
No rain since early April and summer brings welcome showers. Wet Sleddale is close to the Shap summit and the OS map tells that water is its element. Moss and mire are in the place names: Gambling Moss, Hall Moss, Wheelmire Hill and Mirethwaite, Blea Moss and Turnmire Bottom.
The rain eases and the temperature rises a little, with bursts of sun. Vegetation is drenched and my first images of Small Pearl show blades of grass with raindrops. Butterflies conserve their energy in cool and wet weather and they fly low and briefly. But when they alight they stay for some while so it's a good photo-opportunity- especially when there's a keen-eyed butterfly expert to follow their flight and point out where they've settled. Moss and mire is the favoured habitat for these species. A stone bridge spans Sleddale Beck and its solidity contrasts with the fragile Marsh Fritillaries and Small Pearls on the wing, low over the saturated vegetation.
Since I came here in late May there has been refreshing rain and the flora of moss and mire has responded quickly. Suddenly, there's Heath Spotted Orchid in profusion. In a few weeks the fellside will be yellow with the flowers of bog asphodel. There are the blue flowers of bugle and traces of its leaves amongst sphagnum moss.