The bank by the side of Mop’s Farm bridge (over the canal, heading out into the countryside beyond Castlecroft) used to be covered in violets and lesser celandines growing wild in spring. Then the bank started to get heavy foot traffic being used as an unofficial link between the canal towpath and the bridleway across the bridge. For several years, celandine numbers plummeted, and the violets disappeared completely. Now, they’re back.
