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The first flowers of spring are somehow the most special after the long dark cold days of winter.

Seeing the cowslips increase each year at Embsay reservoir has been a delight. Out in flower now they sprinkle the grass with gold allowed to flourish now that the sheep no longer graze there. There is even a patch of the much rarer Oxlip growing (or is it the false Oxlip…perhaps a botanist could identify it) right by the path. Distinguished from the cowslip by its larger paler flowers.

Cowslips and primroses are also out down in our nature reserve alongside a lovely patch of Snake’s head fritillary (both purple and white varieties). Go quickly as they will soon be over.

By the pond down there and in some of the damp ditches another lovely burst of gold..the marsh marigolds.

Barbara Kipling