Heather in bloom

Nidderdale Moorland Group

It's not only rainbows that are bringing colour to the dale at the moment.

If you’re visiting Nidderdale you can't miss our fantastic purple clad moorlands as the heather is now in full bloom. If you look carefully you may spot some 'lucky' white heather nestling in amongst the carpets of purple Ling.

Heather thrives on the nutrient poor soil of our moorlands where it can be found growing alongside two other members of the same family of plants, Bell Heather (erica cinerea) and in the damper areas of moorland, Cross-leaved Heath (erica tetralix).

Heather has had many uses in the past including making brooms called Besoms, dyeing wood, tanning leather, making beer, thatching roofs and as a fuel, animal fodder and in wattle and daube used in buildings.

It was very much seen as a vital local resource for many people.

Heather also makes fantastic honey with local Beekeepers returning their hives to the moors every year as the Heather starts to bloom.

The 1992 Rio Convention on Biodiversity recognised the global importance of our precious UK heather moorlands, many of which are classified as SSSI, SPA and SCA for the flora and fauna they support.