Sunny though, and the sunshine’s warm. There’s sunshine in the fields too – oilseed rape, not quite fully in bloom, but eye-catching in the landscape. We’re out fairly early (after a surprise overnight frost) – the clouds will build and there will be showers later.

We’ve been playing with AI recently, mainly to try (with some success) to revive some seriously faded old slides (dare I mention Agfa CT18 and Perutz?). It can also paint! “Please create a watercolour painting from this photo” – here’s the result, another way of looking at this morning’s outing

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366750&Y=296360&A=Y&Z=120

More a wonky egg-shape perhaps…
…which begins up Round Hill, then along Shirlett Lane, cuts across the fields and join the lane past Hannigan’s Farm and the Hurst Farm pools. The Shirlett – Hannigan’s stretch always feels remote – a public footpath without a visible trodden way, well-hidden and possibly little-known. Perfect for a quiet walk on an equally perfect afternoon.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366520&Y=296945&A=Y&Z=120

It’s bright and sunny, but there’s a biting wind. We won’t get the full benefit of the sunshine in Comer Woods, but it’s sheltered there, and it’s warm on our backs at times. It’s the first week of the school Easter holidays – lots of children out with mum and dad, or perhaps their grandparents – but we hadn’t realised so many dogs went to school. There are dozens of them today…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=374660&Y=289471&A=Y&Z=120

Once again: dry sunny weather, pleasant temperatures, no wind… It can’t last, so we’ll make the most of the afternoon with a walk, from the NT car park at Benthall Hall to the hamlet of Wyke. It’s a good circular amble. The first mile or so via Posenhall is along surfaced roads, but then we take to the field paths to Wyke (really quiet!), and continue past the Vineyards back to Benthall.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365445&Y=301876&A=Y&Z=120

Nothing to do with punctuation (apart from the obvious little mark on the back of its wings). Simply, the weather has warmed up and the butterflies are beginning to appear. This year’s first comma was in Bould Lane – and in Britons Lane, we found the first toothwort we seen in 2026. It was much earlier last year – has it been a cold spring? Perhaps, but not during the past few days…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367465&Y=298391&A=Y&Z=120

St Patrick’s Day – and a beautiful day it is too! No shamrocks, but plenty of signs of the developing season in the quiet fields and lanes. The fields are drying out too – no awful unavoidable mud anywhere – and it’s pleasantly warm – no gloves, hat or heavy jacket today. It would be a crime to stay indoors!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367695&Y=300145&A=Y&Z=120

Once again, we’re making the best of some fine weather – there could be some heavy showers later (there were!). Once again, it’s that symmetrical walk (see the map). More to the point, it’s a fine airy stroll, ideal on a morning like this – cold air, warm sunshine

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366750&Y=296360&A=Y&Z=120

Via Harnage Grange – a leg stretch on a bright and breezy day. It’s colourful too – new leaves appearing, and more firsts – first violets, first stitchwort. It’s very pleasant in this quiet countryside below Wenlock Edge.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=356780&Y=301311&A=Y&Z=120

Colour on a drab misty day… A regular route – start at Bedlam, cross the Severn on the Free Bridge, down to Jackfield, over the footbridge to Coalport and the old china works, back over the river by the Coalport bridge, and back to Jackfield along the old railway track. That’s where the elf cups are – eye-catching little spots of scarlet along the edges of the brown but increasingly green side of the path.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=369020&Y=302596&A=Y&Z=120

There’s no shortage of it, though there’s still more to come. Mostly, but not all, blackthorn. Mostly, but not all, white. There’s one very pink treeful at Lower Severn Hall, and some of the white blossom looks creamy-coloured from a distance.
The old railway trackbed is a scene of devastation, much changed since our last visit (Christmas eve). The signs say some of the trees were diseased (ash die-back?) and dangerous. In time, no doubt, things will green up, but at present its a muddy mess!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=372015&Y=296561&A=Y&Z=120