North
Southerscales
Starting in the spring, this wild landscape at Ingleborough is awash with early purple orchids and primrose. Breathe in the heady fragrance of wild thyme and orchids in the grassland and spot butterflies like the dark green fritillary and painted lady enjoying the feast.
green fritillary
Fen Bog
The stunning views of this upland reserve are offset by the tiny white stars of chickweed wintergreen, also known as Arctic starflower. In early summer, enjoy fluttering visitors including small pearl-bordered fritillary, dark green fritillary and large heath.
Dark
LES BINNS
Large heath
ALLAN RODDA
South
Maltby Low Common
Early summer at Maltby Low Common is paradise for insects and botanists alike! The woodland and grassland brim with colour, from the white stars of grass-of-Parnassus to an abundance of orchids, field scabious and more. Over 400 insect species have been recorded, including dark green fritillaries, brimstones and
The wildflower meadow off to the side of the old railway embankment buzzes with life on warm summer days, from the delightful little purple hairstreak to small skipper and small heath. The purple of wildflowers like field scabious and devil’s-bit scabious is a wonderful contrast to yellow archangel, oxeye daisy and the tall fronds of weld.
Carlton Marsh
Peacock
JIM HORSFALL
Purple hairstreak
MAURICE GORDON
East
Kiplingcotes
This reserve is famous for a dazzling array of late spring and early summer colour; the intricate beauty of pyramidal, twayblade and common spotted orchids to the purple of harebell and yellow foam of lady’s bedstraw. Marbled whites, dingy skippers, gatekeepers and brimstones flutter through the blaze of colour.
Wharram Quarry
A positive rainbow of wildflowers includes the yellows of cowslip, mouse-ear hawkweed and bird’s-foot trefoil; purple wild thyme and clustered bellflower; pink restharrow and blue common milkwort. Such a display is magnetic for marbled whites, dingy skippers and small heaths.
Field scabious
GEMMA DE GOUVEIA
Wild thyme
West
Brockadale
A jewel in Yorkshire’s countryside, Brockadale is a nationally important site for nature. Over 300 species of plants grow on the reserve, totalling 33% of Yorkshire’s flora species! Abundant wildflowers include lifelike bee orchids, hellebores, daphne, purple milk vetch and spring cinquefoil –which in turn attract marbled whites, dark green fritillaries and silver-washed fritillaries.
Townclose Hills (also known as Billy Woods)
This abundant grassland is a sea of changing colour during the summer months; bluebells give way to wild anemones, yellow archangels, orchids and much more. Butterflies flourish in abundant aerial displays, including marbled whites, dark green fritillaries and gatekeepers.
Gatekeeper
DAVE WILLIAMSON
Bee orchid
KIRSTY BROWN
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