“A what”? I hear some of you say! An SSSI is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and we are lucky to have such a place on our doorstep. Trench Meadow is nestled between Higher Coach Road, Lower Baildon and the woods in which it shares its name, both probably named as such from the remains of the enclosed settlement Soldiers Trench just beyond Bracken Hall Countryside Centre on Shipley Glen, dating from the Bronze Age and often mistaken for a stone circle.
Many folk will often overlook this special place thinking it is just a field or simply a convenient cut through to the woods when walking their dog but such a designation is not awarded lightly and to quote Natural England it describes ‘an area that's of particular interest to science due to the rare species of fauna or flora it contains - or even important geological or physiological features that may lie in its boundaries’.
Meadows are one of the rarest habitats in the UK, in fact we have lost 97% of our meadows since the 1930’s which is really shocking and all the more reason to love and cherish this tranquil idyll.
Trench Meadow does not disappoint when it comes to wildflowers and some of the special species worthy of note can be currently seen and will continue to bloom throughout July and August. I paid a visit to the meadow last week and Common Spotted Orchids can be seen throughout the meadow and although they are widespread, they are still a joy to see and their highly scented flowers attract insects such as butterflies and moths.
Another resident which thrives in damp meadows is Meadowsweet which its name suggests, has a very sweet fragrance and is a member of the rose family. This plant is a particular favourite of hoverflies and I was lucky enough to capture a photo of one feeding on its flowers when I was there.
Betony is also resident, often confused for the Early Purple Orchid, this species is unrelated and is actually a member of the dead nettle family. The lovely Harebell is also currently in bloom and can be seen as late as October.
You would think the existence of the resident orchids was reason enough to celebrate this meadow but the star of the show for me has to be Ragged Robin. This delicate flower is widespread throughout the meadow and the UK however it is declining nationally and is increasingly rare. Like the majority of the flowers found here, they thrive in the damp and boggy conditions.
Where there are flowers there are of course insects and Trench Meadow is a good place to spot a variety of bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. Next time you are in the area, if you have not visited the meadow before, take a slight detour and enjoy the variety of flowers on show, I have only scratched the surface in this blog. The wonderful Devil's-bit scabious will soon be blooming so a further visit for me is on the cards in the next few days. If flowers and insects don’t interest you, simply have a sit down, listen to the bird song, enjoy the views or read a book, enjoying the peaceful setting. Whichever way you choose to spend your time there, I can promise that it will be a lovely experience and you will come away feeling that you really have visited somewhere special.
Enjoy.
Superb photography. My dog Benji loves that field and the beck there.
I think I know where this is, and have always admired the array of wild flowers. Amazing!
I’d forgo that Trench meadow is such a special site. Will make sure to visit soon.
Stunning photos and another fascinating read. Yes we are very lucky to have such special places in our area. May they be always treasured and protected for future generations to enjoy.