One of our officers found this beautiful Puss Moth in their garden, so named due to their fluffy cat-like appearance.

Puss Moths have very distinctive caterpillars which may be found on poplar and willow branches later in the summer. The adults fly from May to July.

#MothMatter

Just a moment with the birdsong and this delightful family on the #RiverWharfe near Linton for your #MindfulMonday 🦆 🎶

The warm, wet weather this week is bringing on the grasses in the meadows of the Dales 🌧️

Sweet Vernal-grass is one of the first to bloom. The grass flowers have long white anthers, and the stalk has a distinct vanilla flavour if chewed. Keep a look out in your lawn!

#NoMowMay

With Curlews on eggs and Lapwings with chicks, this is a crucial time of year for our breeding waders in the #YorkshireDales .

You can help ground nesting birds by sticking to paths where possible and keeping your dog on a lead while out enjoying the Park.

#EndangeredSpeciesDay

Sweet Cicely is now decorating the field edges, roadside verges and riversides of the #YorkshireDales .

Although not native to Britain it is thought to have been growing here at least since the 18th Century. The plant has an aniseed scent and has been used as a medicinal herb.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park RSPB Malham Peregrine Project is returning this year to show visitors to #MalhamCove the resident peregrines!

For dates and times please visit our website:
yorkshiredales.org.uk/be-inspired/wh…

We look forward to welcoming you!

📸 Whitfield Benson

One of our wader surveyors recently spotted Carrot, one of the tagged Curlew, on her breeding grounds in Wensleydale. She was identified by BTO staff using the unique combination of colour rings on her legs.

See how to report a colour-ringed Curlew:
yorkshiredales.org.uk/about/wildlife…

When is a grasshopper not a grasshopper? When it is a Grasshopper Warbler!

Sound up to hear the astonishing song of this migratory species, filmed by one of our officers last spring.

Keep an ear out for them in the #YorkshireDales and report any sightings on BirdTrack.

May is the best month for Bluebells, but do you know the native Bluebell from an imposter?

Non-native Spanish Bluebells and their hybrids may also be found in the wild, which can outcompete the native species. Below are some tips to help separate them.

One of our officers captured these images of a male Goldcrest displaying his bright orange crown to a rival male in #Swaledale last week.

Goldcrest are the UK's smallest bird, weighing only 5 to 6 grams, but they have big personalities!

Spring is now well underway, and it's not just the trees that are looking fresh and green!

Below are Green Hairstreak butterfly and Green Carpet moth, two beautiful emerald gems currently on the wing in the #YorkshireDales 💚💚

📸 Robyn Guppy

The Yellow Meadow Ant forms anthills in grasslands which, if undisturbed by ploughing or mowing, can last for hundreds of years. The ants' activities promote soil and plant diversity, making them an important species for grassland ecology.

Learn to love anthills this spring 🐜

Brushing up on #Sphagnum id with Yorkshire Peat Partnership at kingsdale head farm last week, and harvesting Sphagnum for propagation to create plugs for further peat restoration at Kingsdale Head Farm.
#Peatlands #PeatlandRestoration #BogsMatter #NatureRecovery

📸 Sue Thurley

The meadows of the #YorkshireDales are now beginning to grow, but you can have your own mini-meadow too by taking part in Plantlife #NoMowMay :

plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomo…

So give that mower a rest and see what wildlife your garden lawn can attract this month!

📸 Gareth Evans

Our versatile Yorkshire Dales National Park Dales Volunteers can turn their hand to anything! This time, practising putting up electric fencing ready to help nesting Curlew, as part of BTO Curlew Recovery Partnership Natural England Curlew Solutions Trial.

Good work, everyone 👏

A big thank you to Broughton Sanctuary for delivering an informative and enjoyable tour for the Yorkshire Dales Biodiversity Forum yesterday!

It was very interesting to see and hear about the Nature Recovery Programme at the estate. Broughton Hall Estate

Our apprentice Genny is undertaking a #DungBeetle survey to study their populations in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and inform how farmers and land managers can help them.

This Geotrupid species was found during a survey yesterday at kingsdale head farm. More on this work soon, stay tuned...

To celebrate #NationalMammalWeek , our Priority Species of the Month for April is the Natterer's Bat 🦇

Natterer's are one of 9 species of bat that have been recorded in the YDNP. Find out more about bats in the Park here:
yorkshiredales.org.uk/about/wildlife…

📸 Yorkshire Dales Bat Project

Orange-tips are one of our earliest butterflies that has not overwintered as an adult, and may now be seen on the wing.

Report sightings on the Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire website or the iRecord Butterflies App:
yorkshirebutterflies.org.uk/sightings/repo…

The Dry Rigg Quarry Natural Environment fund is available to support any work that enhances the natural environment in any of the qualifying Parishes in and around Upper Ribblesdale.

Find out more and how to apply: yorkshiredales.org.uk/dry-rigg-quarr…

📸 Rachel Brindle