Three more tree flowers - each flowering now and each with a Settle story to tell
Part of "Wildflowers on Exercise Walks around Settle 2020-2021" -- www.bit.ly/Settle-Wildflowers
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Goat Willow
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| Sloe |
1. Pussy Willow or Goat Willow. Salix capreaBroad leaves distinguishes this from most other common willows in the UK and the leaves are "woolly" underneath. It is one of the willows where the flowers come out before the leaves. This willow will grow in dry places whereas most other willows prefer wet places. It is used in flower decorations at Easter.
There are male and female plants - the tree in this picture has anthers so is male.
I took this picture on 28 March 2021. But I took a picture of the same tree three months earlier on 20 December, on 25 December and counted it as a plant in flower for the New Year Plant Hunt... even though the anthers weren't showing then.
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| 28 March 2 |
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| 20 December 2020 - same tree- maybe same branch |
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| 8 April 2020 Main Road just past Stainforth |
2. Larch
I just love the pink flowers of Larch flowers - Do go out and look for them now.
3. Sloe - or Blackthorn - Prunus spinosus
This picture was taken on 14 April 2014 from the top of Castleberg.
Unfortunately the Sloe bushes were chopped down in late 2020 - which improved the view, and makes it easier for climbers - but they did provide a very useful safety barrier above the vertical drop below.
Here are two more pictures from 2000
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| 23 April 2000 - Castleberg summit |
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| Jim Nelson (centre) Rev Tony Dent (left) Castleberg summit 24 April 2000 |
I expert the shoots will grow again. Also I much appreciate some of the scrub removal on Castleberg - much removal of sycamore and some of other crees is needed to give the flowers underneath a chance.
Here is a picture of a member of Carven Conservation Group at a totally different site (Bank Newton Meadow) removing a slue sucker.. The sloe spreads a long way.
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