Lone Larch

This Larch Tree on Rudland Rigg near Bransdale has a striking spreading habit compared to the telegraph poles found in planted forest.

Though not a native to the UK Larch is found widely in Europe and Asia, and does well here - often self seeding.

Unusual among conifers. it is deciduous - the needles all turn yellow and fall off in the autumn.

In The Alps, Larch can survive at higher elevation than evergreen conifers.

You will often see stunted trees surrounded by snow well into June but they still manage a few weeks with foliage - enough to survive another 10 month winter.