We are taken to Ribblehead. The great viaduct can be seen crossing Batty Moss from Blind Beck, I think, anyway not the source of the mighty Ribble.
We were looking for the common butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris) below whose habitat were narrow, continuously wet stretches of moorland following an emergent spring. The picture guides say the flowers are violet. Call me colour-blind but this is blue.
There were many ferns around the mouth of this cavern on the way up to the limestone pavements of Ingleborough.
Common Bistort (Persicaria) covered many road-side verges. Will is wielding his huge Canon.
Near Stainforth Scar (north of Settle) are the remains of an enormous lime kiln complex - including this Hoffner kiln. It proves to be a habitat for many wild plants. When working, the kilns were loaded and fired through those arches, leading to a huge space beyond.
Valerie shows her new knowledge by identifying a ...
... maidenhair spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes).
In the arches stalactites were also growing.
On the pavements were several clumps of Birdseye Primrose (Primula farinosa).
And of course several cranesbills (Geranium) - meadow, wood, bloody, purple, shining, dove's foot, cut-leaved et al.
Bluebells too (Hyacinthoides non-scriptus) of the Lily family. Are these the 'lilies of the field' of which Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed, according to the Wycliffe translation?
In the shade of ash, hazel and hawthorn were Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis).
We turn our eyes to the noble bulk of Ingleborough itself, to be climbed another day, perhaps.
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