Wild Forage, Flora and Fauna!
Wild Flowers in Oxenber Woods
Spring time brings a lot of joy in Settle and the surrounding countryside, we don’t hold much knowledge on what the names of various plants are but there is one that comes every year in abundance – Wild Garlic! This year with the very mild conditions from early March the leaves appeared and the carpets keep on growing! We pick the young leaves (don’t wait until the white flowers appear – getting old at that point!) use them in cooking as a substitute to normal garlic. However the best thing is to make it into a pesto sauce and freeze it in small portions to use up year round. Fantastic on Pizza’s – Awesome in Pasta and Great in Stews!
Wild Garlic Carpet
Very easy to do – Wash leaves throughly and dry (remove any storks, and any discoloured leaves) then put them in a blender machine, add Olive Oil, Pine Nuts (Ground Almonds are fine) and blast until smooth then add some fresh grated parmesan for a quick wizz at the end.
Oxenber Wood Bluebells
Whilst walking around the area we have many beautiful flowers, including orchids – one of the best places to see these and also the Bluebells are over at Oxenber Woods near Feizor/Austwick.
Bluebell Woods with Dog
Theres’s something magical about at bluebell wood, did you know that they are quite rare outside the UK as we have around half the worlds bluebells! Another reason for a visit out to these woods is the Cafe in Feizor called Elaines, as we tell our guests all roads/lanes/tracks lead here! There is parking available near the cafe (non-customers is a £5/day fee)
There is a great walk around 16km (10miles) with 440m (1443ft) of Ascent circular from Settle – Download the Map or Click on Link for OS Maps (to navigate with this you need to be subscribed)
SettletoFeizor via Oxenber Woods Map
or Try Komoot Maps (Free verison available) for the same route
You may want to check out Friends of the Dales is a registered charity set up in 1981 which works to protect and enhance the Yorkshire Dales and encourage everyone, from all backgrounds, to value and enjoy this special area. They are the only membership and campaigning charity for the Dales!
