by Ian Brand

Wharfedale Naturalists Society

IF you only visit the countryside three times a year, then make sure to include a Bluebell wood in May, a traditional dales hay meadow in June, then come August climb up to the moors.

As we enter the second half of summer, it is almost time for that moorland visit. Heather turns our moorland into a carpet of purple, which stretches for mile after mile. Although Heather steals the show, I am rather a fan of the Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), but it is often over-looked in favour of its Ericaceous big brother. More shade and cold tolerant than heather, it is often found on north facing slopes and occasionally growing in woodland.

Unlike Heather, Bilberry is deciduous. During winter, the bare green twigs look rather forlorn and sad, but in spring it produces these amazing bright, lime-green leaves. This is quickly followed by delicate small urn-shaped flowers, which develop into the small blue-black berries with a grape-like bloom that gives the plant its name. You can always tell when they are ready to pick; the Wood Pigeons’ droppings turn purple!

Bilberrying was once a popular late summer activity just like blackberrying. Each part of the UK has its own local name for the small black berry; Whim or Whinberry in the Welsh borders, Blaeberry in Scotland and Whortleberry in the West Country. Sadly bilberrying is not as popular as it once was. The berries are small and hidden under the leaves, which makes it a hands and knees job. There has also been the arrival in our supermarkets of the closely related, larger but less tasty American blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). Both have achieved cult status as ‘super foods’ in recent years due to the high levels of Anthocycanins, which gives the berries their dark purple colour and anti-oxidant effects with the reputed health benefits. Either way, Bilberry tarts were once popular in Yorkshire, where for obvious reasons they were known as ‘mucky mouth pies’.

Bilberry plants can also be a useful indicator of sheep grazing intensity. Un-grazed it can grow up to 1 metre in height with straight shoots and abundant flowers and fruit. When grazing is intense then the plant can be nibbled down to just 5cm.

Finally, make sure to also visit our moors on a warm day in May, when if you are lucky and look carefully you will find the small beautiful Green Hairstreak butterfly which has chosen Bilberry as its larval food plant.

Until next time, “Happy Bilberrying”.

www.wharfedale-nats.org.uk