I FIRST began to take an interest in wildlife in the 1950s when steam railways were in full swing. This is why I now love walking on footpaths close to our steam railways. This week I strolled around Embsay using the attractive railway as a base.

The village of Embsay has the Cavendish Arms and the old mill has been converted into a craft centre, which also has a pleasant cafe. All around the station car park I found lots of teasel flowers and this species also has a textile connection. The name mans that it as used as a 'teaser' which was the term used to brush up the nap of newly woven cloth. It is a tall plant up to 3ft high and the flower head is just as prickly as a thistle.

The verges of railway tracks, especially in the days of steam easily caught fire.

The verges therefore have to be kept cut and this means that tall plants are not allowed to dominate the more attractive smaller flowers. At Embsay I found harebell, knapweed, honeysuckle, meadowsweet, bittersweet and of course lots of teasel.

Poisons in hedgerows

LORDS and Ladies is now looking at its best at the moment with its bright red berries looking a treat. This plant should be treated with respect and unless you know just what a red fruit is you should never eat it.

The old fashioned name for Lords and ladies was starchwort. The roots are full of starch.

In Elizabethan times the roots were dried and crushed and the powder was mixed with water and used to stiffen (or starch) the ruffs worn by the gentry.

The late summer is an ideal time to get to know which fruits can be eaten and which are poisonous and should be left alone.

This is the time to look out for wild 'crab' apples. Although they are very sour they do make a delicious pie if mixed with blackberries and sweetened with honey.

Two other members of the apple family are the whitebeam and the rowan. These days we to not eat either of these fruits but at one time our ancestors used them to make wine and sauces which were flavourings for meat and sometimes fish.

Rowan berries are much loved by birds especially members of the thrush family. I have this week watched starlings, jays and woodpigeons gorging themselves on rowan berries.