Brimham Rocks, Yorkshire, 16 April 2011.
A walk in Nidderdale, Yorkshire, was the most recent outing of the Rochdale Field Naturalists’ Society. Members emerged from the coach amazed by the weird rock formations surrounding them at the National Trust site of Brimham Rocks. Pillars of sandstone, whipped into strange shapes by wind and water over thousands of years, towered over the group.
The paths that wandered through this hill top maze gave glimpses of green pastoral scenes below and also offered up many treats. Tantalising green buds on the trees, swallows swooping overhead and the sun streaming down through the branches proved that in the natural world summer has already arrived. Each boulder held many life forms with pincushion mosses and different varieties of lichen flourishing in the unpolluted air.
The open canopy of birch and ash scrub resonated with the songs of newly arrived summer visitors, such as the dozens of Willow Warblers that serenaded the picnickers. There were swathes of bilberry carpeting the woodland floor with occasional patches of cowberry and heather in the more open clearings. Verdant Wood Rush provided a colourful contrast to the nodding white heads of Wood Sorrel and Wood Anemone.
The way continued across peaceful farmland where the hedges were foaming with Blackthorn blossom. Eight species of Butterfly were out enjoying the sunshine, including Green Hairstreak and Brimstone. Masses of Lesser Celandine made cheerful splashes of yellow across the meadows whilst tiny Violets and Climbing Corydalis hid themselves in shady corners where Bluebells were starting to open.
Descending into a steep sided wooded gorge Blackcap, Thrushes, Tits and Nuthatch revealed themselves by their songs. Finally the path turned into the broad valley of the Nidd, bordered by flood meadows. Beside its still waters Wild Garlic and Wood Forget-Me-Not were abundant. Dippers and Grey Wagtail were present and eight ducklings being guarded by their parents. There was time for refreshments in Pateley Bridge before the homeward journey.
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All Photographs by Peter Stevens
