- Details
Photograph wild orchids and extract data from three centuries of Museum specimens to help us examine what impact climate change is having on the UK’s orchids.
Why we are doing the project
Fifty-six native species of orchid grow wild in the UK, flowering from April to September.
Recent research indicates that climate change is affecting the flowering time of the early spider orchid, Ophrys sphegodes. We want to find out if this is true for other wild orchids and whether all species are responding in the same way, starting with 29 species.
To gather data from across the UK, we need as many people as possible to photograph orchids this spring and summer, and to send us the images with the date and location.
Alongside this, we have around 15,000 orchid specimens in the Museum's British and Irish herbarium. Collected over three centuries, they can tell us about flowering times in the past. Extracting data from so many specimens is a huge task, so we need your help.
How to take part
Outdoor photography activity
1. Read the photography instructions PDF (141KB) and the identification guide PDF (16.1MB) to find out which species we are targeting.
2. Take a walk in your local area to look for orchids.
3. Photograph any orchids you see.
4. Upload your photographs at www.orchidobservers.org
5. (Optional) Use the online tools to identify your orchid.
Online activity
1. Visit www.orchidobservers.org (registration is optional).
2. Choose to identify photographs others have uploaded, or extract data from the Museum's historical specimens.
3. Follow the online instructions to identify the orchid in the photograph or record the collection date and flowering stage of the historical specimen
- Details
Appendix from Flora of Aberford by Michael Pearson (The Naturalist 140 (1088) p44-47).
Appendix 2. List from The Flora of the West Riding, giving the locations of the plants as noted by Spencer.
It can also be downloaded as a Word file by clicking here
Thalictrum majus Aberford
Anemone memorosa Aberford
Adonis autumnalis # Bunker’s Hill Gardens
Ranunculus aquatalis # Aberford
R. ficaria Aberford
R. lingua Cock Beck
R. auricomus Becca Aberford
R. bulbosus Aberford
Caltha palustris Aberford
Trollius europaeus Bramham Park
Helleborus viridis Becca Banks
Aquilegia vulgaris Becca Banks & Hayton Wood
Aconitum napellus Bramham Park
Berberis vulgaris Aberford
Nuphar lutea # Cock Beck
Papaver argemone 6/4/1876
Papaver rheas Aberford
Meconopsis cambrica Bramham Park
Chelidonium majus Aberford
Fumaria capreolata Aberford Bunker’s Hill Gardens
Fumaria officinalis Aberford
Thlaspi arvensse # Cock Beck below the Bridge
Capsella bursa pastoris Aberford
Hutchinsia petraea Front of Alms Houses Bramham Park
Armoracia rusticana Aberford Church Yd
Cardamine amara Nab Wood
Cardamine pratensis Aberford
Barbarea vulgaris Cock Beck
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum Aberford
Sisymbrium officinale Aberford
Allium ursinum Aberford
Sinapsis arvensis Aberford
Sinapsis alba Aberford
Reseda luteola Aberford
Reseda lutea Lotherton Lane Aberford
Viola odorata Aberford
Viola alba Aberford
Viola canina Aberford
Viola arvensis Aberford
Polygala vulgaris Aberford Park
Silene inflate Aberford
Lychnis flos-cuculi Aberford
Silene alba Aberford
Silene dioica Aberford
Agrostemma githago Aberford
Moehringia trinervia Aberford
Stellaria nemorum Aberford
S. media Aberford
S. holostea Aberford
S. graminea Aberford
Cerastium glomeratum Aberford
Linum catharticum Aberford
Malva moschata Near Cock Beck Aberford
Malva sylvestris Aberford
Hypericum perforatum Aberford
H. tetrapterum Aberford
H. pulchrum Aberford
Acer campestre Aberford
Acer pseudo-platanus Aberford
Geranuim phaeum Becca Aberford
G. pratense Aberford
G. pyrenaicum Aberford Bar
G. pusillum Aberford
G. molle Front of Alms houses
G. robertianum Aberford
Oxalis acetosella Aberford
Euonymus europaeus Beck Side Aberford Lower part of Rein Hook moor
Cytisus scoparius Becca Banks
Ulex europaeus Aberford
Genista tinctoria Vicarage Aberford
Genista anglica Becca [illeg] Cover [?]
