WFV, Low Wood Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve, Riddlesden and Leeds Liverpool Canal 5.5.26

Alice, Sally, Sue and Margaret enjoyed a delightful walk today alongside the Leeds Liverpool canal to the magnificent bluebell woodland of Low Wood. The weather was chilly but fine. The starting point for three of us was Belton Road, Silsden. We then drove to the starting point for our walk along the canal. We
were joined by Sally, who had walked from Riddlesden at the entrance to the woods.

There was a good variety of spring flora alongside the canal including large bittercress, common ramping fumitory, bush vetch, butterbur (mainly leaves although some flowers were seen), dogs mercury, bistort, garlic mustard, ramsons, wild arum, yellow flag iris, germander speedwell and others.
Hawthorn, holly and horse chestnut were in flower (over 40 flowering species were recorded by Alice).
The spread of bluebells in both Scout Wood and Low Wood was extensive and a lovely sight. The bluebells were interspersed with patches of greater stitchwort, greater woodrush, bracken, yellow pimpernel, bird cherry and a variety of ferns.

A major management task for the woodland is the control of bracken to allow the bluebells to flourish in spring and foxgloves in summer. Also to establish new tree growth to replace the existing trees. There has been an attempt to remove the rhododendron cover at the edge of the canal and replace it with a mixed hedge however this seems to have had limited success.

Although bird life in the woodland was disappointingly low, we did see a variety of birds on our walk. Both mallard and grey lag geese were seen caring for their young on the canal. Goldfinch were seen in the lane and an oystercatcher and hare seen in the fields. It was an enjoyable day out for our small group.

Margaret