A wander up the valley of River Skell from Fountains Bridge, through Skell Bank Wood towards Spa Gill Wood, in search of mosses, vascular plants and other wildlife. On a fine spring day there were several flowering plants showing well, including Nodding Rush, Ramsons, Bluebell and Comfrey. Bird Cherry were in full blossom.
A good variety of bryophytes were found, including a fine cushion of Didymodon tophaceus on a retaining wall with seepage, Neckera complanata and Mnium stellare on an old stone bridge parapet, and some nice epiphytes including Zygodon conoideus and Orthotrichum pulchellum. The river hosted typical species including Fontinalis antipyretica and Platyhypnidium riparioides.
Nick Gaunt