Broadhead Clough Nature Reserve
The steep, invigorating climb from the deep valley floor through the woods will ultimately reward you with beautifully rugged Pennine views, though there’s plenty to savour on the way up too.
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Chough
As the only crow with a red bill and red legs, the all-black chough is easy to identify. But it's harder to spot: there are only small, coastal populations in Scotland, Ireland, Wales,…
Common couch
Common couch is a tall, tuft-forming grass of roadside verges, waste ground and arable land. It is very tough and can shade out more delicate plants. Look for flat, blade-like leaves and thin…
N'er cast a clout till May is out
Mid May and as the saying goes, “n'er cast a clout till May is out”. The proverb basically reminds us of our fickle British weather and its ability to bathe us in warmth one day and bring…
Broad-leaved dock
Broad-leaved dock is well-known to most of us as the remedy for Stinging nettle irritations. Often considered a 'weed', it can be found next to water or on disturbed ground almost…
Broad-leaved helleborine
A tall orchid of woodland and scrub, the broad-leaved helleborine has greenish, purple-tinged flowers that look a little 'drooping'. Strongly veined, oval leaves spiral around its stem…
Clouded yellow
The clouded yellow is a migrant that arrives here from May onwards. Usually, only small numbers turn up, but some years see mass migrations. It prefers open habitats, particularly chalk grassland…
Snap, cackle and flop: trying to photograph laughing green woodpeckers at Barlow Common
They’ve been laughing at me all day. I first heard them within a few minutes of arriving at Barlow Common at 8.30am on this dazzlingly bright spring morning, and their raucous “yaffle” calls have…
London plane
The London plane tree is, as its name suggests, a familiar sight along the roadsides and in the parks of London. An introduced and widely planted species, it is tough enough to put up with city…
Common lime
The common lime is a tall, broadleaf tree that is a natural hybrid between the large-leaved and small-leaved limes. It can be seen in a variety of habitats, and has been widely planted along roads…
Greater plantain
Pushing its way up through the cracks in pavements, the straw-coloured flower spikes of greater plantain or 'broadleaf plantain' are a familiar sight. This 'weed' also pops up…
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust blog
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