home & learn skills with their peers. 
• Environmental workers  come and train. 
•  Families and retired people can start a new specialism.. and maybe contribute towards species recording.

The FSC strapline on the internet says:- the FSC is a registered charity committed to helping people of all ages understand and be inspired by the natural world.
It is 65 years since Malham Tarn started running field Courses. The FSC leases Malham Tarn Field Centre from the National Trust. And guess who was a special visitor at the FSC Members meeting on the Saturday afternoon: Mrs Mary Reckitt, who was the wife of the first warden Paul Holmes!

The FSC is keen for people with memories of Malham Tarn (and the other 16 Field Centres) to post their memories. You can read them here:-
http://www.field-studies-council.org/about/fsc-70th-anniversary/fsc-memories.aspx on

I have met several people in Settle, now in their seventies and eighties who came up to the centre from school at Settle or Skipton... One day soon I will add mine (from 1960s, onwards..)

28th July is International Bog Day and has been celebrated as such by various places since about 1989.  It is an EXCELLENT time of year to celebrate bogs because so many of the special wetland plants do not flower till late in the year.

I have written a post about the importance of Bogs here. - Although bog pools can be dangerous, and should be respected, Bogs are vitally important and fascinating places: - they are:

1. Carbon reservoirs, 
2. Water reservoirs, 
3. Reduce flooding,
4. Historical/archaeological repositories showing history in the pollen and peat.
5. Wild places to experience solitude and nature
6. And, most important:  are wildlife reserves. One lady (from Lincolnshire) on a guided walk was delighted to find cranberries and lamented the loss of the wetlands in Lincolnshire where they once grew.

I led four walks during the two days onto the fen and bog, and I gave short picture presentations on Malham Tarn fen plants and on the History of Craven Conservation Group

During the two days at least 17 people from Craven Conservation Group (CCG), our local natural history society came up. (An include: JH and son A, CT and husband P, TM, DT, RC, DC, SF, PF, TW, JA, K, AC, AB, KB and we gained a new member  .. tell me if your initials are not here.)
CCG was started at Malham Tarn Field Centre 30 years ago, so this was a birthday celebration too!

Terry Whitaker opens the moth trap
at 11am on Saturday morning in the courtyard of the Field Centre.
Terry is a member of CCG and also of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union

There were only 6 people in my first group. Here four of them are looking at what I call the "Paul Holmes Pool". BTCV volunteers clear (or at least used to) a section of the pool every two years, otherwise it would get taken over by bottle-sedge.
In this pool grows bladderwort - and the three weeks of good weather had led it to flower...(See next picture)

(The group comprised one lady who was a "Member of the Field Studies Council and had come up from the south for the event. One friend from Lancashire who had read my email, and who runs a children's wildlife group. The husband and son of a stall holder at the event, and a member of Carven Conservation Group and her son.)

The beautiful bladderwort flower.. and lots of buds ready to flower.

As we returned along the boards we met Sharon and Peter Flint  

who were investigating the animal in a peat pool.

See below for what we were photographing

A froglet

A dragonfly nymph.. this is two years old -
the really big ones (three years old) had emerged
and were now flying round as adult hawkers

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In the afternoon we had a bigger group of 18 people, 10 of whom are seen perched on the bridge.

Afternoon session on the Saturday -
the meadow sweet and reed canary grass is doing well.

In the evening we had music from two live groups. This group, The Zealots  is playing soul music.

The Moonbeams et al played inside later in the evening

A friend and I walked up to see the walled garden.
 which is maintained jointly by the National Trust and Malham Tarn Field Centre
some of the volunteers and school groups
that come to the National Trust.
 A tutor at the field centre said: "Basically the neat, 
tidy and smart looking bits are the NT's 
and the more rustic beds are the ones we have 
worked on with visiting school groups!"

Sunday: What a change in weather!. It had rained all night.

I gave my neighbour a lift up and we approached the centre carefully. would the cave near the centre be flooded? .. yes it was.. and a stream was running across the road. I took photos of the Giant bellflower - when it comes into flower I know summer is nearly through.

and over the adjacent wall the water flowed across the fen.

A quality community event - 1000 ft above sea level at (one of the many sources) of the river Aire.

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The 11.15 group on the Sunday pause at the bridge.
Notice the water in the stream is right up to the bridge..
the grey flat layer at our feet are petals of meadow sweet
and other plants that have drifted along the stream and piled up at the bridge.

