Hanging Garden

THE OLD OAK shows no sign of leaf. At least not its own. It carries the scar of a lightning strike - a vertical gash on the trunk. This century old tree may be dead but, like a tropical giant, it now holds a garden aloft.

In addition to algae and moss on almost every wrinkle of the bark it supports a small clump of Bilberry in its main fork.

In a higher crevice a slender Rowan has sprouted, other boughs support a couple of birches.

We've come here to a small reservoir up beyond Holmfirth to look for Green Hairstreak butterflies. We are too early, or the butterflies are late. Depending on who you talk to, only three weeks ago there was anything between three inches and three feet of snow here.

Plenty of Common Heath moths are fluttering amongst the Heather. They are like animated wisps of potato peelings, dull brown with yellowy speckles.

Richard Bell,
wildlife illustrator
E-mail; 'richard@daelnet.co.uk'