My Favourite Time Of Year

Tuesday 11th June 2013
      The weather has been sunny and warm up to today so we took advantage of the warm spell and had 9 days in our motorhome in 2 locations here up in the north of England. Talking to visitors from Holland and Switzerland on holiday in our country they said that that we were so lucky to be surrounded with such beautiful unspoilt and varied countryside and we need never go abroad.  Of coarse the country is at its best in late May and early June and it was an absolute delight to be out exploring the quiet lanes and little known paths in pursuit of our favourite pass time .... yes no surprise, "its find the orchids time again".
      Firstly 4 days around Arnside and Silverdale  around Morecambe Bay an area of woods and limestone pastures, first we revisited the Lotts which is known for its early season orchids.

                  Silverdale Lotts.... a managed area of old pastures

                         Just a few of the many Early Purple Orchids

                         

                            Also the rarer Green-Winded Orchid

                 
                 

                   The woodlands were full of Ramsons (wild garlic)

            Early Purple Orchids growing amongst the Dog Mercury

 Another days walk around the popular area of Arnside Knott finding many more Early Purple Orchids

The Morcambe Bay Walk 9 an eight miles crossing across the dangerous sands at low tide.... led by Cedric Robinson the Queen's Guide. click on photo to enlarge.

              Woodlands along the coastal path full of Lily of theValley

              Checking the beautiful scent of this delicate waxy flower

                         The large expanse of Morcambe Bay

 The Limestone pavements in the area are famous for their wild flowers

                                        Bird's-eye Primrose

                                              False Oxslip

After many years of careful seed sowing and propagation at Kew Gardens (from the last 2 plants in the wild in England), the Ladies Slipper has been re-introduced back into some of its original habitats.

               The wardens must be congratulated on the natural planting

Moving on to Wensleydale in Yorkshire for more walks in this lovely dale.

      Setting off from Hawes one of the highest market towns in England

                        Dry stone walls and Buttercup meadows

                                    Mill Gill Force near Askrigg

                         Through the Buttercup meadows to Askrigg

There are still a few meadows untouched by modern farming

                                More Green-Winged Orchids

                                              Twayblade

The find of the day.....The Burnt-tip Orchid

                 These 3 tiny orchids are to the left of Audrey's hand

Just a few more pictures of our wanderings through the Wensleydale area

                            Through the Meadow to Burtersett

                                   The top of Wether Fell

                               Mossy Saxifrage on Wether fell

                                              Aysgarth Falls

                                    Gateway to Bishopdale

                         Through the meadows to West Burton

                I liked the reflections under the bridge in West Burton

                  Changing the camera settings.... a different result    
     

Finally the old stone gateway into Waldendale, a dale that we've never walked in before

Springtime around Alcester Warickshire

Friday 24th May 2013
         We've arrived back home earlier this week after visiting my daughter and family in Alcester Warwickshire. One of the reasons for our visit was the Food Festival which was held in the High St. last Saturday and what an enjoyable day it turned out to be. I haven't taken any photos of food festival because I was concentrating on making a video of the event and trying to do both, falls short of the standards that I try to aim for.
         On a couple of days we enjoyed two walks into the lanes and backwaters "Shakespeare Country" of this lovely county and what was noticeable was that spring was at least two weeks advanced even though we'd only travelled 150 miles south.
      The Bluebell display in Oversley Wood near Alcester was as good as it gets and on the walk from Alcester to Stratford-Upon-Avon we found our first flowering orchids of the season in a small woodland coppice on the Heart of England Way which winds its way through Warwickshire.
         Here are a few photos of  this Warwickshire landscape which is so different to the wilder Pennine Landscapes that we're more used to.

The Bluebells at their best in Oversley wood two week in advance of our Lancashire Bluebells

 The start of our second walk (about 10 miles) along the Heart of England Way

                                 The Early Purple Orchid

               Some woodland Grasses or Sedges that I'm not sure of

This old house is over 1000 years old  and the owner (a historian) showed us round it some of the outer walls are still "Wattle and Daub".

                     The King's Head in the village of Aston Cantlow

                         Along the Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal

This Swan is on its nest alongside a busy garage workshop on the outskirts of Stratford-Upon-Avon

                    The Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Haven

Ultramarine Blue....Gentian Verna

Wed. 15th May 2013
                         We've arrived back this weekend after spending a few days in our motor home in middle and upper Teesdale with  Eric & Jean our friends. Eric has featured in some of my videos posted on this blog and this visit was timed to seek out the rare Alpine Gentian (Gentian Verna) which can be found in this area .
       This flower is a great draw to wild-flower enthusiasts, but because of its rare habitat it is strictly protected by law. Its intense Ultramarine Blue depth of colour always ensures that it is noticed and to find this flower growing in the wild gives us much satisfaction .
       We've videoed the walk in High Def. and later in the year I will edit it and hopefully post it on this blog without pinpointing the exact the locations.
         

                                      Wild upper Teesdale

                                     Eric ....full of enthusiasm