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THE MOSS FLORA OF HAGG WOOD, NEAR 

 HUDDERSFIELD. 



R. SIMPSON. 



The study of the distribution of the mosses of Hagg Wood, 

 Honley, near Huddersfield, was suggested to me by Dr. T. 

 W. Woodhead, and has been carried on since the autumn of 

 1917 until September, 1920. 



The record consists mainly of common species, but the 

 previous records for this part of south-west Yorkshire are 

 scanty. In ' The Flora' of West Yorkshire,' by F. Arnold 

 Lees, 35 moss species for the Huddersfield district are recorded 

 by Hobkirk, 6 by West, and 3 by Whitehead. In a MS. list 

 of local mosses, prepared by C. P. Hobkirk, in the possession 

 of Dr. Woodhead, I find 61 species recorded for the Colne and 

 Holme Drainage areas. The main object of the study was to 

 ascertain the composition of the moss flora of a typical sessile 

 oakwood on the Millstone Grit series of rocks, and how the 

 distribution is affected by proximity to a large industrial 

 centre. The selection of Hagg Wood was determined largely 

 by its accessibility, it being only a few hundred yards from 

 my home. 



Hagg Wood is situated on the gently sloping south-western 

 banks of the River Holme, about 4^ miles from Huddersfield, 

 and it covers over 61 acres of ground. The altitude of the 

 river is about 350 feet, and the highest point of the wood is 

 only about 550 feet. The trees consist mainly of oak [Qnercus 

 sessiliflora), but the birch is well represented, and the 

 mountain ash, beech and sycamore are not uncommon. One 

 part is known as the ' Pine Wood,' and here the Scotch fir 

 {Pinus sylvestris) is most in evidence, but the larch and 

 spruce are also represented. 



The main road to Manchester passes through the wood, 

 dividing it about equally from north-west to south-east. 

 A second division is made b}' a local road from Brockholes 

 to Deanhouse and Oldfield, running from north-east to south- 

 west. These roads are bordered by walls of local stone with 

 mortared copings. A third division is made by the Deanhouse 

 brook, which cuts off a small area to the south-east, and then 

 for a few hundred yards forms the extreme south-east border. 

 Another very small but very interesting water area is known 

 locally as the ' frog pond,' which adjoins the river at My- 

 holmbridge. This small pond is the only known habitat of 

 Sphagnum in this area. Over a large area the bracken grows 

 luxuriantly, with a consequent poor moss flora ; in the pine 

 wood, also, mosses are rare, and where found at all are never 

 robust. A considerable area has reverted to the moorland 



1921 July 1 



