Spring comes to Irby Dale

We recently walked in Irby Dale. Delighting in the trees coming into leaf I spent some time photographing the fresh young sycamore leaves. One of the few plants that can be found in flower in every season of the year, gorse was blooming well and smelling alluringly of coconut, as usual, reminding me of holidays in warmer climes. Irby church yard was a riot of colour, the thick carpet of primroses in their prime. We are used to seeing and hearing buzzards over Irby Dale now, but it was exciting not only to hear the ‘yaffle’ but to have excellent views of a green woodpecker. This seems to be a species that has expanded into the area.