Viola riviniana

The moorland around us can, at first glance, seem a little bleak. But closer acquaintance soon proves otherwise. There's a reason the limestone pavement is such a protected environment - on the otherwise windswept moor it offers an oasis for an abundance of flora & fauna to take refuge and root - sometimes growing strong like my favourite trees. But there's more here - at the right times the hills turn yellow and blue and purple as briefly blooming , usually tiny, flowers burst into life. On today's walk these little dog violets were poking their faces out of the grassland on any sunny aspect - in another week or so they'll be everywhere. Nature doesn't have to be big and dramatic to be beautiful - there's a wonderful small world right underneath our feet.