Just photos – no particular theme
A short wander on a June evening, for a leg stretch and some different views. There are occasional views of the bridge from the back roads above the river, and there are tigers in the jungle…
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As ever, despite the familiar territory, there were things of interest for the camera yesterday evening, including the first rosebay willowherb, and some wonderful mud ‘crazy paving’ (this morning’s rain will have washed all the patterns away, I suspect). Two weeks ago, the farmers were busy planting potatoes in these fields – already, they’re coming up.
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The thunderstorms of last weekend washed mud down from the fields and into the centre of Bould Lane. The water has all run away – or evaporated in the hot sunshine we’ve had since the storms. The result: fragile crazy paving!
We left Tenbury Wells and headed for Croft – but today, instead of the hill fort and Bircher Common, we’re visiting the castle. Too warm for walking!
We’ve driven through, but never stopped… Last week, after an unwieldy few minutes while she tried to remember its name, we learned where our friend had bought her fine summer hat. “We must go there one day soon”. Unusually, we did (and bought a hat). Tenbury Wells has a proper high street, an unusual little round market hall (where a round market is held!), and as for those pump rooms – wow! “Built in 1862 to promote the town as a spa for the working classes”, according to the town council. Wow again! The rooms are open to the public for a few hours on Fridays – which happen to be market days. We will be back!
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An evening wander along this very quiet lane, enjoying the low angle of the light and the lower temperature after a warm afternoon
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365992&Y=298162&A=Y&Z=115
They’ll be shady, cool perhaps… In the still and humid air, any sunshine would be uncomfortable, but in the event we saw little of the sun, and it was certainly very pleasant under the trees on the eastern slopes of Brown Clee. Colourful too – great masses of rhododendron here and there. It’s Cosford air show today – we might see some of the flying exhibits? We did, but just one big thing that circled for a time, never getting quite close enough for a decent photo. We didn’t see (or hear) the Red Arrows either – perhaps we’re just too far away. We did see a red kite, which on balance is a preferable alternative… And other than one group of chatty walkers, we had the hill to ourselves.
What does it sound like up here? Listen!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=359930&Y=286800&A=Y&Z=120
It will even warmer after lunch, so we’re out a little earlier today. We’re following our tracks from almost two weeks ago – up Round Hill, down Ned’s lane, over Nordley Common to Stocking Lane and back through sheepy fields. Same route, but the season has moved on.
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…and another amble past the barley fields and the Boldings pools
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=370945&Y=296885&A=Y&Z=120
But the photographer did! Perhaps 30 years ago, a late neighbour told me he’d found a bee orchid on Wenlock Edge. I’ve been watching out for them ever since. In May, the early purple orchids are plentiful; now, the common spotted abound (as we saw yesterday), and we’re approaching the pyramid season. We were hoping we might find some of the latter today. We did – just a few, they need a week or two more. Then – there it was! Just the one, in bloom and eye-catching – a most remarkable find, the first I’ve ever seen! Still buzzing…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=359200&Y=298505&A=Y&Z=120
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