Bluebells at Oxenber Wood and Wharfe Wood

Approaching Feizor

A beautiful May day for the bluebells of Wharfe Wood and Oxenber Wood.  The abundance of flowers  is breathtaking: bluebells, primroses, early purple orchids and cowslips. There's wood sorrel growing in shady places, but the sun is so strong that light blazes through the wood and there's little shade.

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Oxenber Wood and Wharfe Wood are ancient woodland, with native bluebells.  We conclude our walk at Feizor and make for Elaine's tearooms where everyone sits outside in the sun drinking and eating cake, or scones with clotted cream, or large lunches. They're doing a brisk trade. Everyone is here for the bluebells and not simply because it's a beautiful day, they come whatever the weather. It's the tradition.  Much as I love solitude it is heart-warming to discover how many folk love a bluebell wood.  Pete, who leads our walk, tells me that this café has a tradition of hospitality that draws the crowds. In the past, they offered Sunday lunch with their own beef on the menu. 
We are struck not only by the flora of the woods but the attractiveness of this limestone landscape with its pattern of field-walls and its barns which have a distinctive character. 
We reflect on how this prolonged fine weather and absence of rain will affect spring growth.  Ash trees are in flower but not yet in leaf. The bluebell display is so fine at this season,  the herb-layer timed to appear before the canopy becomes leafy and shades out sunlight.  The gardeners amongst us tell how dry the ground is. 
I long for rain, for vegetation and to cleanse pavements which begin to show how many dogs frequent them.