It is no surprise that Walton Colliery Nature Park is good for wild flowers. This relatively new reserve has been extremely well planned and managed, and is now starting to reap the rewards. One reason for this is that there are many sub-habitats within the reserve. For example, the lake water margins, the Barnsley canal, the higher land away from the water, small ponds and little areas of water, the marshy area at the Crofton side of the reserve etc.

There are numerous species of wild flower here. Examples are Northern Marsh Orchid, Musk Mallow, Viper's Bugloss, Hop Trefoil, Weld, Lady's Bedstraw, Cowslip and Wild Carrot.

There is a long straight tarmac path that starts at the end of Pugneys Road in Portobello. This path runs between Sandal Castle and Pugneys lake, and can be accessed from both. For most of the way, the Pugneys flood drain runs by the side of the path. This has been recently been dug out and widened to prevent the risk of flooding on Denby Dale Road. This excavation has brought to the surface many seeds that have no doubt been buried for many years. 2010 was a spectacular year, with Wintercress, Rosebay Willowherb, Goatsbeard, Scented Mayweed, Common Comfrey and many others.

You can also wander over to the river Calder, and the path to Denby Dale Road is also good for flowers, including Butterbur, Burdock (Lesser and Greater), Curled Dock, Toadflax and Hoary Cress.

The surrounding area was part of the Sandal Castle estate in times gone past, and will have remained largely unchanged for years. There are also a large variety of grasses alongside the tarmac path, which are at their best in June.

If you go to the far end of the station car park, you will find a long straight tarmac path that leads to Oakenshaw Lane at Walton, and runs by the side of the high-speed London to Leeds railway. Most people probably do not know that this path exists, but it is excellent for spring wild flowers that like partial shade. The variety of species could be down to the air currents that are generated by the trains, which bring in seeds, possibly from many miles away.

Examples of flowers that can be seen are Greater Stitchwort, Nipplewort, Feverfew and Coltsfoot.

Chantry Waters is the new block of flats on the south side of Chantry Bridge in Wakefield (see first photo).

The area of interest stretches from Chantry Waters to Fall Ings Basin. There are two routes that you can take. There is a disused road that turns into a path in a few hundered yards. Or you can follow the path by the River Calder. An obvious quick circular walk!

Examples of flowers that can be seen are Teasel, Smooth Hawksbeard, Ox-eye Daisy, Tansy, Melilot, Mugwort and Hedgerow Cranesbill.

Pugneys Country Park is more of a venue for bird spotting rather than flower spotting.

However, the main area of interest is the area around the bird hide on the nature reserve lake. There is also a small wood here which can be investigated.

Examples of flowers that can be seen are Salad Burnet, Herb Bennet, Meadow Buttercup and Teasel.