Our group includes:: 3 CCG members;
A visiting FSC member who had initially had a lot of contact with Flatford Mill;
Two stall holders and their three children;
A man from Preston and four (or was it six) young Spanish/South American people visiting him

Here are the same group walking over the bridge at the west end.
This bridge used to have a hand rail.
I have written to ask the National Trust to build another handrail here
The water is high but has another 2 inches till it will reach the bridge.

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Back at the centre, Jo runs a workshop on foraging

Inside a lab, a craft workshop is taking place

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The afternoon walk is a select group - including a CCG member,
another person interested in wildlife on my email list,
Sharon and Pete who are YNU/CCG and
a couple on holiday in Grassington who "stumbled across"
the event and were delighted to take part.
Perhaps you can see more clearly here how the water level in
the stream has risen to touch the bridge.

Sharon showed us the malaise trap
Insects fly into the net, Sharon explained, the crawl up the net and get caught in a bottle of alcohol.
They are especially interested in Caddis-flies.

Sharon and Pete  have a blog  http://flintsentomologists.moonfruit.com/#/blog/4568748663
They are  running a course 30 July - 2 Aug up at Malham Tarn on Freshwater invertebrates

Back on the boardwalk we found a baby lizard

Come on a course at Malham Tarn -- e.g Grasses Sedges and Rushes starting this evening (2 Aug) - you can come on that as an individual day visitor too (ask for details. but if you don't know anything about Grasses and Sedges it would be best if you came on the Saturday)

On Saturday 10 Aug I will be leading a walk on the wheelchair accessible part of the board walk.. So if you are not very mobile that would be a good time to come.

You can support the FSC's campaigning activities by becoming a supporter..

http://www.field-studies-council.org/supporting-us/supporting-fsc.aspx

and if you have a little money to donate (£36) you can become a member - the £36 goes to one of the FSC's three funds (FSC Kids Fund, FSC Bursary Fund or FSC Young Darwin scholarship Fund  for people 16-17 yrs old who want to learn more about a branch of wildlife

http://www.field-studies-council.org/supporting-us/fsc-membership.aspx

Read the post I wrote about International Bog Day and Malham Tarn fen just before the event

Press Release - International Bog Day 28 July 2013

PRESS RELEASE    21 July 2013

INTERNATIONAL BOG DAY 28 JULY

Events at Malham Tarn, Settle, North Yorkshire.

28 July is International Bog Day

     “Save British bogs – and visit one on International Bog Day- 28 July 2013”

says bog-plant botanist Dr Judith Allinson.

Malham Tarn in North Yorkshire has internationally important wetlands including the Bog and Fen, and a series of events are being organised for the public over 27 -28 July ...

Judith, who will be leading guided walks at Malham Tarn Bog and Fen on 27-28 July says:     “I recommend Malham Tarn Open Days (27-28 July). This is an opportunity to visit Malham Tarn Field Centre and grounds which are not normally open to the public, and to see stalls set up by many community organisations. The walks and workshops are a chance to learn why Malham Tarn Bog and Fen are so special, and to be shown the names of some of the plants and animals. Children welcome.”

The events are being organised by Malham Tarn Field Centre (Sat and Sun), the National Trust (Sun), Craven Conservation Group and the Yorkshire Naturalists Union Fresh-Water Group (various times)

1. What is a bog?

2. Why are bogs important?

3. Why have peat bogs been lost?

4. Why is Malham Tarn Fen and Bog so important?

5. Activities at Malham Tarn 27-28 July

6. Some International Bog Day events in different countries.

7. Wildlife examples for Malham Tarn Bog and Fen

8. Settle Age UK and Bog plant display at St John's Methodist Church Hall,  Settle

Peat Bogs are important fascinating vital habitats.

1. What is a peat bog?

As organic material accumulates in a wetland area, the organic material becomes more acid. Sphagnum (Bog-moss) starts to grow. This is too acid for decomposition to occur, so the Sphagnum piles up and up and forms peat. The peat may be several metres deep. If the bog forms above water it may be a quaking bog.

2. Why are bogs important?

Peat bogs are important for carbon storage (to avoid global warming), for water storage (to avoid flooding and droughts) and for wildlife. Peat bogs take thousands of year to form. Pollen preserved in peat tells us about past vegetation. Archaeological remains have been found in peat.

