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Towards the end of Winter, early Spring, keep your eyes out on left hand side of this path for distinctive red fungi growing on moss-covered branches. They are 'Scarlet Elf Cups', Sarcoscypha sp. European folklore says that wood elves drink morning dew from these cups. If anybody sees the elves, please let us know. I have heard the only way to see them is to eat the fungi (not poisonous but not recommended!)
As you walk along this path, count all the saplings you see
On either side, you should be able to see lots of young green/grey saplings. These are young ash trees. They are needed to grow-in to become the next generation of tree cover.
We may also want to use them for coppicing, an old craft we can teach our children.
We are particularly pleased to have these, as a few years ago, they were being crowded out by Himalayan Balsam.
We cannot bring ash trees from elsewhere as the tree is currently under a ban of movement because of 'Ash Dieback' disease.
Behind the ash saplings, on right of the path is a large Dogwood tree.
In the sun the twigs are coloured crimson, while those in the shade are lime green.
The leaves are eaten by some moth caterpillars while the flowers are visited by insects and the berries are eaten by many mammals and birds.
You can find this in the twig guide.How many have you collected so far?
Here are many alder trees, tall and upright. The best way to find the trees is to look for the little (about 1 cm long) cones on the path, and when you find some, look up to the highest twigs to see more. In Winter there are groups of 3-5 cones (properly called strobiles) high up in the trees.
These trees are remarkable for holding water in the soil, as can be seen by the root mass of one being planted here.
Alder trees have a gruesome connection with what happened here in WW1
After few hundred yards, you will see (on left) a turnstyle leading on to Turkey Lane. 2000 years ago this was a major Roman Road (part of M72a in Roman road terminology). Turn left for Ribchester. Turn right for Ilkley and on to York.
Can you picture the scene of the soldiers (usually slaves) on this road all those years ago?
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