A bit of Botany (1 Viewer)

[Stewart J]

Beautiful sunny warm afternoon in SW Northumberland for a change to birding a short drive into Cumbria and a visit to the wonderfully named Gowk Bank Nature Reserve at Butterburn in search of orchids, a truly wild upland area miles from anywhere across miles of unspoilt wild rushy fell on a single track road dodging suicidal sheep. The nature reserve is a traditional wildflower meadow totally unspoilt. Wonderful way to spend the afternoon carpets of wildflowers Eyebright, Yellow Rattle, Ragged Robin, Lousewort, Melancholy Thistle plus hundreds of orchids including the beautifully scented Fragrant Orchid. So a few pretty photos for you to enjoy in these troubled times.

Gowk Bank - Woodland Trust

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

 

[Podney]

Super photos!

 

[ronidog1]

What a cheery post. Thank you. Theses are great photos and I have added the reserve to my places to visit. What is the access and parking like? I have a 5.5m van?

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[Stewart J]

What a cheery post. Thank you. Theses are great photos and I have added the reserve to my places to visit. What is the access and parking like? I have a 5.5m van?

Access road is good though single track, a 5.5 metre van easily parked, as you pass the gate to the reserve on your right travel another 100 yards there is a cattle grid on the left where road is gated, at this time of year gate is fixed open so park at cattle grid. Reserve covers a good sized area and there are many walks in vicinity. If restrictions are lifted there are some good wilding spots. Avoid at weekends Crammel Linn Which is near the start of single track road gets very popular limited parking so folk park at side of road making it very narrow and restrictive. (A Linn for those unaware is the name given to a waterfall in this area) It’s a stunningly beautiful unspoilt area.
Cattle grid shown

on attached map

 

[denisejoe]

Have most of them except the thistle in front lawn looks good before I cut it was told last year we had orchids

plus these don't know what they are

 

[ronidog1]

Thanks for all the info Stewart, that is really helpful.

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