May

The Dales in May

Spring seems to be a little late this year – despite its awakening earlier than usual in recent years.  But whilst the foot and Mouth crisis continues and access for walkers in the Dales is still very restricted this year’s woodland flowers will be well on their way to flowering and then seeding for another year.

A woodland walk at this time of year in somewhere like the woodlands of Upper Wharfedale would yield the stunning view of the small white and pink  flower of the wood anemone, the lush green growth of dog’s mercury with its delicate almost invisible white flowers and the stirring bluebells. Wood sorrel may also be present on the floor of many of the woodlands with its ‘clover’ shaped leaves often snuggled into mossy patches.

The canopy of the woodland still remains open with few leaves visible. The first to open may well be the lime green sycamore leaves. Cherry will not be long in following and willow, in the wetter areas, may well be putting on a pollen laden show. Hazel, often present in the under-storey of dales woods such as Grass Wood and Lower Grass Wood just outside Grassington, will be breaking its buds and flushing into leaf very soon.

This is certainly the time of year when the ecology of woods, and therefore their value, becomes very obvious. The exuberance of flowers such as those mentioned above with their rapid growth and flowering is only matched by the later bursting into leaf of the trees packed tightly together above them. These smaller species have to pack their life cycles into a very short space of time to make best use of the sunshine and warmth offered them before the larger trees take over in the fight for light.

Ancient woodlands, with their great seed banks and relatively undisturbed soils, readily show their real value at this time of year. The huge diversity of species and the wonderful show of colour at this time of year underlines how important these woods really are and why we must continue to work to preserve those that are left and to encourage their better management.  

If you wish to support the Yorkshire Dales Project we will ensure donation money will be 'geared up' through the unique partnership agreements of this new project, to maximise the impact of your money in creating and protecting woodlands in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. 

Because of the unique partnerships agreements of the Yorkshire Dales Landscape Project in most cases, every £1.00 donated to the project will result in £3.00 being utilised to protect, plant and manage woodland.



Alternatively, phone our credit card hotline on 0800 026 9650.

To make a donation by post with cheque or credit card - please click here, print off the form and when complete send with your cheque made payable to 'The Woodland Trust' to: 

The Woodland Trust - Yorkshire Dales Landscape Project 
PO Box 418, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire  HD8 0XY.