Ononis repens Aberford Park Field Lane
Anthyllis vulneraria Field top near Hayton Wood, Ditch side in plantation side of Lotherton Lane
Melilotus officinalis Cold Hill Quarry Cock Beck Aberford
Trifolium repens Aberford
T. pratense Aberford
T. campestre Aberford
Lotus corniculatus Aberford
Onobrychis viciifolia Aberford
Vicia sativa Aberford
Vicia hirsute Aberford
Lathyrus pratensis Aberford
Prunus spinosa Aberford
Prunus padus Aberford
Filipendula ulmaria Aberford
Geum urbanum Aberford
G. rivale Aberford
G. intermedium Found at Seven Arches June 1876
Agrimonia eupatoria Aberford
Potentilla anserine Aberford
P. reptans Aberford
P. erecta Aberford
P. sterilis Aberford
Fragraria vesca Aberford
Rubus discolor Aberford
Rubus caesius Aberford
Rosa pimpinellifolia Aberford
Rosa canina Aberford
Sanguisorba officinalis Aberford
S. minor Aberford
Alchemilla vulgaris Aberford
Alchemilla arvensis Aberford
Crataegus monogyna Aberford
Malus sylvestris Aberford
Sorbus aria Aberford
Sorbus aucuparia Aberford
Epilobium hirsutum Aberford
E. parviflorum Aberford Cock Beck Parlington Lane
E. montanum Aberford
Circaea lutetiana Near Cock Beck Bramham Park Parlington Lane
Myriophyllum spicatum # Hook Moor
Callitriche species? Nab Wood 3/6/76
Lythrum salicaria Ditch near Cock Beck Cock Beck
Bryonia dioica Aberford
Ribes uva-crispa Aberford
Sedum acre Aberford
Sedum rupestre # Aberford
Sempervivum tectorum Aberford
Parnassia palustris # Intrenchment Aberford Bramham Park
Hedera helix Aberford
Cornus sanguinea Aberford
Sanicula europaea Aberford
Conium maculatum Aberford
Aegopodium podagraria Aberford
Conopodium majus Aberford
Pimpinella saxifrage Aberford
P. major Near Cold Hill Farm
Angelica sylvestris Aberford
Daveus carota Field top near Aberford Bar
Caucalis daucoides # Cold Hill
Anthriscus caucalis Aberford
Anthriscus sylvestris Aberford
Sambucus nigra Aberford
Viburnum opulus Aberford
Lonicera periclymemum Aberford
Galium verum Aberford
Cruciata laevipes Aberford
Galium palustre Aberford
G. witheringii Aberford
G. saxatile Aberford
G. mollugo Aberford
G. aparine Aberford
Sherardia arvensis Aberford Rein
Gallium odorata Aberford
Valeriana dioica Aberford
V. officinalis Aberford
Dipsacus fullonum Aberford
Scabiosa pratensis Aberford
Scabiosa columbaria Aberford
Tragopogon pratensis Cock Beck Aberford
Leontodon saxatilis Aberford
Sonchus arvensis Aberford
S. oleraceus Aberford
Pilosella officinarum Aberford
Taraxacum offininale Aberford
Cichorium intybus # Aberford
Arctium lappa Aberford
Cardus tenuiflorus ‘This maritime species is reported from Aberford by C.Gray’ [/ inmargin]
Centaurea nigra Aberford
C. cyanus Aberford
C. scabiosa Aberford
Eupatorium cannabinum Aberford
Tanacetum vulgare Aberford
Artemisia vulgaris Aberford
Gnaphalium diorcum Woodhouse Grange, Aberford
G. uliginosum Beck Aberford
Filago germanica # Aberford
Petasites hybridus Cock Beck
Tussilago farfara Aberford
Senecio vulgaris Aberford
S. jacobaea Aberford
