Have you had your Five a Day?

Five photos taken on walks in the countryside around Hebden Bridge and the Upper Calder Valley, interspersed with views from Elmet Farmhouse in the village of Pecket Well. Yorkshire at its finest. Enjoy!                        (Lesley Jackson)

 

31 May 2016

The last hurrah for the bluebells in Hardcastle Crags

 

One of the most extensive bluebell woods in England

 

Spectacular as ever this year

A round of applause, please! 

 

Book early at Elmet Farmhouse for more of the same next year!

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

30 May 2016

Bluebells in full flower in Hardcastle Crags

 

They colonise every surface…

 

… from mossy rocks

… and sylvan groves

… to woodland glades

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

29 May 2016

A spectacular display of bluebells on the lesser-known upper slopes of Hardcastle Crags

 

Tender new oak leaves

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

28 May 2016

Table Rock – woodland vantage point hidden away in Hardcastle Crags

 

View from Table Rock

 

More bluebell woods hidden away in the recesses of Hardcastle Crags

 

Seek and ye shall find…

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

27 May 2016

Bluebells in Hardcastle Crags – a short walk from Elmet Farmhouse

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

26 May 2016

Reflections in the dam near Gibson Mill at Hardcastle Crags

 

Same old, same old… bluebell infinity in Hardcastle Crags

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

25 May 2016

Young stag with petite antlers full of the joys of spring in Crimsworth Dean

 

The verdant slopes of Shackleton Hill in Crimsworth Dean

 

Glimpse of bluebells through the trees above the dam near Gibson Mill in Hardcastle Crags

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

24 May 2016

Heavenly scenes in the bluebell woods of Crimsworth Dean

 

Bluebells and ramsons (wild garlic) in perfect harmony

 

Purest blue and purest green

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

23 May 2016

Bluebell meadow in Crimsworth Dean

 

Bluebell woods in Crimsworth Dean

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

22 May 2016

Bluebellerama in Crimsworth Dean

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

21 May 2016

Cascades of bluebells and wild garlic (ramsons) in Crimsworth Dean

 

Bluebells and wild garlic (ramsons)

 

Lambs and ewes sheltering under trees in Crimsworth Dean

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

20 May 2016

Fifty shades of green – lush canopy in Hardcastle Crags

 

Purple haze – dense carpet of bluebells in Hardcastle Crags

 

Bluebells in Crimsworth Dean

 

Crimsworth Dean spring woodland splendour

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

19 May 2016

Carpet of bluebells in Hardcastle Crags – far side of the river near Gibson Mill

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

18 May 2016

Purple haze in Hardcastle Crags

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

17 May 2016

Bluebellerama in Hardcastle Crags – it just gets better and better!

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

16 May 2016

Bluebellerama in Hardcastle Crags

 

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

15 May 2016

View from Elmet Farmhouse

 

Cottage garden at Elmet Farmhouse

 

Tulips and daffodils in the garden at Elmet Farmhouse

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

14 May 2016

Hebden Water in Hardcastle Crags

 

Woods in Hardcastle Crags

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

13 May 2016

Trio of geese in Crimsworth Dean

 

Roe deer in Crimsworth Dean

 

  

Goose on chimney of Gibson Mill in Hardcastle Crags

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

12 May 2016

Early morning in Hardcastle Crags – sun streaming through the trees

 

  

Rocky outcrops in Hardcastle Crags

 

The Crags themselves

 

View of Hebden Water from the upper slopes of Hardcastle Crags near Widdop Gate

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

11 May 2016

Bracken-covered slopes at Blake Dean

 

Confluence of Graining Water (left) and Alcomden Water (right) at Blake Dean 

 

Graining Water and Alcomden Water merge at Blake Dean to form Hebden Water 

 

Steep steps leading down from Widdop Gate into Hebden Dale and Hardcastle Crags

 

Blake Dean at the head of Hebden Dale and Hardcastle Crags

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

10 May 2016

“We’re ready for our close-up” – family group posing in Crimsworth Dean

 

Bucolic Blakean scene in Crimsworth Dean

 

A lovely spring morning in Crimsworth Dean

 

Not bad for an early morning commute

 

Spinks Hill Mob – near Stone Booth Farm in Crimsworth Dean

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

9 May 2016

Zooming in on Crimsworth Dean…

 

  

And zooming out again…

 

  

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

 

8 May 2016

And still they come… 

 

  

More lovely lambs in Crimsworth Dean

 

  

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

 

7 May 2016

  

Crimsworth Dean is awash with migrants… Two lapwings briefly touch down, taking a break from their wild aerial acrobatics

 

This oystercatcher has obviously been busy foraging in the mud, judging from its slimy beak

 

Dunlin – another long-beaked wader which heads inland to the high moorlands to breed in the spring

 

This is where they all flock to… Crimsworth Dean

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

6 May 2016

Zwartbles sheep at the upper slopes of Crimsworth Dean – an unusual breed of Dutch origin

 

The ewes have a distinctive white stripe on their face and white ankles. The young lambs are dark brown all over.

 

It’s still busy in the Crimsworth creche…

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

5 May 2016

A beady-eyed thrush in Hardcastle Crags

 

  

  

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

4 May 2016

Bluebells in Hardcastle Crags – still early days… watch this space!

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

3 May 2016

Bluebells unfurling in Hardcastle Crags…

 

… the start of a month-long spectacular

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

2 May 2016

Evening sunshine – view from Elmet Farmhouse 

 

Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall on the horizon

 

Spring flowers in the cottage garden at Elmet Farmhouse with spectacular view behind

 

Daffodils in full bloom in the field in front of Elmet Farmhouse

 

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson

 

1 May 2016

Cottage garden at Elmet Farmhouse with primroses, daffodils and hellebores

 

A big clump of white hellebores with a lovely view behind

 

Dark purple hellebores with a row daffodills behind

 

Pulmonaria and primroses

 

Orangey-red tulips just coming out – a new addition to Elmet’s cottage garden this year

 

© All photos copyright Lesley Jackson