I'm currently involved in research into morphological variation in the sedge
Carex nigra, and since Cross fell in Cumbria is the highest place at which it grows in England, I decided to have a walk up there this evening. Although it was quite sunny at lower levels, the summit of Cross Fell was often shrouded in low cloud and it was quite an intimidating and eerie experience. At 893m (2930ft), Cross Fell is the 11th highest mountain in England, and the highest point in the Pennines. It's nearly as high as Great Gable, and higher than both High Street and Coniston Old Man. In ancient times it was known as Fiends Fell and believed to be the haunt of evil spirits. It's also the source of the Helm wind, which apparently is the only named wind in Britain and which I have first hand experience of from an earlier visit in May. Just to make the whole experience a little more surreal, while I was sitting next to the trig point eating a sandwich, I was joined by this little Dunlin, which stood quite happily close by and called every now and again! I could also hear the calls of Golden Plover and Curlew through the mist.
Pretty soon the cloud drifted away, revealing spectacular views across the Lake District and the Solway Firth. The Dunlin seemed a bit happier too.
Finally I was able to look for the Sedge, and eventually found it growing at 825m. It's said to grow at 870m on Cross Fell, but anything above 800m was a bonus as far as I was concerned. Superficially very similar to Stiff Sedge
Carex bigelowii which is very abundant above 550m,
Carex nigra seemed to prefer a much wetter habitat. I can promise that there is a lot of wet habitat on Cross Fell...... The flower is the beautiful Starry Saxifrage
Saxifraga stellaris, found growing in amongst the sedge.
I'm currently involved in research into morphological variation in the sedge Carex nigra, and since Cross fell in Cumbria is the highest place at which it grows in England, I decided to have a walk up there this evening. Although it was quite sunny at lower levels, the summit of Cross Fell was often shrouded in low cloud and it was quite an intimidating and eerie experience. At 893m (2930ft), Cross Fell is the 11th highest mountain in England, and the highest point in the Pennines. It's nearly as high as Great Gable, and higher than both High Street and Coniston Old Man. In ancient times it was known as Fiends Fell and believed to be the haunt of evil spirits. It's also the source of the Helm wind, which apparently is the only named wind in Britain and which I have first hand experience of from an earlier visit in May. Just to make the whole experience a little more surreal, while I was sitting next to the trig point eating a sandwich, I was joined by this little Dunlin, which stood quite happily close by and called every now and again! I could also hear the calls of Golden Plover and Curlew through the mist. 
Pretty soon the cloud drifted away, revealing spectacular views across the Lake District and the Solway Firth. The Dunlin seemed a bit happier too. 
Finally I was able to look for the Sedge, and eventually found it growing at 825m. It's said to grow at 870m on Cross Fell, but anything above 800m was a bonus as far as I was concerned. Superficially very similar to Stiff Sedge Carex bigelowii which is very abundant above 550m, Carex nigra seemed to prefer a much wetter habitat. I can promise that there is a lot of wet habitat on Cross Fell...... The flower is the beautiful Starry Saxifrage Saxifraga stellaris, found growing in amongst the sedge.
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