A couple of sunny hours on an otherwise cloudy day. Like yesterday, the air is clear and cold – the sunshine makes a world of difference. The clouds seem particularly clear-cut against the sky, there’s a kite wheeling just above and there are some interesting fungi here and there. Parasols are supposedly good to eat, and giant puffballs (which can only be mistaken for footballs, apparently*) likewise. I’d rather just photograph them and leave them to grow.

*https://www.wildfooduk.com/mushroom-guide/giant-puffball/

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=354860&Y=298485&A=Y&Z=120

There was a frost this morning… It’s still cool later in the day, but it’s sunny, calm and clear – perfect for a wander past Hurst Farm and down to Aldenham, and despite some heavy and ominous clouds, it’s stayed dry. Will it last?

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=366905&Y=295650&A=Y&Z=120

 

Black bryony berries in the hedgerow – a few are still green, others yellow or orange, but the great majority are red now. Eye-catching! Shame they’re poisonous. The leaves on the trees are turning too, and despite the sunshine, there’s a definite autumnal feel to the air today

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120

A walk from Cardington, along quiet surfaced lanes (away from the mud!). There’s hardly any traffic along these narrow ways, and when the odd car has passed and gone, there’s just a little birdsong in the trees and one or two sheep complaining about their lot.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=350990&Y=296295&A=Y&Z=120

… as a gaelic-speaking local of Skye once said to us, describing her feelings on being back on dry land after some lengthy sea trips (we know what she meant). After our week on Skye, we’ve come down to earth (the 500-odd mile drive contributing to that experience) and to celebrate we’re wandering around some very familiar local lanes. It’s good to be back…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120

Familiar ground:  down the lane to Lower Severn Hall, back along the old railway track, and up through Chestnut Coppice Continue reading “In the valley of the Severn” →

Comer and Mose – a walk through the woods and along the very quiet lane past the farm. There are butterflies, there’s a small dragonfly (a common darter, I believe) and, at the other end of the scale, a family of swans in Wall Pool. The NT car park is busy, but beyond a 15 minutes radius from the car, there’s no-one else around.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=375070&Y=289900&A=Y&Z=120

Amongst all the usual autumnal fruits, berries and fungi, there’s a real eye-catcher along Bould Lane – a field full of sunflowers! Definitely not the usual crop! (Once again, we’re out in the morning – heavy showers this afternoon…)

View OS map in Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367470&Y=298250&A=Y&Z=120