There’s no shortage of colour in the hedgerows now – the willowherb, mallow and thistles are especially eye-catching. And tonight there’s a bonus – a common blue damselfly posing very considerately. It’s the 1st of July today – the wheat and barley are ripening rapidly – by the end of the month, the harvest will have begun.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=370730&Y=296845&A=Y&Z=120
Could do – the clouds are threatening. We’re out for a morning wander – the forecast says thundery showers later, but do the showers know they’ve go to wait until after lunch? In the event they behaved themselves, providing us with some dramatic skies but no rain …
… until after lunch – here they come!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120
Monday 27 June: Perhaps not exactly forgotten – ‘unexpected’ might be a better description, ‘previously unseen’ even more so. We’ve walked this way, along Shirlett Lane, many times – all very familiar (and none the worse for that). Perhaps it was that familiarity which prevented us from noticing more distant hills, some 35 miles to the south, peeping over closer uplands. Let’s have a look with the binoculars – yes, those are the distinctively-shaped Malverns. Why have we never noticed them from here before today? Returning to the car, we look to the Welsh border hills. Another familiar sight, this evening they’re bathed in pastel sunbeams. What an attractive horizon!
Another warm afternoon – some shade would be pleasant. Benthall Edge woods will provide it – and on the way, we can check out the orchids near the hall. Someone (NT, presumably) has now put up a sign pointing the way to the ‘Orchid meadow’, and in the scrubby wooded area where many of the orchids grow, they’ve mown a maze of ways for walkers. There are thousands of the eye-catching flowers, of the common spotted variety, and plenty more in the unmown meadows nearby. After the colourful display, the bluebell wood and the Edge woods provide welcome shade and coolth (is that a word?).
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=366255&Y=302960&A=Y&Z=115
It’s not really long enough to call a walk – barely two miles, but that’s enough on the warm evening of the longest day. On the south side of the river we follow the old Severn valley railway track – cool and shady – before crossing the bridge and walking up the Coalport branch track as far as the china works.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=369710&Y=302327&A=Y&Z=115
Out this afternoon with a friend who wanted to take a look at the disused station at Linley – and out again this evening (the fine weather is too good to waste) for a wander around the Willey lanes. Lots of colour in the verges and hedgerows – truly, sumer is icumen in (though sadly, no cuccu)
View OS maps on Streetmap: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=370860&Y=297845&A=Y&Z=120 and http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367575&Y=298255&A=Y&Z=120
We walked this route in early March. Now it’s almost midsummer, and what a difference! The weather’s different too – bright and breezy then, with lots of sunshine. The June sun is reluctant to come out from behind the clouds, but the hedgerow flowers are out in profusion. Despite the lack of sunshine, it’s a colourful scene
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=356005&Y=289605&A=Y&Z=120
…it was hard to believe the weather forecast. It was correct though. Yesterday’s clear blue sky and warmth (27C by mid-afternoon, only a little cooler by mid-evening) gave way to todays rain, and temperatures in the low teens. What a difference!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365230&Y=297895&A=Y&Z=120
No need to fly to distant lands – these pyramids are orchids, reliably plentiful along this part of the Wenlock Edge in early summer.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=359215&Y=298296&A=Y&Z=120
It’s a fine still evening, perfect for a stroll. The air is heavy, and laden (I fear) with pollen, which is bursting forth everywhere…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=370730&Y=296845&A=Y&Z=120
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