Orchids at Otley Wetland Reserve
If you have looked through the section on Habitats, you will appreciate how rich Wharfedale is in its plant variety. After the geology, it is the plants which give the area much of its character and many delights.
Good places, all with public access, where you can start to get to know your wildflowers, are:
Grass Wood, near Grassington – a typical ashwood on limestone;
Kilnsey Flush, at KilnseyTrout Farm – a delightful small area in which the Upper Wharfedale Field Society even labels the plants for you!
Strid Woods, part of the Bolton abbey Estate – with an acidic habitat. Also a special tree walk for children.
Middleton Woods – famous for the May-time display of bluebells. (WNS leaflet available).
Ilkley riverside (WNS leaflet available).}
Good wildflower walks include:
– going up-river from Burnsall;
– down-river from Barden Bridge;
– by Fewston reservoir.
Our fellow-member David Leather has produced a number of local books with wildflower content and Amanda and Brin Best have written Wild flower walks of the Yorkshire Dales (Southern Region) – more details here.
