Common male-fern, Dryopteris filix-mas . Bipinnate; growth form: shuttlecock; scales are pale brown; sori not yet visible. There is an interesting mutation on the ends of the pinna, a similar phenomenon, known as fasciation, has also been noted to occur on Hart’s tongue fern. Habitat is my back garden in a partially shaded, sheltered spot next to the shed. Location: NE Somerset.
NGR ST 81019, 67022
With members of the Axbridge Caving Group (ACG), underground about 2 hours.
Entrance located opposite the Swan Inn public house. There were originally three entrances. A small but interesting stone mine (Freestone) where extraction is believed to have started in the late 18th century and ended in 1932. It is thought to be the last operational stone mine in the UK to remove stone using horse and carts – wheel ruts are a predominant feature throughout the mine passages, a few hoof-prints still remain. A major attraction of the mine is the numerous artefacts that are still in-situ including a well-preserved crane, a second crane has been crushed under a rockfall, a fine carved stone trough, and a variety of other industrial paraphernalia.
There are abundant historic markings throughout the mine related to quarrying activities sadly many markings have been defaced by unnecessary graffiti and, in places, calcite deposition.
Mostly easy walking although there are places where scrambling over rocks and negotiating lower sections is required. An interesting couple of hours spent wandering around and taking photographs. Some decent fossils were also noted, in particular, corals perhaps evidence for Jurassic reefs.
