It’s only a flower

Wednesday 10th July 2024, Hawkstone Park Follies

This outing was our third visit to this site and the first whilst it was open to the public. 

On our first visit we went straight to Grotto Hill at the furthest tip of the site and worked our way back along the Terrace to the White Tower then returned to the Visitor Centre.

Here is a map to help.

The map is copied from the Hawkstone Park Follies website: Link.

On our second visit, during the winter, we stayed in the more sheltered Grand Valley area.

What to do this time?

We headed straight to the White Tower.

When I say "we headed straight to the White Tower", a distance of about 600 yards, it took us until lunchtime to get there, having dallied in several areas on the way. In addition, there was the need to gain about 175 feet of elevation!

The additional height was not gained by a gentle slope but a series of steps, some of which were staircase-like.

Photograph: Neil Nash

There were many pauses on the way up…

To look at the view …

To search for invertebrates …

Curculio glandium; Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

For those of us with dodgy knees, to give them a rest …

And, of course, to take in air, and allow our heart rates to settle nearer to normal!

Having got to the Tower we found somewhere to perch and had our picnics, trying to shelter from a stiff cold breeze that had decided to seek us out.

So that’s the first part of the day dealt with.

Or is it?

I have yet to say anything about what we found on the way (other than the weevil).

The small cliff face next to the visitor centre is inhabited by Navelwort, some of which was in flower.

A pair of Orange ladybirds were observed in a Sycamore.

Photograph: David Williams

Another weevil, Otiorhynchus sigularis turned up in a suction sample.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

A carrion beetle Phosphuga atrata (which used to be known as Silpha atrata) and a Pill millipede were spotted in the vegetation at the side of the path as we paused on the ascent.

Photograph: Neil Nash

As was this diminutive spider, Paidiscura pallens, with its sputnik shaped egg-sac, on the underside of an oak leaf.

Photograph: Nigel Cane-Honeysett

I am not sure how or where this jewel beetle, Agrilus laticornis, was found. Their larvae feed in woody or herbaceous stems.

Photograph: David Williams

Lunch over, where to go next?

I was one of the last to pack up after lunch and just followed as the others decided to walk along the top of the ridge past the Monument.

As I was striving to catch up I noticed a yellow object hopping around on the ground. I put it in a pot to see what it was.

Photograph: David Williams

It was the nymph of the planthopper Graphocephala fennahi. The adult is one of our larger and more colourful planthoppers. It inhabits Rhododendron, of which there is plenty on the site.

By now, about 2pm, we had managed a further ¼ of a mile. We needed a rest and a chance to regather.

When we were all assembled, there was someone missing.

Apparently, he had raced on to look for a flower that was only found in Shropshire at Hawstone Park and was last recorded in 1995.

A telephone rang…

He had found it.

Where was it?

On Grotto Hill…

The furthest point on the site!

About ½ mile away.

At our present rate of progress we would get there about 5pm!

A dilemma, to go or not to go.

“It’s only a flower” was one comment.

However, the group voted with their feet. We put on our blinkers and strode off towards the hill.

Paradoxically, the height of Grotto Hill is about 160m and our current elevation was around 200m so we needed to go downhill to get to the top of the hill.

Unfortunately, it was not that straightforward as we needed to descend to cross a cutting then ascend again to the top of Grotto Hill.

Walking along the Terrace caused us to descend gently to the edge of the cutting. Then we were faced with more steps, some of which had been cut for the Wrekin Giant rather than you and me by the landscapers.

We crossed the cutting over Western Arch and then started up the hill on some more, gentler, steps before meeting a tarmac lane that took us to the top.

The next issue was to find the plant and its finder.

We needed to pass through some of the cave system to reach our goal.

And there it was, Nottingham catchfly.

Photograph: John Martin

As you can see it had gone to seed.

But there was one plant still in flower.

Photograph: David Williams

Apparently, it was called Nottingham catchfly as it was found on the walls of Nottingham Castle. Sadly, it no longer inhabits the castle walls or anywhere in Nottingham or even Nottinghamshire.

Where we were provided a good view of the Swiss Bridge, a crossing that is not for the feint hearted.

It does not look too bad from here.

It also provided a good view of the hill opposite that boasted a Peregrine’s nest.

A juvenile Peregrine took to the air.

Photograph: John Martin

Whilst some of us watched on.

As we were at the caves we checked for Cave spiders, Meta menardi.

One was found dangling underneath its egg-sac.

Photograph: David Williams

Also lurking within the caves was this fearsome dragon guarding its eggs.

We beat a hasty retreat.

Time to go home. 

Unfortunately we were at the furthest end of the site.

More steps brought groans from those of us whose knees had had enough, but once down at ground level it was then a gentle but unrelenting climb along Grand Valley back to the start.

As the visitor centre was still open we took advantage of the refreshments on offer before leaving the site.

My thanks to Hawkstone Park for granting us permission to do what we enjoy doing and to the photographers for providing their excellent images for this report.