SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

This is the time of year that there are acres of rape plants in full yellow blossom. There will be many such fields of rape in the Leeds countryside. I took this telephoto today (May 8 2012) showing just part of a field of rape plants from the track of the old Roman Road approaching Milner Lane (nearish to Bardsey). It also shows part of Holme Farm in the rear. If it wasn't for the trees I think the view could easily be mistaken for one of part of a large United States farm. To give an idea of the extent of the yellow I will post a non-telephoto shot from the same area in my next post. Don't worry, I won't be posting any others of the very colourful extensive views in the area!

This is the non-telephoto view with Holme Farm in the rear. It shows much but not all of the field.

I'd noticed more yellow than ever before whilst driving North and South of Leeds. Will it all be seed rape or could some of it be peas and other yellow flowering vegetables ?

No end of rape seed fields down here. Pretty though.    

Caron wrote: No end of rape seed fields down here. Pretty though.     It must be a very good cash crop,have you seen the price of rape seed oil in supermarkets!

stutterdog wrote: Caron wrote: No end of rape seed fields down here. Pretty though.     It must be a very good cash crop,have you seen the price of rape seed oil in supermarkets! Hi Stutterdog. Hope you're well and looking after my little Farsley! (I do miss the place still) No, can't say as I've noticed the price but unlike a lot of women I hate shopping so go armed with my list and move as quickly as I can. I hate supermarkets.Rape seed has always been in abundance here.Wonder if the farmer's make good money??

StutterdogI take it you mean the bottles with the fancy labels an dthe greenish oil in them. That is not a good example to take for pricing purposes. It is a niche market where seeds are specially grown and cold pressed, and the manufacturers charge a ridiculous price for something they claim has something special. Rapeseed is a reasonably healthy oil, but the claims made by these producers are grossly exagerated. Most of the very cheap stuff labelled just "Vegetable Oil" is Rapeseed Oil

A very large proportion is now used by the biofuel industry - which pushes up the price of the remainder for cullinery use.

Not all rape is grown for the oil it used to be grown and ploughed back into the ground as green manure.

There's a farm which sells cold pressed rape seed oil at the rear of the ex Barley Corn at Collingham. I worked with a bloke who hated it with a passion, he kept bees and the honey produced from rape was of poor quality and set solid in the comb,s. Its EU subsidies which decides whether its viable to grow or not, must be a good subsidy this year.