A sky of blue is like a breath of fresh air after the dreary weather we’ve been enduring for the past week. It lifts the spirits, reminding us that sunlight still exists.
It is not every day that one sees standing water on Newton Moor. While the ground is often damp and there are always the odd boggy patches, to see water lingering at this high point is quite the rarity.
For the plants that call these soggy places home, survival is a battle against the elements. Dr. Elgee, in his revered work “The Moorlands of North Eastern Yorkshire”, explains that these plants face a curious dilemma. Due to the presence of humic acids, the water is hard to absorb, creating a situation of physiological drought. It is a bit like the plight of the Ancient Mariner: water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.
To cope, moorland plants have come up with clever solutions. Many, like the heather, have reduced the size of their leaves, cutting down on water loss through transpiration. Others have rolled their leaves into tight cylinders, protecting their delicate pores from the wind and water, and holding onto whatever moisture they can.
Not all plants follow the same rules, though. Take Bilberry, for instance. It has its own methods for thriving in these conditions—but that, as they say, is a story for another day.
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