3. Why have peat bogs been lost?

Many of Britain’s Wetlands and Peat bogs have been lost by drainage for agriculture or sheep grazing.  If the water table is lowered in the surrounding area, or if birch trees become established, or tracks and foundations are built on pristine bogs for wind turbines,  the bog can dry out. Carbon dioxide is then emitted rather than being absorbed.

Many of Britain’s Wetlands and Peat bogs have been lost by drainage for agriculture or sheep grazing.  If the water table is lowered in the surrounding area, or if birch trees become established the bog can dry out. Bogs in Britain and Ireland are lost because the peat is used for garden compost and for fuel (including for power stations). There is a conflict of interests.

4. Why is Malham Tarn Bog and Fen so special.
The bog is acid. Round the edge of Malham Tarn bog there are limestone springs, and limestone  grassland. There is a gradation of vegetation types from the acid to the limestone which has been lost in most other bogs in England.  There are many special rare plants and insects here. The Fen and Bog are part of a National Nature Reserve, and a Ramsar Site (Wetland  Site of International Importance).

 5. Activities at Malham Tarn 27-28 July

 Guided walks for plants (from Mosses to Sedges, Ferns  to Flowers) will be led by Judith Allinson  of Craven Conservation Group at 11.15 am  both days and at a later time during the day.(01729 822138 to book) . Freshwater investigations (pond dipping and workshops looking at the creatures in the lab under microscopes) will be led by Sharon and Peter Flint (of the Yorkshire Naturalists Union) on the Saturday at 1pm. This is part of the Tarntastic Open Days at Malham Tarn Field Centre, held to celebrate 70 years of  activity of the Field Studies Council (F.S.C.) .(The F.S.C. runs  17 Field Centres .. of which Malham Tarn was one of the first four to start. The F.S.C. has leased the centre from the National Trust since 1947, and runs plant, animal, ecology, geography, art and other creative courses for schools, universities and the public)   

The National Trust which owns the Malham Tarn Estate will be running family events on Sunday 28^th from 11am to 3pm including pond dipping, craft activities and bird boxes. (01729 830416)  Malham Tarn Field Centre will be running some activities for children (01729 830331)

 6. Other events for International Bog Day include:

 The Northern Ireland Bog Snorkelling Championships at Peatlands Park

 ... Events in Chicago and Illinois  and British Columbia.

7. Wild life on  bogs and Wetlands at Malham Tarn

Examples of birds at or near Malham Wetlands: include: Curlew, snipe, redshank, golden plover, meadow pipit;  Insects: Great diving-beetles, dragonflies, damselflies and caddis-flies. Other animals: lizards, water-shrews. Plants: Carnivorous plants such as sundew, butterwort and bladderwort; Edible fruit: bilberry, cowberry, cloudberry, cranberry;  Beautiful flowers: bog asphodel, bog rosemary, cross-leaved heath; Mosses: In Britain there are 34 different species of Sphagnum (Bog-moss) of which half can be found at Malham Tarn. Amazing!.

8. As a precursor to International Bog Day Judith gave a workshop at St John's Methodist Church Hall, Settle to Settle Age UK, on Friday 19^th July and with the help of the participants prepared a wall display which hall participants can enjoy..

Judith Allinson says

     "Do come to Malham Tarn - or visit a bog near you. Find out more about bogs from your local Natural History Society and avoid using peat-based garden compost."  

ENDS …………………………………………………………..

Bog-Day 2013 display at Settle and Age UK

28th July 2013 is International Bog Day.

On Friday 19th July  Settle Age UK Lunch Club 

had booked me to give a talk on wild flowers...

So guess what the topic was!
.... The brilliance of bog plants -- leading to International Bog Day

In this post I recount some of my adventures in organising the talk.

and give them thanks for helping me make the display..

The display will be there for other groups who use the Hall.

I got up early and collected a few samples of some (not rare)  bog plants from two nearby bogs - Helwith Bridge and Ribblehead. It was SO hot.!

The Bog Asphodel was in perfect condition - the flowers just coming out.