Doronicum pardalianches Peel Park Bradford Bramham Park, Garforth Nun Appleton
Bellis perennis Aberford
Leucanthemum vulgare Aberford
Tanacetum pathenium Aberford
Chamaemelum nobile Aberford
Achillea ptarmica # Becca
Achillea millefolium Aberford
Campanula rotundifolia Aberford
C. latifolia Aberford
C. glomerata Aberford
Calluna vulgaris Aberford
Erica tetraliix # Aberford
Ilex aquifolium Aberford, of very large size
Fraxinus excelsior Aberford
Vinca minor # Aberford
Gentiana verna # Aberford Raper Hills
Gentianella amarelle Parlington Park Hook Moors
Centaurium erythraea Aberford Park Bad Barley Field
Blackstonia perfoliate Aberford Near Beck, Becca, Roman Ridge
Menyanthes trifoliate # Hillam Mill Black Fen Bramham Park
Polemonium coeruleum White flowered Aberford, Cock Beck Aberford
Convolvulus arvensis Aberford
Calystegia silvatica Aberford
Hyoscyamus niger Collingham Coal Yard Found in N Bloome Esq Pleasure Grounds May 1863
Solanum nigrum Aberford
Atropa belladonna Becca Banks Parlington Lane
Verbascum thapsus Quarry on Hook Moor
Veronica anagallis-aquatica Mill pond Aberford
V. beccabunga Aberford
V. officinalis Aberford
V. chamaedrys Aberford
V. agrestis Aberford
V. polita Behind School Aberford
Odontites vernus Aberford
Euphrasia officinalis Aberford
Rhinanthus minor Aberford
Melampyrum pratense # Intrenchment Aberford
Scrophularia auriculata Aberford
Digitalis purpurea Near Parlington Lake
Antirrhinum majus # Bramham Park
Linaria vulgaris Aberford
Chaenorhinum minus Aberford
Lathraea squamaria # Aberford Bramham Park
Verbena officinalis # Aberford
Salvia verbenaca Bramham Moor
Mentha piperita Cold Hill
Thymus chamaedrys # Aberford
Origanum vulgare Aberford
Teucrium scorodonia Aberford
Ajuga reptans Aberford Found white flowered Bugle in Bad Barley field Becca July 13th 1863
Ballota nigra Aberford
Lamiastrum galeobololon Aberford
Lamium album Aberford
L. amplexicaule Aberford
L. purpureum Aberford
Galeopsis ladanum # Aberford
G. segetum # Aberford
G. tetrahit # Aberford
G. speciosa # Aberford
Stachys officinalis Aberford
S. palustris Aberford
S. sylvatica Aberford
S. arvensis Aberford
Glechoma hederacea Aberford
Myosotis scorpioides Aberford
M. laxa Ditch between Field Lane & Beck
Lithospermum arvense # Becca
Symphytum officinale On side of Coal Line from Garforth to Aberford
Pentaglottis sempervivens Aberford
Echium vulgare Bramham Moor
Pinguicula vulgaris # Becca Whincover[?] Between Bramham Park and Boothcliffe House
Primula vulgaris Aberford
P. elatior Aberford
P. veris Aberford
Lysimachia vulgaris # Bramham Park
L. nemorum Aberford
Anagallis arvensis Aberford
A. tenella Field above Shipley Glen July 1876
Plantago major Aberford
P. media Aberford
P. lanceolata Aberford
Chenopodium bonus-henricus Bramham Park
Persicaria bistorta Garforth Lotherton
P. maculosa Aberford
Polygonum aviculare Aberford
Fallopia convolvulus Aberford
Rumex obtusifolius Aberford
R. conglomerates Aberford
R. acetosa Aberford
R. acetosella Aberford
