It looks like being grey this afternoon – so we’ll go for a quick short stroll before lunch. The circuit from Benthall Hall car park, down the lane and around to Wyke will be good, and it’s not going to delay lunch too much either.

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Tuesday 24 February: dry, mild, sunny, just a light breeze – who could want more? The walk from Willey village hall takes me up through the woods to Shirlett. A path across the fields – and a couple of wooded dingles – leads me to Barrow. The least pleasant stretch is the walk down the side of the Broseley – Wenlock road, but it’s less than a mile and downhill all the way. Now I’m in the woods again, and on up the old hollow way to the crest of the ridge – and back down to Willey. What an enjoyable afternoon – and (apart from one or two cars on the road from Barrow) I’ve had it all to myself.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366235&Y=299101&A=Y&Z=120

A very welcome warmer day! Just three days ago, it was 3C at Church Preen. Today, just a mile or two to the south, it was 13C – positively balmy! It was certainly very pleasant for this walk in the quiet countryside to the north-east of Cardington. Gloves and hat in pocket!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=351920&Y=296591&A=Y&Z=120

 

3C – a cold afternoon (and that’s celsius, of course. 3F would have been seriously icy!). At least there’s no wind. Walking keeps us warm, though gloved fingers are suffering slightly by the time we’re back to the car. There’s a thin cover of snow on the Wenlock Edge, and patches here and there on the high ground around Church Preen – but there’s none down by the school.

A red kite takes off from a nearby tree, and drifts slowly away from us. Photo? No chance. In the hedge near Parkstyle – is that a wren? No, too colourful. We think it’s a goldcrest, though it still seems too colourful. Could it be a firecrest? Photo? Again, no chance! Too far away for a clear view, and he’s hopping around in the bare hedge, never still for a second. The dunnock is the mud was much easier but far less colourful (and too far away for a really good photo)…

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Yesterday’s forecast suggested wall-to-wall sun for today. This morning’s forecast: cloudy from 10am… At least it would stay dry. It’s cold, but there’s no wind – the track beyond Hurst Farm pools to the ridge will provide us with an enjoyable walk. The views are hazy: the real interest is in the foreground…

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Spring’s not far away – there are signs everywhere around the Willey lanes. First celandine, first hawthorn leaves, first primrose. Not long now!

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It’s been rather wet recently (truly February Fill Dyke!). This morning, however, it’s sunny (and frosty); clouds will move in from the west this afternoon, so we’ll get out while the sunshine is bright – and home again in time for lunch. Shirlett Lane should be perfect!

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It’s the 4th today – the first three days weren’t great… The forecast said it should stay dry, and the sun could appear around 4pm. We were pleasantly surprised a couple of hours later

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