It looked like it would be brighter earlier in the day, if not especially sunny. We’ll head for Benthall and the woods along the Edge. The woodland path passes through a wonderful 3D landscape, created partly by the trees but largely by Benthall Edge itself, with a steep drop to the left and numerous remnants of old quarries.

At the troll’s bridge, all we can hear is birdsong and the gently glugging of the tiny stream below – listen to the sound clip below…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366210&Y=303080&A=Y&Z=120

Thursday 20 April: The sky is blue, the fields (several of them anyway) are bright yellow – the oilseed rape is in bloom. It’s not quite a classic English landscape, but it’s dramatic. The brilliant yellow makes it feel like the sun’s shining on the cloudiest of days. We’re walking from Barrow, across the fields to Wyke and back, on a very pleasant afternoon.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=365265&Y=301021&A=Y&Z=120

Wednesday 19 April: at about 5.20pm, on what had been an unremittingly grey day, the sky cleared – we’re going out to enjoy the sunshine (and very fresh air… It’s not warm) for an hour or so, across the fields to Colemore Green, and back past the fishing pools and Astley Abbotts.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=370945&Y=296885&A=Y&Z=120

A minor variation on a regular route – up Scots Lane and down the track past Linley church, visiting the green man on the north wall. The oilseed rape is coming into bloom – we can smell it (and no, ‘scent’ wouldn’t be the right word) as we cross the field to Bould Lane. Further along, the blackthorn blossom is brilliant white against a clear blue sky. It’s a colourful walk today!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=368020&Y=298345&A=Y&Z=120

A teatime walk – same route as yesterday, but anticlockwise. The views are different, and so is the weather: after a showery day, the sky is mostly blue, the air is clear and the sunshine bright. I pause beside the pool to tie a bootlace, foot on the fence, startling a previously-unseen duck. A passing walker asks if I’ve seen what’s below me – no fewer than eight eggs (he’s been watching the spot for a day or two). A very quick snap and we’re on our way – we will look forward to ducklings…

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

We wandered around Willey not quite four weeks ago (see Seasonal Signs), noting signs of the developing season, subtle then but striking now. There are primroses in great profusion, as expected, now complemented by the first bluebells, garlic mustard and ladies’ smock. The world is becoming colourful!

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

The spring flowers are multiplying rapidly – primroses, violets (and white ones), wild strawberry, wood anemone, tuberous comfrey – it’s all happening around Church Preen

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=355085&Y=298270&A=Y&Z=120

A bit of both today – a stiff breeze blowing light showers across the countryside. Walking past Hurst Farm and on towards Shirlett, it would have been good to complete the loop to Shirlett Lane and return to the car down Round Hill – but I suspect we’d still be floundering in the mud (we had a drop of rain last night). Instead, where the track ends, we’ll turn and retrace our steps. The views are different in the other direction…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366665&Y=296480&A=Y&Z=120

Feels like it too, this morning – warm sunshine, puffy white clouds, slightly cool but not cold. We’re enjoying a short wander around Astley Abbotts and Colemore Green, past the fishing pools and back up the field towards the old school house.

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=370945&Y=296885&A=Y&Z=120

Same as last week! About a mile and a quarter along Rowe Lane there’s a huge puddle. We’ve met it before, after heavy rain, and last time we got through, but this time it seemed deeper and there was no way along the verge – the hedge would have pushed one of us in (and I’d have been in trouble)… So we’re retracing our steps to head across the fields to Holdgate, and apart from new views, we see one (sadly, dead) fox, one hare (very much alive and too fast for the camera), two herons (flying over) and a tree full of cormorants. We also see the back of Hall Farm at Holdgate, which seems to be built around the remains of a castle, complete with arrow slits (loopholes?) for archers. Like last week’s flooded ford, the puddle did us a favour!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=354870&Y=289150&A=Y&Z=120