This seems to have been a good year for the Sweet White Violet Viola odorata. It can be seen locally in small patches of woodland , rough verges and sunny banks. These pictures were taken on the river bank at St Michael’s Linton. The blue variety is not so common here but was seen in some profusion on our visits to the river banks at West Tanfield in previous years. It does have a gentle perfume. When the flowers have died back, the leaves keep on growing and get quite large.

Christine Bell