A WALK though the bluebell woods at Middleton was the first in a series of 30 events being organised by the Friends of Ilkley Moor this year.

The guided walk through Middleton Woods, Ilkley, to see the full glory of the early summer bluebells, was led by Tracy Gray and Barry Wilkinson from Friends on Saturday (May 10).

Middleton Woods is an area of semi-natural ancient woodland. It is a remnant of the woodland type dominated by oak, birch and bluebell ,and oak is still a dominant main canopy tree with many large veteran oak trees.

Other large canopy trees can be found there now including sycamore, beech and larch. Shrubs include holly, elder, hazel and hawthorn.

Whilst the main plant carpeting the wood was bluebells the group also saw wood anemones, wood sorrel, dog's mercury and lily-of-the-valley. By the streams and within the wetter areas patches of bog-stitchwort, wild garlic, lesser celandine and opposite leaved golden-saxifrage.

As well as admiring the bluebells, the group learnt about the names of the trees and other plant species found there, along with some of the past uses of the plants, and about the woodland management and the ecology of woodlands.

The events programme and heritage walks details can be downloaded from ilkleymoor.org or collected from Ilkley Visitor Information Centre and shops and cafes in the Town.