Tracy Gray, Project Officer of The Friends of Ilkley Moor, among the bilberry and heather with the group
Eleven people set out to discover the wild edible plants of Ilkley Moor. The two hour walk on the lower slopes was lead by Tracy Gray, Project Officer of The Friends of Ilkley Moor. The walk was the 11th of 27 Events organised by the Friends for the period May to September.
Tracy Gray said “There are many edible plants to be found on the Moor, all of which provide great nutrition, medicinal benefits and practical uses”
The plants discovered on the Moor included: hazel, oak, hawthorn, elderberry, willow, bramble, wild rose, nettles, dandlelion, cleavers, yarrow, heather, bilberry, water mint, sphagnum moss and lichens.
Lichens and heather can be used for natural dyes and are still used for this in parts of Scotland. Heather flowers are also used to flavour beer. Bracken used to be collected for thatching and animal bedding. Dandelion and nettles are highly nutritious and acorns used to be made into flour.
The programme of events and six Heritage Walks can be downloaded from this website or collected from Ilkley Tourist Information Offfice,the library, shops and Cafes in the Town.
Barry Wilkinson FOIM Press Officer 07831-505051