Hike through fields of purple heather flowers in North York Moors NP, England, UK, Europe.

Hike through fields of purple heather flowers from Great Broughton to Blakey Ridge, in North York Moors National Park, North Yorkshire county, England, United Kingdom, Europe. British taxpayers subsidize this privately-owned National Park, where the high, semi-natural moorland is managed by farmers and landowners for traditional sheep farming and grouse shooting. Burning the heather encourages new growth to provide food for sheep and the native red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica, a subspecies of willow ptarmigan). Controversial killing of foxes, stoats and crows (predator control) is done to increase grouse density. While only a rich elite can afford the regulated hunt for grouse, hunting infrastructure supports the local economy. Three types of heather grow on the North York Moors: 1) Ling (Calluna vulgaris), the most common type here, has very tiny pink flowers generally blooming in mid- to late-August; 2) Bell heather has dark pink or purple bell-shaped flowers; 3) Cross-leaved heath, found in boggy areas, blooms with pale pink bell-shaped flowers. England Coast to Coast hike day 11 of 14. [This image, commissioned by Wilderness Travel, is not available to any other agency providing group travel in the UK, but may otherwise be licensable from Tom Dempsey – please inquire at PhotoSeek.com.]

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Filename: 17UK-4341_England.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / PhotoSeek.com
Image Size: 4000x6000 / 9.0MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; England Europe Magnoliophyta Plantae UK agriculture agronomy angiosperms bloom blossom flowers landscape nature outdoor plants
Contained in galleries: ENGLAND: North York Moors NP, CtoC-3, 2017 July: ENGLAND all: CtoC hike, York, castles

Hike through fields of purple heather flowers from Great Broughton to Blakey Ridge, in North York Moors National Park, North Yorkshire county, England, United Kingdom, Europe. British taxpayers subsidize this privately-owned National Park, where the high, semi-natural moorland is managed by farmers and landowners for traditional sheep farming and grouse shooting. Burning the heather encourages new growth to provide food for sheep and the native red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica, a subspecies of willow ptarmigan). Controversial killing of foxes, stoats and crows (predator control) is done to increase grouse density. While only a rich elite can afford the regulated hunt for grouse, hunting infrastructure supports the local economy. Three types of heather grow on the North York Moors: 1) Ling (Calluna vulgaris), the most common type here, has very tiny pink flowers generally blooming in mid- to late-August; 2) Bell heather has dark pink or purple bell-shaped flowers; 3) Cross-leaved heath, found in boggy areas, blooms with pale pink bell-shaped flowers. England Coast to Coast hike day 11 of 14. [This image, commissioned by Wilderness Travel, is not available to any other agency providing group travel in the UK, but may otherwise be licensable from Tom Dempsey – please inquire at PhotoSeek.com.]