 Then at Ribblehead some men were repairing the bridge

After the meal at St John's, Settle, I got the people to talk about the uses of bogs. then we stuck some of the plants onto sheets to put on the wall and onto cards to make greetings cards:

Read my post about International Bog Day and Malham Tarn Fen and Peat Bog

Read my post about the event which actually took place at Malham Tarn on 27-28 July 2013

International Bog Day -28 July - Malham Tarn Bog and Fen

28 July is International Bog Day (and there will be events below on 27th and 28th)
(also see press release)

(For a Picture Report of the event which eventually took place 28-29 July 2013 at Malham Tarn  click here)

Now you may think bogs are dangerous damp places with pools full of green bog-moss where you can trip up and fall in.

Well yes they can be..

But this time of year Malham bog is relatively dry - and the event described below  will be a (free) opportunity to find out the magic secrets of the Moss.

Find out the top ten secrets of Malham Tarn Bog: (I am going to write this section shortly when I have time...)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. Bog Mosses: Sphagna- There are 34 different types of Bog-Moss in the UK and Malham Tarn is home to half of them!  (This is quite amazing, as in the South Pennines there are only about 6 types of Bog-Moss as most species have disappeared due to air pollution during the Industrial Revolution)

The rare Cleft bog-moss Sphagnum riparium (yellow green) (click for distribution map)
and common Blunt-leaved bog-moss Sphagnum palustre (seen here with orange centre) (map)
grow on Malham Tarn Fen 

----I will make a display of some of these.

... or maybe you should come on the walk yourself to find out!!!

To celebrate International Bog Day, and the day before 27-28 July
  Judith Allinson of Craven Conservation Group
will be leading some walks at Malham Tarn Field Centre, BD24 9PU
to Malham Tarn Moss (The Bog)
and to Malham Tarn Fen (The adjacent wetlands - of international importance for their conservation value).

This is part of the Tarntastic Celebrations at Malham Tarn

which is celebrating 70 years of the "Field Studies Council". Malham Tarn is one of 17 centres run by the FSC. which runs environment education days and courses for people of all ages and abilities.

These two days at Malham Tarn are FREE. .. so make the most of them. (and include stalls, food, music, presentations, walks and more..)


Dr Judith Allinson has also run courses for the Field Studies Council, for CIEEM, for Natural England, for Plantlife and  other organisations.
  Her next long course at Malham Tarn open to all is "Grasses Sedges and Rushes" 2-9 August


If you would like to attend or want more details, send an email

Sharon and Peter Flint http://flintsentomologists.moonfruit.com/# of the Yorkshire Naturalists Union will be running some pond dipping sessions and will show some of their Insect Survey results that that have made using the Malaise Traps on the Fen.

Terry Whitaker of Butterfly Conservation will be setting up a moth trap on one of the evenings and we will be able to look at some of the moths which live on the Bog and Fen.

On Sunday 27th the National Trust will run a Family Day on the Fen -  Family Fun Day at Malham Tarn -  a day of fun up at Malham Tarn. We will be doing a variety of activities including pond dipping, minibeast hunts, guided cycle rides (bring your own bike & helmet), craft activities and making bird / bug houses. There will also displays and information in the newly renovated Orchid House. You have to book and pay for this. 11am-3pm Adult £5-00, child £2-50

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Veronica catenata in inflow stream

Two insects doing their thing.

YNU Botany Group at Malham Tarn at YNU 150 year celebrations - July 2011

Hare's-tail Cotton-grass in May on Malham Tarn Bog

Grass-of-Parnassus- it would take rather of lot of luck to have it out by 27 July, - This photo was taken 10 Aug 2012

YNU Butterfly group photo an Emerald Moth - July 2011

-

Large Emerald

Large Emerald

On the Fen board-walk

Looking for sedges - One third of the British Cyperaceae (sedge family) grow within 3 miles of Malham Tarn

A Hover-fly on a devil's-bit scabious with the Bog in the right far background

A gentle walk on the Board-Walk

(For a Picture Report of the event which eventually took place 28-29 July 2013 at Malham Tarn  click here) 

Other places celebrating International Bog Day include:

Chicago:

http://www.chicagoparent.com/resources/going-places/finding-nature/volo-bog-state-natural-area/events/international-bog-day

Peatlands Park, N. Ireland -
International Bog Day and NI Bog Snorkelling Championshipshttp://www.discoverireland.com/us/ireland-things-to-see-and-do/whats-on/listings/?fid=NITB_28771

USA:
https://www.facebook.com/InternationalBogDayUSA

Canada
http://events.mec.ca/node/4288