Crook Sike


Inglebrough  NNR

Site details

Recorders : George Porton             Distance: 2516m          Walk Time 1.25hr.

The site straddles the Settle to Carlisle railway  just north of Selside on the North west side of Inglebrough . .It is a semi  unimproved flower rich limestone grassland

Sections:

S1-S6 passes through Selside Shaw  which doesnt offer alot of species but once crossing the road at Stone house starting S7 and down the slope to cross  the railway at the bridge there are good numbers of grassland species. The favoured section S8 starts after after the railway and Small Heath and Meadow Brown. S9 starts  at the riverside and  enters the national park on the way up to the peak of Crook Sike  with more Smal Heath and other browns .

Results 20223 

County wide 2023 results reflect  the 2022 and  2023 spring drought with Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock nearly halved for the second year against their 5 year average. Red Admiral arrived in force in July and took advantage of soft nettle growth of the rains and had their best year ever. Drought sensitive species on thin soils were badly hit,  particularly Dark -green Fritillary and Northern Brown Argus but also Ringlet, Green-viened White and Small Heath.  Less drought affected species along with the hottest June on record built even more on gains last year leading to Comma, Brimstone, Holly Blue and most Browns  having a fantastic year reaching all time highs. A increase of 9% overall was mostly due to sheer numbers of Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers ment 2023 nearly pipped 2014 as best year in modern times.  Most noticeable was the large differeces between mositure retaining mineral soils of the valleys and thin, dry limestone or sandy soils. A large number of damp grassland, hedgerow and woodland  dominated sites benefitted hugely with 3 sites seeing more than 50% increase . A smaller number of thin, chalky, sandy or craggy sites did badly some down up to 25%.

Apears to have been a better year than 2021.  A Drak Green Fritillary was seen in 2022.

Difficult to pick out any trends. 

TRANSECT REPORTS

Results 2022  

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