Green grass of home

Whatever the weather, grass just keeps on growing in Cumbrian valleys.

Visitors to Cumbria, from all points of the globe will be marveling at the beautiful green fells, but what makes them green?

It's the grass, say scientists. This small leafy plant is growing wild all over Cumbria, and the good news is that it grows faster than our sheep can eat it!

The plant comes in different varieties, long or short.

The hardy greenery seems to be indestructible according to friendly villagers. "The council come and cut it every now and then," said one elderly lady, who has seen a lot of grass grow in her 80 years in the Troutbeck valley, "but it just grows back," she adds.

"I don't see the point of it really, you'd think they would have more important things to do."

But there are others who look forward to the Spring, when the grass begins its annual growing. "Watching grass grow is not just exciting," says Dr Capston, from the Cumbria Greenery Investigation Team, "its by far the most interesting thing in many of our valleys."

Capston adds that they have noticed that grass was growing in slightly different shades of green and was concerned that some variations may not meet the approval of the special planning board.