An oasis in the middle of Changing Plans

This week we had planned to spend a few days away in Yorkshire, but we beset by unforeseen issues.  I had 2 fillings come out, then our neighbour was taken into hospital, so we offered to look after her pet cat and dog for a week, then the weather forecast put a damper on any other plans.

My fillings will be treated tomorrow, so in the interim we decided to visit a relative at Holmesfield near Sheffield for a day.  On the way back we stopped off at Hartington Meadows to see if the orchids were out.  It is a challenge requiring a level of determination.

Go to Hartington Signal Box car park on the Tissington Trail - just off of the A515 on the B5053 and turn in near the old railway bridge.  Facing the signal box in the car park, turn left an walk 100 yards.  That will take you to the Meadows Path.

The steps lead up to the entrance to the Meadow access path.

At the top is the old wall stile, with a new support rail.

Then the path leads on, it is a bit overgrown and the vegetation is shoulder height.

The path runs up between the old quarry workings and it you cross the fencing, there are some seriously sheer cliffs at the Quarry edge.

The path continues uphill through the forest and there are roots and rocks to avoid.  I suspect the path will be very muddy in wet weather.

After a while, and 3 narrow gates, the meadow will come into view.  It is on a variable slope on thin soil with two paths crossing the main meadow. This is a protected site so we had to keep to the paths.  Then Wow!

At this time, the only Orchid we saw was the Common Spotted Orchid.  When the flowers are fresh they are lilac and purple with a distinct pattern.  The leaves may have purple spots, but many of the plants do not show the leaf spots on this site.

The colours do fade with age and the petals dry and curl up.  From pristine to raggy white, these are the same plants.  The meadow was covered in them.

Just enough time now to drive home a feed our neighbours animals.