Wild Flowers

Flora of Buxton
In The Derbyshire Peak District, England

The situation of Buxton is remarkably unique with regard to what it can offer to the Botanist, wild flower and plant enthusiast in general. This wildly rugged and attractive north-west corner of Derbyshire, is where the river Wye cuts into the deep valley limestone geology, hereto known as the White Peak. It shares its origins with the wild bleak moorland landscape that forms the millstone grit, known as the Dark Peak. These provide for some of the richest botanical habitats to be found and explored anywhere within the UK.

Many habitats have developed naturally within the numerous areas of deciduous woodland, the lengthy river valleys, vast bleak moorland heaths and spacious open grassland. During its history, humans have had a huge impact on this landscape in its search for mineral wealth, consequently many of its quarries and rakes became disused and nature has again reclaimed what it once lost. The abundance of flora will surely delight those who seek pleasure in this aspect of our truly wild heritage.

Although the town of Buxton itself sits outside the Peak District National Park, there are no true boundaries where the rich biodiversity of the areas flora is concerned.

The nature of our local flora depends largely upon the altitude, climate and soil type, the latter reflecting the underlying geology. The moorland grits give rise to fairly acidic soils, whereas, the limestone is naturally alkaline in content.

However, there are exceptions to this, as may be seen on the exposed limestone to the east of the town. Here, there are many areas over short turf, where acidic plants appear to thrive along side those more at home on the normally alkaline soil. Typical of this, and at the head of the dry limestone valley, known as Cunning Dale, it is quite easy to locate Tormentil - Potentilla erecta and Bilberry - Vaccinium myrtillus growing in profusion in certain years.

The moorland hills, to the west of Buxton, provide an insight into precisely how much the prevailing weather for this area can be seen to have a marked impact on the growth of plants.

One of our most common flowers of waste and arable land, the Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale, can be found thriving on the stunted turf having little, or no stem at all. This indicates that with the openness and wild bleak nature of the moorland region, these plants have needed to adapt if they are to survive under such harsh conditions.

Just as the acid soils of the grit-stone can be rich in its plant diversity, the more sheltered limestone valleys play host to much more luxuriant growth, one where the flora is not hampered by those harsher conditions met with west of the town.

The flora around Buxton can offer many exciting little treasures to those who are willing to search for them. It is possible to find at least 12 of our wonderful native Orchid species. Many Violets also grow in this area, and one of them, the Mountain Pansy - Viola lutea, makes for a truly exciting discovery on both lime and gritstone grassland.

There are also many fascinating species of Reed, Sedge and grasses throughout the whole area, and are well worth looking for. Notably Yorkshire Fog and Quaking grass.

Lesser Celandine, a bright harbinger of spring is always a welcome sight, especially when seen growing beside woodland areas and parks in and around Buxton.

Melancholy thistle Cirsium heterophyllum another lovely, yet locally scarce plant of our dry limestone dales. The humble bee Bombus lucorum is seen gathering pollen on the head of this flower.

When visiting the countryside, please respect its code of conduct and do not pick, nor uproot any wild flower, more especially those that are of a rare or endangered species.

Do enjoy your plant hunting!