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View of the Cheviot Hills. Courtesy of Andrea Roberts
Cheviots © Simon Fraser Sun set in the Cheviots © Simon Fraser
Cheviots Challenge
Flowers of Northumberland
The County of Northumberland offers a huge diversity in flora and fauna. This county has adopted the Bloody cranesbill flower as the "county flower". The following pictures, illustrate some this huge variety and what you may see on your journey.
 
Copyright Allan Potts
In early summer, the northern countryside is one of lush green meadows and rolling hills. While the fell sandstone creates the shape of the countryside, the vegetation determines the appearance.
© By Kind Permission of Allan Potts
Throughout the year the pattern of the hills shows a subtle range of colours, with heather and grasses mixed with patches of bilberry, bracken and sheep sorrel carpeting the ground. The flora may not be the most outstanding in the country but it is nevertheless a diverse and wonderful blend of arctic and continental species that have colonised despite the fluctuations of the weather.
The flora may not be the most outstanding in the country but it is nevertheless a diverse and wonderful blend of arctic and continental species that have colonised despite the fluctuations of the weather.
Copyright Northumberland National Park
Over many years, due to climate change, plant species have changed. Some flowers have colonised new ground or moved on from other areas which are no longer suitable for them to survive.
© Rosebay Willowherb Allan Potts
In the marshy areas, communities of cotton grass and swords of sphagnum moss grow. This varied habitat is also the home to a delicate balanced community of plants, many with extraordinary beautiful flowers.
Sphagnum Moss Copyright Simon Fraser
The flowers that are readily seen are foxglove, pansy and thyme, along with other common varieties.
The above extract and all copyright photographs have been kindly donated by Eric Smee, Allan Potts and Simon Fraser. More photographs can be seen in a book by Allan Potts called Natural North and by visiting Simon Fraser's web site.
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Foxglove. © Allan Potts Wild Pansy © Allan Potts Thyme © Allan Potts
Foxglove Wild Pansy Thyme
A snipe among sheep sorrel. © Allan Potts Heather © Allant Potts Birds_eye_primrose © Allan Potts
Sheep sorrel Heather Birds eye primrose
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Copyright Cheviots Challenge © 2007