20/05/2026
These photos were taken earlier this evening on one of my favourite short walks around the unimproved meadows at Hard Rake, just off the back road from Bakewell to Buxton between Sheldon and Flagg. Curlew like this habitat and I often see and hear them up there, although these two were a long way off. A pair of ravens live in the small woodland and were flying around and croaking continually, but I didn't get a decent shot this time. However there was a clump of Southern Marsh Orchids in the bottom meadow. In a few weeks time there should be lots more orchids - mostly Common Spotted so I'll be making a few more visits over coming weeks. There are lots of other wild flowers in the meadows, which are not mowed until late Summer, allowing them to set seed. Today there were lots of Meadow Saxifrage and Buttercups and also a clump of Mouse-ear Hawkweed on an old mine spoil heap.
