Cowslips at Brown End Quarry

Cowslips are one of my favourite spring flowers from my childhood.

I was delighted to see so many at  Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's Brown End Quarry today - just a shame there wasn't much sunshine!

Mountain pansies at Thorswood

My first ever visit to this pretty Staffordshire Wildlife Trust reserve and I'm smitten!
Thorswood  has iron age barrows and remains of mining activity, so the reserve is dotted with mounds and hollows,

 it also has amazing views even on an overcast day like today

and at this time of year there are mountain pansies

and other spring flowers including cowslips,

wood anemone,

wood sorrel,

 violet,

and primroses

I will have to return again in the summer to see the orchids

We also watched a pair of raven on their nest

and caught a glimpse of a hare - next time maybe we will see more than a glimpse