More firsts for 2025: green alkanet, yellow deadnettle, herb robert – and a small tortoiseshell butterfly. Just a few days ago we read in the paper that they’d suffered their worst year on record – and there he was, feeding on dandelions as though everything was fine! We’re enjoying a late-morning walk from Willey, along the lane through the Smithies, up Round Hill and back down through the woods along Ned’s Lane, which after a particularly muddy autumn and winter, is almost dry along its length. (Please could someone dig out that spring and divert its water off the path…)

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We’ll start with blue – the year’s first bluebell, and end with white – the first stitchwort. In between, a wander through Chestnut Coppice, down to the riverbank, back up to Colemore Green, along the road and back to the start past Boldings Pools.

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…and he’ll still be around tomorrow, I expect. We’re walking from Wenlock, out to the derelict farm at Perkley and back. We’ll stop for a minute or two at the chocolate seat. “Look, there’s a hare!”. A minute or so later there was another, neither of them in any hurry. Then, as we approached the field corner, we saw one heading back towards us. Stay still and quiet… He paused and posed just yards away, then a few seconds later (ears down now!) took off like a rocket. A moment to remember!

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There’s no hurry, and the sunshine is warm… It’s a day or two since we had a proper leg stretch – we’ve spent too much time sitting in cars and train. Dudmaston will be perfect!

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Not far from Wenlock – Stretton Westwood and Bourton Westwood, a few houses and a large farm respectively. There’s not a cloud in the sky – it would be criminal not to be out enjoying the quiet countryside on a day like this. Starting from the old quarry beside the Church Stretton road, we head up the farm track and over the Edge, descend to the field path past Bourton Westwood, and return to the start down the lane and through the old quarry. This is the lesser-known edge at this end of the double escarpment – there’s no-one else about. What a pleasant little outing!

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It’s not quite the walk we’d intended. The bluebell wood path is blocked (we’ll take the detour, along the edge of the field), then further on Workhouse Coppice is, in effect, closed – both due to fallen trees. We’ll retrace our steps a little way and head for Benthall Edge woods, where there’s no problem. We’re entertained along the way by numerous songbirds – the usual suspects plus, on this occasion, a chiffchaff or two, and last of all a yellowhammer. He’d love some bread, but isn’t too struck on cheese, apparently.

Chiffchaff, robin, wren, thrush, wood pigeon, blue tit, yellowhammer…

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Last time I tried to walk through the sheep pastures up here, about 15 months ago, the mud did its best to stop me. I suspect it’s been quite muddy ever since, but the recent dry weather made it worth a retry. Yes, soft in places but not a problem. On this fine morning – the vernal equinox, no less – it’s very pleasant up here, and (dare we say it?) comfortably warm. No hats, scarves, gloves, thick winter jackets today!

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Aston Munslow: a walk up to the Wenlock Edge, the crest of which is over 1,000′ in these parts. It clearly catches the wind – December’s storm Darragh has done some damage. We’ll have to revise our route. Diversions notwithstanding, this is a great place to be on a fine and sunny afternoon. The views across Corvedale are extensive, taking in the Clee hills and Mortimer Forest, beyond Ludlow. There’s a real sense of space up here – and we’ve got it all to ourselves!

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