From late May and into the summer, cottongrass covers many areas of the moorlands and its white cotton buds (particularly of the one-headed hare’s-tail variety) create a real atmosphere of serenity after the harsh winter months.
This year has been a particularly good year for cottongrass and filming it also gave a good chance to record the moorland soundscape with its songs of curlews and pipits.
It was also interesting to read that cottongrass was historically used as filling for bedding, and was sometimes known as poor man’s featherbed. Visitors to the Peak District might notice that there are multiple locations on the moors known as Featherbed Moss, alongside many other hidden places to fall asleep or to contemplate amongst the heather and cottongrass!