You've made me just realise I put the botanical name of every plant except for the globeflower! lol I'll add it in now. On posts like these I'd prefer not to put the reserve names really because I don't want to cause a massive stampede from everyone reading it! But if you search for globeflower Yorkshire wildlife trust it's quite easy to find one of the sites.
Wonderful post! I love this part: "In our own meadow the yellow rattle has appeared to be outcompeting the eyebright, but perhaps I need to think again." Which is exactly why gardeners ought to get out in nature. We learn so much.
Thanks Dean, I enjoy writing posts like this but appreciate it's a bit different to the more instructional ones I do so it's nice to have feedback like this.
What a fantastic piece, Jack. I don't know globeflower at all. What a treasure that reserve is.
I have only seen eyebright in the Dales (by Maham Cove, in fact), but I understand from Steve Hindle that it would have been a component of Calder Valley meadows alongside yellow rattle, but I only see the latter. The yellow rattle we have introduced to our lawn/meadow is doing very well. I can't imagine eyebright getting a look in.
I have a complex relationship with the Yorkshire Dales. It was the wellspring of my love for the natural world at an early age, and is still a place of pilgrimage for me several times a year. I achingly love the landscape, but nowadays fluctuate between viewing it with the adolescent eyes through which I first encountered and fell for its beauty, and then having that view tinged and altered by decades of learning about what has been lost, what is missing. I don't think I'll ever resolve that tension.
Thank Paul, yeah it is about, we have some in various areas of ours (Steve originally pointed it out to me! 😄) sadly I think the majority of the meadows around us have not been managed well over the years. At least, not compared to biodiverse reserves like this. Thankfully there are a few gems!
Gorgeous. Thanks Jack.
Love your article Jack. My dad used to grow Trollius in our garden when I was growing up and so it is a nostalgic plant for me.
I planted some in our garden a couple of years ago, but I obviously put it in the wrong place, as it never thrived and I can't even find it now.
The reserve looks wonderful and different. It must be quite a damp habitat if Bistort and Trollius are happy there.
Can you tell me the name of the Reserve?
I'd love to go.
I've just read your post again, properly and you mention Wetland Meadows several times. I should read things through before I respond to posts!
You've made me just realise I put the botanical name of every plant except for the globeflower! lol I'll add it in now. On posts like these I'd prefer not to put the reserve names really because I don't want to cause a massive stampede from everyone reading it! But if you search for globeflower Yorkshire wildlife trust it's quite easy to find one of the sites.
Thanks. I completely understand. Social media has a lot to answer for in that respect.
Wonderful post! I love this part: "In our own meadow the yellow rattle has appeared to be outcompeting the eyebright, but perhaps I need to think again." Which is exactly why gardeners ought to get out in nature. We learn so much.
Yes, absolutely, the best classroom is nature itself. Have a fab weekend!
lovely story and pretty photos - thank you
Thanks Dean, I enjoy writing posts like this but appreciate it's a bit different to the more instructional ones I do so it's nice to have feedback like this.
What a fantastic piece, Jack. I don't know globeflower at all. What a treasure that reserve is.
I have only seen eyebright in the Dales (by Maham Cove, in fact), but I understand from Steve Hindle that it would have been a component of Calder Valley meadows alongside yellow rattle, but I only see the latter. The yellow rattle we have introduced to our lawn/meadow is doing very well. I can't imagine eyebright getting a look in.
I have a complex relationship with the Yorkshire Dales. It was the wellspring of my love for the natural world at an early age, and is still a place of pilgrimage for me several times a year. I achingly love the landscape, but nowadays fluctuate between viewing it with the adolescent eyes through which I first encountered and fell for its beauty, and then having that view tinged and altered by decades of learning about what has been lost, what is missing. I don't think I'll ever resolve that tension.
Thank Paul, yeah it is about, we have some in various areas of ours (Steve originally pointed it out to me! 😄) sadly I think the majority of the meadows around us have not been managed well over the years. At least, not compared to biodiverse reserves like this. Thankfully there are a few gems!
What a beautiful place. Thank you!