Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus)

Nidderdale Moorland Group

We know that one of the benefits of controlled cool burning on our managed moorlands is the removal of old heather cover which then leads to the increased growth of other moorland plant species such as Sphagnum mosses and Cotton grasses, but there are other specialist moorland plants that also benefit.

Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) is a member of the same plant family as the Bramble, Raspberry and Dewberry, but grows high on our moorlands where it has evolved since the Ice Age as a creeping, downy perennial that can withstand temperatures as low as -40.

Cloudberry plants are dioecious. This means there are both male and female plants and both are needed if fruit are to be formed.

After pollination the white flower forms a pale red berry which then ripens to orange in early autumn.

On the higher moorland areas Cloudberry plants soon appear when the old heather cover is removed by prescribed cool burning or cutting, and continue to help enhance the biodiversity of our managed moorland flora and the wildlife these areas support.

A habitat indicator species showing that how we manage our moorlands is increasing and supporting biodiversity.