Smardale Gill NNR: flowers and butterflies.

I'm still ploughing through last Saturday's photographs ...and we are now on to Smardale Gill. This old railway line is home to a host of spectacular array of plants and butterflies. ...and I did get a field sketch in too, but I'll do a separate blog of sketches to try to get up to date.

Melancholy thistles.

Common spotted orchid:; greater butterfly orchid; round-leaved wintergreen; bloody cranesbill and hare bell. 

Large skipper.

Common blue. 

Northern brown argus.