Fragrant orchids on High Rake

Data sheet - High Rake (Excel 79K)

Data sheet - Windmill-Great Hucklow (Excel 35K)

Wild Flowers Project

Certain plant communities in lead mining areas are of international importance. Lead is a heavy metal, and the presence of the ore gives rise to toxic soils on which little will grow. Some of the lead-tolerant plants (metallophytes) are nationally scarce, such as spring sandwort, known locally as leadwort.

The Hucklow Edge lead vein and its extension along High Rake fall within Hucklow Parish. A project is underway to survey the wild flower populations on the lead rakes, as well as some road verges thought to be of botanical interest. The key questions to be answered are:

What metallophyte populations do we have in Hucklow Parish?

How many species of wild flowers generally are present on our lead rakes and road verges (biodiversity)?

Results to date show that the metallophytes leadwort and mountain pansy are present, in very restricted areas, and in association with particular plants that thrive on poor soils. Much of the lead rake area is now agricultural grassland or has reverted to woodland. However, the lead rakes also support areas rich in haymeadow-type communities. Biodiversity is very high in these communities, but falls as the landscape matures to scrub and woodland.

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