Fruitfulness

They’re not all edible, and I certainly wouldn’t want to experiment, but there are fruits of all kinds in the hedgerows today. As well as those illustrated, there are plenty of blackberries, and here and there some sweet damsons. No-one would want to eat the wild hops, but rub a flower between the fingers and the aroma is wonderful!

Shirlett and the dragonfly

The weather’s good – cool, perhaps, definitely a hint of autumn. But it’s bank holiday Monday – the crowds will be out. Can we avoid them?* We walked this way just a few days ago, but there’s always something interesting to see. Today, it’s a dragonfly, perched in the bushes at the foot of Round Hill – and he’s prepared to pose for the camera, for as long as it takes.
* Yes, we did!

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Westhope and Wenlock Edge

Woodland wandering… A five-mile circuit at the south-western end of the Edge, from the car park at Harton Hollow, down the lane to Westhope, onwards along Hope Dale until we’re below the tower of Flounders’ Folly, then up the farm lane (away from the folly) to the woodland of the westernmost edge. The tiny car park is busy, but apart from some particularly loud-voiced walkers just behind us (we decided to let them go ahead…), it’s very peaceful in Hope Dale. It’s not quite so quiet through the woodlands – there’s the rumble of traffic on the unseen A49 below,  less than a mile away at first. By the time we’re at the northern end of this most-enjoyable stretch, it’s quiet again.

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The straight lane and Kenley

Most of our minor roads are narrow and twisty, but there are one or two, below the Wenlock Edge, that have some dead-straight stretches. We’re using one of these to make a circular walk, to include a farm track taking us up to Kenley. Towards the top, there’s a solitary sunflower lying beside the track – however did it get there? More mysteries to follow – small heaps of potatoes, carrots, sugar beet, maize cobs and bean pods beside the road. Why?

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