ground ivy
I was delighted to find a healthy patch of ground ivy whilst rambling around the East of Otley, I haven’t encountered it anywhere else in...
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germander speedwell
Whilst out on your walk, encountering clumps of bright blue flowers along your path could be the ever popular forget-me-nots, but could...
19
greater stitchwort
Little white flowers are popping up everywhere around Otley now, from Cow parsley, Wild garlic and the pretty star-shapes of Greater...
4
little owl
I love these feisty little fellas. They can be surprisingly noisy, especially at this time of year, and the pattern of their feathers...
71
cow parsley
A familiar frothy flower (try saying that a few times) has begun to bloom. Whilst out on my daily walk along the river, looking out for...
17
white dead nettle
Picking stinging nettles, even with a really good set of gloves always leaves a sting, but there is a lookalike growing among them...
8
bird cherry
Fruit trees are heavy with blossom now, all pumping out tempting aromas to seduce passing pollinators. A smaller, less blousy cousin of...
4
common redstart
REDSTART: I was excited to get good views of a male Redstart at the weekend. I don’t often see them around Otley, and numbers generally...
12
common lime
These sturdy trees with their dense foliage and heart-shaped leaves, are valuable to a range of wildlife, including invertebrates such as...
8
coltsfoot
Coltsfoot Spring is my favourite time of year, more and more wildflowers appear every walk I take at the moment. If every month had a...
21
alder leaf beetle
Whilst picking stinging nettles, a dark metallic blue catches the light and draws my eye. This beetle measuring around 7mm in length...
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wild strawberry
Right now distinctive little white flowers that will later become miniature, juicy red strawberries can be spotted on the edges of...
5
coot
Seen in Otley: COOT: A common and often noisy presence on Otley’s ponds and lakes, Coots are omnivores yet often struggle to feed their...
6
stinging nettle
If you have never tried before, now is the time to pick stinging nettles, with some good gloves obviously, just pick out the tender most...
10
wood anemone
The Wood Anemone grows in dappled shade, claiming their share of the sunlight before the trees put on their leaves and the bluebells...
17
Dog mercury
What’s that whiff, if you pick up a foul smell whilst out walking now it might be you have caught the scent of Dog’s mercury. In...
6
Cleavers
Also known as Goosegrass or Catchweed, the Cleavers name is thanks to this sticky plant’s tendency to ‘cleave’ to human clothing or...
19
Common Toothwort
Another riverside spot, a pretty parasite! This perennial completely lacks chlorophyll (the green pigment that allows plants to obtain...
30
Butterbur
Whilst walking along the river at this time of year, look out for what looks like a dropped pom pom of some kind. This pink, tassled...
6
Gorse
The bright yellow flowers of this extremely thorny evergreen are at their best in spring, though it has a reputation for being virtually...
5
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