In May 2004 students Lancaster & Morecambe College surveyed the distribution of ferns growing on the main limestone pavement exposure at Field of Dreams, Silverdale. This was part of an on-going conservation programme now in its third year by these students who are acquiring work-based conservation skills. The pavement was cleared of ash seedlings/saplings and bramble encroachment in order to reduce competition for limestone flora.

Ferns were surveyed from both surface and grykes in 10 metre wide belt transects from lower to upper level of the pavement. A metre tape was used to divide the total area into six belts and each fern species was identified and recorded within the belt. The vertical height of each belt varied with the extent of the pavement, which merges at its upper level into regenerated woodland dominated by ash, yew and some juniper.

The main species of interest is the rusty back fern which is shown to be very scare and limited to only one small patch. It is intended to review this fern species at regular intervals to see any change in status.

Dr Mike Cotton

LIMESTONE PAVEMENT FERN SURVEY MAY 2004
TRANSECT	MAIDENHAIR	WALL RUE	RUSTY BACK	HARTS TONGUE	COMMON POLYPODY
0 -10M	30	8	0	4	5
10 - 20M	47	8	0	4	10
20 - 30M	43	11	0	14	1
30 - 40M	39	21	0	15	0
40 - 50M	32	38	0	31	3
50 - 60M	59	29	6	83	5