North Yorks Moors Microscopy Weekend
Friday 1st to Monday 4th July 2016
The Club, in association with the North Yorks Moors National Park, is running a microscopy weekend in the North Yorkshire Moors from Friday 1st to Monday 4th July 2016. This is the first meeting of its kind and we hope it will be well supported. Non-members are welcome.
The North Yorks Moors National Park is one of Britain’s outstanding areas for recreation and study, from low dale to high heathland moor, from shady forest to dramatic coast. From the Great Yorkshire Forest at Dalby, ancient wildwoods at Garbutt to the miles of dramatic coastline from Saltburn-by-Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay, there is something to interest everyone.
The microscopy weekend will be based at the North Yorks Moors National Park Centre in Danby, and participants will have the opportunity to study two sites on the Saturday and Sunday, one on the River Esk at Darnholm, the other on the coast at Robin Hood’s Bay. Alternatively, members may wish to focus on just one site for both days.
Peter Wyn-Jones has chosen sites which may almost be guaranteed to furnish an abundance of interesting subjects.
Study sites
The freshwater site is at Eller Beck, a tributary of the River Esk, at Darnholm near Goathland. The Eller Beck and a smaller tributary flowing off the moor are easily accessible at this very scenic location within the Esk Valley beside the North Yorks Moors heritage steam railway line. Eller Beck is an upland headwater stream flowing over Jurassic sandstone cutting down in places into Lias shales. The freshwater invertebrate community is typical of a clean, fast-flowing, acidic upland stream and includes stonefly and mayfly nymphs, caddisfly and blackfly larvae. Wild brown trout can also be found here, and sea trout and salmon spawn further downstream in the Murk Esk.
Eller Beck
About 3 miles further upstream from the Darnholm site the Eller Beck flows through Fen Bog Nature Reserve, an area of valley mire, wet heath and moorland managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
There is a vehicle drop-off point in Darnholm beside by the river. Parking, toilets, cafes, pubs, shops and the steam railway station are located 1 km away in Goathland (which, of course, is also known as Heartbeat’s Aidensfield and Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade).
The second, seashore, site is at Robin Hood’s Bay. This unique village is an important attraction because of its rocky shore, geological interest and cultural heritage. This part of the coast is within:
- the North York Moors National Park
- the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast
- a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designated for its important geological interest and
- a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designated for its plant communities important within Europe.
Robin Hood’s Bay
The wave-cut platform provides rock pools at low tide and a rich and varied lower shore community, including Fucus serratus and Laminaria digitata biotopes on bedrock and boulders. The presence of the relatively stable medium and large boulders provides additional habitats beneath and between the boulders for and a wide variety of animal groups including sponges, anemones, bryozoans, crabs and shore fishes. The coastal cliffs and rocky shore also form one of Britain’s classic localities for geological study. Here there is sequence of Lower Jurassic rocks in which a variety of ammonite fossils has been found, now used as ‘index species’ for dating Jurassic rock formations elsewhere in Europe. Other valuable fossils have also been found here including ichthyosaurs and crocodiles, some of which can be seen in Whitby Museum.
The Moors National Park Centre, Danby
The Moors National Park Centre is the main visitor and educational hub of the Park. A large room/lecture theatre has been organised for sole use of Club members from Friday afternoon until noon on Monday 4th July. The room has good benching, power and water. It is secure and will be locked when members are not present, so microscopes can be left set up overnight if required. Small items (trays, nets, lamps etc. are also available).
North Yorks Moors National Park Centre
Timetable
Members should aim to arrive at Danby between 3.00 and 5.00 p.m. on Friday July 1st. On the Saturday, minibus transport will be provided from the Centre to the Esk at Darnholm, leaving the Centre at 9.30 a.m. Those staying at Goathland may wish to go direct to the Esk at Darnholm by their own transport, as it is only a short drive. Members wishing to spend the day at Robin Hood’s Bay will need to make their own travel arrangements. The minibus will return to the Centre at about 1.00 p.m., and the afternoon may then be spent studying the morning’s finds. On the Sunday, similar arrangements will apply in respect of Robin Hood’s Bay. The room will be available on Monday 4th for any one who wishes to use it and to allow time for clearing up and departure by lunchtime.
Lunches may be obtained at the Centre (though the café may be busy), at Goathland, or at Robin Hood’s Bay.
Social programme
Spouses, friends and other accompanying persons may wish to visit nearby locations rather than watch the scientific investigations. There are too many possibilities to list. It may be possible that the minibus can be made available (with driver) after the drop-offs in the mornings and prior to the later pick-up so that visits to local sites (sights) may be made.
Accommodation
The Centre does not have overnight accommodation, but there are many venues in and around the National Park offering excellent accommodation on a bed and breakfast or dinner, bed & breakfast basis, at a range of prices. However, since North Yorkshire is a prime tourist destination, early booking is vital to be sure of a place. A number of venues have been identified and more details are available from individual places via the interactive map. Places pointed in green are all potential good choices. Intending participants are advised to book as early as possible.
Meals
Lunches and snacks may be purchased at or near the study sites, or at the Centre. Breakfasts will be part of individuals’ accommodation. Dinner will depend on the accommodation arrangements. A group dinner will be held on the Saturday evening at the Mallyan Spout Hotel in Goathland.
Costs
The QMC Committee has agreed to cover the costs of the Moors Centre, room hire and minibus.
Attendees need to arrange their own travel and accommodation.
Book now!
Booking form for the microscopy weekend (If clicking the link does not allow you to fill in the form, please right-click the link and select “Save target as…” or “Save link as…” or “Download Linked File As…” to save a copy on your computer.)
Please complete the form, “Save As…” with a file name that includes your initials, and e-mail it to Peter Wyn-Jones at the address on the form.
To book accommodation, please contact individual venues.
Contact
For other queries, please use the following form to contact the organiser, Peter Wyn-Jones: