A couple of months ago we’d have encountered some serious mud, I suspect… We’re out in the fields between the Bridgnorth road and the river, though we won’t go down to the water – the descent is fairly steep and pretty sticky… It’s mostly grassland and pleasant walking on this breezy afternoon.

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Down by Shore Pool it took on a sepia tint (think brown dead reed mace, muddy brown water). Heading back up the drive to Aldenham, the sun tried fitfully, and some colour returned. It may not have been a warm and sunny day, but it was good to be out.

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A figure of eight, from Shirlett lane to Arlescott and back – with Barrow in the middle. It’s a fine, bright and sunny afternoon, perfect for wandering in these quiet fields. At the far end (the top of the ‘eight’) there are extensive views to the Welsh border hills.

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A walk from Willey, through Linley Green and back up to the tiny St Leonard’s church. We visited it earlier this month – see The Green Man for more photos. The air’s cold today, but the sunshine is warm – it’s very pleasant out in these quiet places.

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Not that it’s especially spring-like. It’s bright but cold. There are signs of the season – primroses and daffodils – and the leaf buds are swelling, but it will be a week or two before the trees lose their winter brown.

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A walk from Willey, on a fine, sunny and altogether pleasant afternoon. We follow Bould Lane to its foot, then cross the road and continue beside Linley Brook. Beyond the cottage, it’s a muddy jungle, then we’re up out of it and soon passing the Albynes, with fields full of sheep and lambs. Re-crossing the road takes us on over Nordley Common and back down to the Smithies, for our usual way back past Lower Pool.

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A grey but pleasant afternoon. The sun’s trying to shine – perhaps it will succeed just as we’re arriving home again… It’s a familiar route. We’ll walk down the lane towards the river, past the ancient-looking buildings at Swinney Farm. The old railway track will lead us to Jackfield: there, we’ll take the path up the dingle which, despite some mud, is always an enjoyable way back up the hill.

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We’ll start up Round Hill. It’s very quiet here: plenty of birdsong, nothing else – except a rustling in the vegetation on the bank beside us. No, not a noisy blackbird – it’s a bank vole, scuttling along under the ground ivy. He’s only visible for seconds, so there’s no chance of a photo, but he (or she) is a welcome sight. At the other end of the scale, the belties are out in the field beside the lane (we can see them through the hedge, so again, no photos). There probably aren’t too many Galloways in Shropshire!

The hedgerows are greening up now – the hawthorn is coming along nicely, as is the honeysuckle, and there are primroses in profusion. All we need now is some sunshine and a little warmth…

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After a grey morning, there’s some pleasant sunshine for this wander: out past Hurst Farm pools, down the drive at Aldenham and across to Shore Pool. They’re  planting potatoes in the first field, but the space-age machinery seems to be on the blink. In the pool. swans are being elegant and decorative. We walk on beyond the pool to find that the sunshine has faded – it’s grey again.

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