Come along to Hayberries Nature Reserve on Tuesday 18 August, 9.30am to 12.30pm, and discover the North Pennines’ rare Lady’s-mantles (Alchemillas).

Visitors can learn how to tell the difference between the common garden Lady’s-mantle and the rarer species, some of which are found only in the North Pennines.

During the event, a group of botanists will be surveying Lady’s-mantles at the reserve to help improve our understanding of where these plants grow and how they are doing. Visitors are welcome to take part in the survey and need to book via the Ticketsource link below.

Did you know? The plant name, alchemilla, means ‘little alchemist’ and it is named after its association with alchemy. Medieval alchemists collected the pristine, bead-like dew droplets from its water-repellent leaves, believing it had properties for turning base metals to gold.

This free event is open to anyone interested in plants, wildlife and conservation. It’s also a great chance to find out about future volunteering opportunities and how you can get involved. There will be an information stand near the entrance where staff from the North Pennines National Landscape team will be able to tell you more about the team’s work with rare Lady’s-mantles and answer your questions.

Suitable for all ages. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Well-behaved dogs on leads allowed. There is tarmac car parking, but no designated disabled bays. The site consists of unsealed tracks, bare earth and grass, and routes can be uneven and narrow. There are various gradients, including steep sections of path. If you have any questions about the accessibility of this event, please email us.

Book to take part in the survey via Ticketsource

The North Pennines National Landscape team has received funding from Defra’s Species Recovery Programme for a three-year project to help conserve five rare Lady’s-mantle species found in the area.