Daphne laureola Roman Ridge Hayton Wood
D. mezereum Several plants in Becca Whincover[?] on the side of Leeds & YorkRoads
Euphorbia helioscopia Aberford
E. exigua Aberford
Buxux sempervirens Aberford
Mercurialia perennis Aberford
Urtica urens Aberford
U. dioica Aberford
Parietaria judaica Park Wall Aberford
Humulus lupulus Hedge side of Lotherton Lane
Ulmus procera Aberford
Quercus robur Aberford
Fagus sylvatica Aberford
Carpinus betulus Aberford
Corylus avellana Aberford
Alnus glutinosa Aberford
Betula pubescens Aberford
B. pendula Aberford
B. glutinosa Aberford
Populus alba Aberford
P. tremula Aberford
P. nigra Aberford
Taxus baccata Aberford
Spiranthes spiralis Bramham Park gathered 6 specimens July 1863
Neottia nidus-avis Gathered 3 specimens in Bloom at B. Park August 26th 1865
Listera ovata Aberford
Epipactis palustris # Cock Beck Hayton Wood
Orchis mascula Aberford
O. maculate Aberford
Gymnadenia conopsea Aberford abundant
Habebaria bifolia# Aberford Hawsworth
Coeloglossum viride Rombalds Moor July 1877
Coeloglossum albida Becca & Bramham Park
Ophrys apifera Cold Hill Quarry
Iris pseudo-acorus Aberford (Lead)
Crocus vernus Vicar’s Glebe Aberford
C. nudiflorus # Aberford
Narcissus poeticus Vicar’s Glebe Aberford
N. pseudo-narcissus Lotherton Park Lead Hall Behind School, Aberford
Galanthus nivalis Aberford
Allium scorodoprasum Parlington Park Vicar’s Glebe
A. ursinum Aberford
Hyacinthoides nonscriptus Aberford Becca Banks Hollinge
Ruscus aculeatus Bramham Park
Convallaria majalis Hayton Wood} Becca Banks } abundant
Polygonatum multiflorum Bramham Park Mrs Wharton’s Plantation
Paris quadrifolia Church Yard Aberford Common
Tamus communis Aberford
Colchicum autumnale Aberford – abundant
Hydrocharis masus-ranae Baildon Moor Aug 11/77
Stratiotes aloides Darcy Gap
Alisma plantago-aquatica Aberford Mill pond – beck
Sagittaria sagittifolia # Cock Beck Aberford
Potamogeton natans # Aberford
Arum maculatum Aberford
Sparganium minimum # Fish Pond Cold Hill
Juncus effuses Partington Lake
Luzula campestris Aberford
Milium effusum Aberford
Melica uniflora Aberford
Briza media Aberford
Dactylis glomerata Aberford
Polypodium vulgare Bramham Park Verver’s Bushes
P. calcareum B. Park
Dryopteris filix-mas Aberford
Asplenium trichomanes Park Wall Aberford
A. ruta-muraria Bramham Park
A. septentrionale Cold Hill Bridge
Phyllitis scolopendrium Johnson Wood’s Well Park Wall Aberford
Blechnum spicant # Bramham Park
Osmunda regalis # Bramham Park
Equisetum arvense Aberford
E. sylvaticum # Aberford
E. palustre Aberford
Viscum alba On maple tree at Lotherton, on thorn trees in Parlington Hollin, on poplar near Park House do hanging over stream at Lead Mill, on apple trees at Marshall’s Lotherton
Scilla verna Vicar’s Glebe
# believed to be extinct
- Details
'Colonization of sand and gravel quarry ponds by aquatic plants: the example of North Cave Wetlands 2001-2013'
The Appendix for the above article in 'The Naturalist' can be downloaded by clicking here.