| Bryophytes
in Milton Keynes
In the beginning was Milton Keynes, a village with ancient roots. Then
came a new town of the same name and last of all a Unitary Authority which
covers the area of North Buckinghamshire from just south of Bletchley
to the county boundary north of Olney.
Within this area are places where bryophytes flourish. Among them are
the forty six churchyards which make good places to begin studying mosses
and liverworts. Their habitats provide a useful repetition of species
that helps to create a basic list of recognised plants. Species that occur
less frequently, or in one location only, give the work extra interest.
All sites are easily accessible and parking can usually be found nearby.
Limestone underlies the surface clays and the soils range from mildly
acid to alkaline. Only on the greensand ridge at Bow Brickhill
and Little Brickhill is there any marked acidity. A study
of these churchyards was made by Frances Higgs between 1994 and 1999.
Frequently found species that formed a basic list were Amblystegium
serpens var. serpens, Barbula unguiculata, Bryum argenteum, B.
capillare var. capillare, Brachythecium rutabulum, Calliergon
cuspidatum (Calliergonella cuspidata), Ceratodon purpureus, Eurhynchium
praelongum, E. swartzii (E. hians), Fissidens taxifolius ssp. taxifolius,
Funaria hygrometrica, Grimmia pulvinata var. pulvinata, Homalothecium
sericeum, Hypnum cupressiforme var. cupressiforme, Orthotrichum
diaphanum, Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus, Rhynchostegium confertum, Schistidium
apocarpum and Tortula muralis var. muralis. Churchyards
that gave the most interest and longest species lists are mentioned below.
Bow Brickhill (SP 9034) offered many of the basic plants
and also some of those requiring more acidity such as Polytrichum
formosum, P. juniperinum, Dicranum scoparium, Mnium hornum and Pleurozium
schreberi.
Calverton (SP 7939), a lovely peaceful spot, added Eurhynchium
pumilum and Barbula trifaria (Didymodon luridus) to the
local list. Here also, on the churchyard wall facing the road, was a fine
growth of Schistidium apocarpum. In moist condition and in fruit
it looked beautiful with the red capsules just emerging from the leaves.
Great Linford (SP 8542), set in parkland near the Grand
Union Canal, produced a good list. On Elder (Sambucus nigra)
by the wall was Orthotrichum affine, Tortula (Syntrichia) virescens
and Zygodon viridissimus var. viridissimus.
Hanslope (SP 8046) spire, a well known local landmark,
can be seen in panoramic views around the locality. The big churchyard
offered extra species such as Barbula rigidula (Didymodon rigidulus),
Barbula (Didymodon) vinealis, Bryum bicolor, B. rubens, Eurhynchium striatum,
Plagiomnium affine, Pseudoscleropodium (Scleropodium) purum, Rhynchostegium
murale and Tortula (Syntrichia) laevipila var. laevipila.
Hardmead (SP 9347) churchyard, deeply shaded in places,
provided interest with Aulacomnium androgynum, Barbula cylindrica
(Didymodon insulanus), B. revoluta (Pseudocrossidium revolutum), Campylopus
introflexus, Cirriphyllum piliferum, Dicranella heteromalla, Dicranoweisia
cirrata, Orthotrichum anomalum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Rhynchostegiella
tenella var. tenella, Thamnobryum alopecurum, a small quantity
of Neckera complanata and the first Bucks record for Leucodon
sciuroides var. sciuroides. It has since turned up in three
other Milton Keynes churchyards.
Olney (SP 8951), a well known market town, is noted
for its Pancake Race on Shrove Tuesday. A fine church stands beside the
River Ouse and the large churchyard is surrounded by a limestone wall
on which grows, in large quantity, the beautiful liverwort Porella
platyphylla. Both varieties of Barbula convoluta were recorded
here plus Tortula (Syntrichia) intermedia, T. ruralis ssp. ruralis
(Syntrichia ruralis), T. marginata (the only record for this area)
and the liverwort Lophocolea bidentata.
The church for Tyringham-cum-Filgrave (SP 8546) has
a very peaceful country setting close to the River Ouse. Here the list
included Cirriphyllum (Eurhynchium) crassinervium, Fissidens incurvus,
Oxystegus (Didymodon) sinuosus, Plagiothecium curvifolium and the
liverwort Lophocolea heterophylla.
As a Millennium project, Milton Keynes Natural History Society published
a book entitled Milton Keynes, More Than Concrete Cows –
Real Animals and Plants too. (ISBN 0 9538787 0 8) containing
all records compiled by the Society members between 1987 and 1999. Copies
are available from the Natural History Society price £3.99 including
postage. Further records would be welcome at Milton Keynes Natural History
Society, The Hanson Environmental Study Centre, Wolverton Road, Great
Linford, Milton Keynes, MK14 5AH or e-mail info@mknhs.org.uk
Frances Higgs
December 2003
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