Melancholoy Thistle

This spectacular plant is one of teh highlights of the riverbank in the higher part of the dale’s catchment. They are particularly abundant along the headwaters of the Yore and the Tees; where there are some extensive fields of the teh brilliant purple flowers. they are unmissable as the flowers are 5cm or more across and rise to a height of a metre or more. Truly spectacular. Although they are a thistle they don’t have spines. It’s all good with the melancholy thistle. No reason to be melancholy at all.