The Met Office says spring begins next Wednesday, and we’ve had a few spring-like days recently. Not quite there yet… Photos? At first, it’s too cold to hang around. We’re halfway round before the sun (we can really feel its warmth) and the camera come out. What a difference!

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Thursday 23 Feb: We could park at the sawmill car park, walk around Dudmaston and through the asparagus farm to Comer Wood – get a light lunch at the shepherd’s hut. Yes, we could, if it hadn’t been half-term week (perhaps there’s something to be said for instant coffee: “instant”…). After five minutes in a stationary queue, we decided to cut our losses (we’ll have a late lunch at home). Escaping from the woods at their northernmost tip, we follow the quiet road to Mose and the farm track beyond, back to the start.

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Yet another day that feels like early spring. The pussy willow beside the Severn thinks so too, adding a little splash of yellow to the scene

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According to the Shropshire Star, we’ve had no ‘meaningful’ rainfall for a whole month. We’re not complaining – there are many places around here that become almost inaccessible during a ‘fill dyke’ February – but I have that feeling that we’re going to pay for it later… Yes, once again it’s a fine and sunny afternoon, and we’re out wandering from Benthall Hall, down to Workhouse Coppice, along Benthall Edge and back via Wyke and Posenhall. Spring is just over a week away – it’s in the air today.

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We haven’t been out this way for a little while – down the old waggonway from Wenlock to Seven Springs, then into Bannister’s Coppice and back up through Homer to Wenlock. It’s very quiet in this wooded country below the Wenlock Edge, and very pleasant in the intermittent sunshine. Perhaps we’ll see some deer? Perhaps not! – though there are plenty of fresh footprints. The alpacas at Sheinwood mill will have to do instead.

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No sunshine, and maybe a few spots of rain later. It’s a mild, grey, breezy afternoon, and it’s pleasant out along the lane, down to the old railway track and back up the dingle. Some of the things we find are worth a closer look…

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It’s (moderately) famous in these parts – the snowdrop walk at Cound (it’s always a very pleasant walk; the snowdrops are a bonus). We’ve promised ourselves we’ll do it for years, but it’s always been too wet, or it’s a weekend and it will be very busy, or we’ve only remembered when the short season is over. Today it was neither wet nor busy – we were walking (slowly, and stopping for photographs) for about two hours, and didn’t see anyone else. We had the snowdrops all to ourselves – and what a lot of them there are. Quite uncountable, there must be millions! The gentle valley of the Coundmoor Brook seems to be full of them! Famous? Understandably!

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A circumambulation (i.e. we walked around a bit) on a day when the fog cleared, but the mist stayed. The sheep are basking in the very pleasant (again!) sunshine, and it’s certainly atmospheric up here on Brown Clee, though it would have been good to see just a little further – at times, we could barely make out the ridge of the Wenlock Edge.

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We start at Stretton Westwood, and head up a rough farm lane to Bourton Westwood Farm. Now we head south-west, passing Westwood Farm at Bourton Westwood to the southernmost point of this wander, a few hundred yards from Bourton… Heading back towards the start, we recross the ridge and descend past Westwood House. Hence the title.
Westwood notwithstanding, it’s a truly beautiful afternoon. No wind to speak of, a clear blue sky, cool air (I’m keeping my gloves on!) and warm sunshine. It’s rather hazy, making for atmospheric views from the Wenlock Edge. Tomorrow’s going to be fine and sunny too…

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An enjoyable circular, making the most of the current dry conditions – the route passes through fields which can be rather soggy at this time of year. The land between Shirlett and Hannigan’s Farm feels particularly remote – no sign or sound of habitation. I don’t think it gets many visitors (and I’m not complaining!).

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