The Flora of Derbyshire - Checklist, Maps and Sample Accounts

THIS IS A DRAFT

The species account below is an early version, drafted around 2003. It has been provided here to aid understanding, but please be aware it may not fully tally with the up-to-date map and statistics shown below.

View hectad map

View hectad map in a new window

Dates
First year: 1789
Latest year: 2007

County Status
Native

Family
Ericaceae

Total records held
2181

Grid Square Count

1987-2007	Ever
Monads: 717	764
Tetrads: 281	294
Hectads: 26	28

Conservation Status

Account last edited
Jul 18 2003

Explanation of terms

Species Details

Bilberry is native deciduous undershrub mostly of moors, heaths and woods. It is very common and locally abundant in the South West Peak and Dark Peak, but only common in the Peak Fringe. In the White Peak, where it occurs in grasslands over acid loams on the edge of some dales (Deep Dale SK1669), it is only frequent. Its previous distribution was much as it is now, except that it was more abundant in the past due to its being sensitive to sheep grazing (Welch 1998) that has increased over the last 50 years. Locally its edible berries have been eaten, in the puddings of the poor and the desserts of the rich, according to Farey (1815). This use has lead to a number of local names including Bilberry and Wimberry (i.e. wine berry) (Grigson 1975). Nationally it occurs throughout the country except for central and eastern England with Derbyshire being on its eastern limits in the Midlands.