Plants of lead mining spoil

Alpine Penny-cress

Moonwort

Pyrenean Scurvygrass

Spring Sandwort

Thrift

Spoil heaps resulting from historic lead mining activities are a prominent feature in the north and south east of the National Park. These communities consist of species which can tolerate the low levels of nutrients due to leaching, recent disturbance due to any re-working of material and the high concentrations of heavy metals.

Plant species which can tolerate the presence of heavy metals are called metallophytes. Metallophytes found in the Yorkshire Dales include spring sandwort, sheep’s fescue, alpine pennycress, Pyrenean scurvygrass and thrift (more commonly seen growing in coastal conditions). None of these species are unique to lead mining spoil, however, together they do form a unique assemblage of plants.

Examples of archaeological lead mining sites in the Yorkshire Dales National Park where these plants may be seen include the Gunnerside Gill lead mines and Turf Moor Hush in Swaledale and Bolton Park mine and Ballowfield Local Nature Reserve in Wensleydale.

To find out more about plant species of lead mining spoil please follow the links provided.

Websites:

My Learning - Lead Mining in the Yorkshire Dales (Key Stages 2 & 3) (opens in new window)

Sources of Information:

YDNPA (2000) Lead Mining Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. For more information about YDNPA publications for sale follow the link provided.