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Wildlife

Spring Fever

Winter is over at long last, and suddenly the Dales countryside is full of colour, bustle and new life.

SWALEDALE MEADOW

by Wayne Hutchinson

Buttercups open their flowers wide on sunny days, transforming Dales pastures into carpets of vibrant green-gold.

BLUE TIT
by Derek Middleton

As spring gets into full swing, our garden birds spend most of their daylight hours finding food to fill hungry mouths.

YOUNG RABBIT

by Andrew Bailey

For plant-eaters like rabbits, the lush new foliage provides a welcome feast – and helps conceal them from hungry predators.

SLEEPING DORMOUSE

by Paul Sheehan
YDNPA

Dormice are now well-established in Freeholders Wood, Aysgarth, thanks to a successful reintroduction programme that started in 2008.

MEADOW CRANESBILL

by Erica Olsen

This handsome blue-purple flower likes to grow in damp Dales hay meadows and lightly grazed limestone pastures.

KINGFISHER

by Paul Sawer

Kingfishers are tiny – this adult male probably weighs only 40g or so – but they can reach speeds of 25mph when diving for fish.

FOX AMONGST BLUEBELLS

by Frederic Desmette

Our native bluebells – not to be confused with the invasive Spanish species – are only found in ancient woodland or places where ancient woods once stood.

COMMON BLUE BUTTERFLIES

by Whitfield Benson

Common blues are on the wing from late April onwards. They can be found in meadows and rough grassland, where their caterpillars feed on clovers and birds-foot trefoil.

BARN OWL CHICKS

by Paul Sawer

After a long period of decline, the number of barn owls nesting in the Dales may at last have begun to recover.

BROWN HARE

by Whitfield Benson

Hares are largely nocturnal, but spring is one of the best times to see them, thanks to lighter evenings and the fact that grasses aren’t yet tall enough to hide them.

brown hare

WATER VOLE

by Simon Litten

The water vole is one of Britain’s most endangered mammals. Fortunately there’s a thriving colony at Foxglove Covert Nature Reserve in Catterick Garrison.

BUFF ERMINE MOTH

by Whitfield Benson

The buff ermine moth is often seen in gardens from mid-spring onwards. Its hairy caterpillars feed on dandelions, nettles and honeysuckle.

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DALES LIFE

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