It’s going to rain tomorrow – all day, with the possibility of thunderstorms. It’s trying to be dry this afternoon – we’d better get out there, for a quick walk around Willey and the Smithies – up Round Hill, down Ned’s Lane and back via Bould Lane and Britons Lane. Despite the wind, the interest is in the detail today – when it stays still…

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It’s a bank holiday: we’re staying close to home… On this warm afternoon, Benthall Edge might be pleasant, and the orchids should be out in the scrubby woodland near the hall. It was – and they were!

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The Met Office says so anyway. It doesn’t feel especially summery at first, but the sky’s clearing and it’s getting warmer by the time we get back to the car. The hedgerows are full of summer flowers too, so it must be true!

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…along Shirlett Lane on a mid-May evening, for a breath of fresh air. It’s quiet along here, apart from the birdsong, and who could possibly complain about that?

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It’s not actually raining, but there are spots in the breeze from time to time. We’re walking around Colemore Green – starting out near the old Astley Abbotts school, past Boldings Pools, down through Chestnut Coppice to the old railway track, then back up to the little wayside shop (we’re out of marmalade!). Under a grey sky, today’s interest is in the detail.

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When the light’s like this, it’s against the law to stay at home. Familiar territory, exceptional illumination!

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Steady rain all morning (we need it!) – then, the forecast suggested, a less-than-perfect afternoon followed by a brighter evening. By 1.30pm it’s looking pretty good – let’s go for it. The ground will be wet away from a good surface – we’ll stick to Shirlett Lane, for a good leg-stretch and some great views in the rain-washed air.

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Bannister’s and Traps Coppices in May. There’s a big clump of rhododendron in Bannister’s, and in Traps the early purple orchids are in bloom – there are 60 or more flower heads in one small area. The wild garlic is everywhere! Becoming sunnier as the afternoon wears on, it’s very pleasant under the trees today.

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Walking down to Coalport, for tea and cakes beside the former china works, now a museum (to answer the obvious question – no, the YHA café serves on everyday earthenware – nevertheless, the cakes are great!). As we plod steadily back up the dingle, there’s a pleasant pong – the wild garlic is in full bloom. Snowdrifts in May!

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… following a showery afternoon (we’d have got soaked!). There’s not much light (other than in the far distance) but it’s very pleasant around these quiet lanes.

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