I’ve just completed a series of very enjoyable spring shoots on behalf on the Woodland Trust in two local Yorkshire woodlands looking for fresh images of bluebells, wild garlic and spring foliage.

The woodlands in question were Nidd Gorge Woods (very handy for me being close to Knaresborough) and Skipton Woods, which are an easy walk from the centre of Skipton along Eller Beck behind the castle.  I made an early visit in late April to see how the bluebells were coming along – rather few and far between in Skipton Woods, but the vibrant green of the fresh wild garlic leaves (above) looked fantastic and augured well for a second visit in mid May when the flowers would be in bloom.

In Nidd Gorge there was a much more impressive display of bluebells, particularly in Spring Wood (above) toward the Knaresborough end of the woodland, which runs upstream in the Nidd valley to Bilton near Harrogate.

Spring foliage was still a little sparse in Spring Wood on my first visit, but by the time of my second visit in mid-May most of the trees were covered in fresh green leaves, and the bluebells were still in good shape.

I’d noticed a bit of hawthorn blossom coming out too on the first visit but after a few breezy days this was mostly strewn like confetti along the paths!

Back in Skipton Woods in mid May the leaves of the wild garlic plants had faded to a duller green but the promised display of white flowers up the banks throughout the woods were just spectacular, especially with a bit of backlighting through the new spring foliage on the trees.  There were even a few more bluebells at the top of the woods on the second visit, which was a bit of a bonus!

For more information on the Woodland Trust, visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk.