For those of you that are thinking of going onto the hills I would strongly recommend that you read the advice given by the Mountain Rescue organisation of England and Wales. To read this advice, which will open in a new page please click HERE. If you would like to make a donation to the Mountain Rescue organisation which is purely voluntary please click HERE. Please make the time to read the advice page.

Our walk today was to find what English Nature call the rarest of British wild flowers. The Lady's-slipper Orchid was first discovered as a native European plant in 1568 and is still widespread in parts of Europe. The earliest record of a British plant was in 1640 from the Ingleton area in Yorkshire. Although the range of the plant extended across the limestone areas of Yorkshire,Cumbria and Durham it was always rare in England and was highly prized by plant collectors. With so much pressure from collectors during the mid 18th Century the plant became rarer and rarer and in 1917 the species was declared extinct in Britain.

The Silverdale plant as been known about for about a century and is thought to have been planted in Victorian times possibly from Central European stock. The plant as had a chequered history throughout the 20th Century but with increased care it began to flourish in the 1990's. Despite an attack in 2004 when much of the rootstock was stolen the plant recovered and this year had 7 flowers. Unfortunately about a fortnight ago someone took one of the flowers. The plant whilst in flower is guarded by English Nature but unfortunately they are unable to provide 24 x 7 cover. According to various Press reports the plant is valued at anywhere between £1500 and £5000. For this reason I will post the pictures of the plant first and then the walk so as not to identify its location.

The people show here are from Natural England and told us the history of the plant and then directed us to it.

The plant as been flowering for 3 weeks now and is really past its best.

There are 6 flowers, a seventh being taken by some idiot a couple of weeks ago

The plant is fully protected by law. There is a breeding programme at Kew Gardens for more info click HERE ...opens in new window

I must return next year to catch it at its best.

And now for the walk.

We left the car at the RSPB Visitor Centre at Leighton Moss.

Walking down the lane called The Row

I'm not a golfer but I would imagine the Silverdale course to be quite challenging as there doesn't appear to be a level section in sight

Bank Well

How's that for a natural rock garden.

We set off across the fields to Silverdale

A look back to The Row

Eaves Wood

Before reaching Silverdale we took another path to The Green

Crinkle Cottage. Built in 1512

Walking through Sharp's Lots towards Gibraltar

The Wolf House Gallery at Gibraltar.....also a Tea Room!!

While Edith ordered I walk down to the farm for a look across to Grange

Yummy!!

Calves at Gibraltar farm

There was no way that Edith could walk past this chappie

It took me ages to drag her away.

Our next stop was at Jack Scout on the way to Jenny Browns Point

Looking across to Humphrey Head one of Wainwrights Outlying Fells

Edith takes a break on the Giants Seat

As we walked to Jenny Browns Point we came across this group of motorcyclists all on vintage bikes.

No idea what make or how old this one was......wonder what the lever was for.

Jenny Browns Point

Across the salt marsh to Warton Crag

We took the route along the embankment towards Crag Foot

Looking back to Jenny Browns point

Crag Foot from where we made the short road walk back to Leighton Moss

Leighton Moss Visitor Centre

Next Walk:      8th June 2009 - Lake District (SE) - School Knott from Ings

Last Walk:       4th June 2009 -- Arnside & Silverdale AONB -- Arnside Knott

Back to Walks Index

Home

We hope you have enjoyed viewing this walk. If you have any comments please sign our Guestbook or E_Mail us.

Argos UK Shopping