There’s rain forecast for late in the afternoon. Let’s walk out through the deer park, and return to spend a minute or two in the walled garden – we won’t be far from the car if the rain comes early. We did – and it did… Rain stopped play.
A Shirlett kite
He (or she) was investigating some roadkill, a couple of hundred yards away, but took off as we saw him. Just for a change, there’s some sunshine bringing out the colour against a blue sky – but we’re under trees, so we’re only getting brief glimpses. For a moment or two, a tree at the other side of the field provides a perch – then we’re off again, seeing what else they might be to eat… Another enjoyable stroll along Shirlett Lane.
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August in Cound
A month ago, there was plenty of colour in the hedgerows. In another month or so, the first signs of autumn will be contributing their own palette to the scene. But now, barely a week into August, most of the flowers are past, and the fruits have yet to appear. We’ll hope for some colour in the broader landscape – golden cornfields perhaps, and some blue in the sky (between showers…)
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The lane and the dingle
A leisurely wander on a pleasantly warm afternoon, when the shade under the trees is cool and inviting.
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Arlescott and Wyke
Across the fields from Barrow: it’s familiar ground, pleasant on this fine afternoon and warm when the sun shines. The oats beside the path are tall; elsewhere, the harvest’s already in.
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A close look at Wenlock
Once again, it’s a cloudy, dull day – so the interest for the camera will lie in things close by. We’re walking fron the NT car park at Much Wenlock, up the Blakeway Hollow lane then back along the Edge, as far as the Homer path. Our return route takes us back through Much Wenlock, where we’ll take a look in a shop window or two…
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Peaton and Bouldon
Quiet ways in Corvedale, perfect for a Sunday afternoon leg-stretch. The landscape of the dale is dominated by Brown Clee on one side, Wenlock Edge on the other – and the gold of ripe crops of barley, wheat and oats.
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The Willey circuit
It’s a good standby for an afternoon when it could rain (it didn’t – not while we were out anyway). The season is moving on – here’s the first blackberry of 2021!
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Stiperstones revisited
Thursday 29 July: Haven’t been here for a while. It’s a good day for this wild open country – some sunshine, some clouds, a cool breeze. We’ll need to find a sheltered spot for our picnic lunch, behind the rocks on the ridge, in amongst the bilberries (blaeberries, wimberries, whatever…). They’re ripe: several get eaten…
It’s surprisingly busy along the main rocky ridge. Some of the visitors are not really there – or perhaps, since they carefully avoid looking at us or acknowledging our presence, we’re not really there. Just smile and say ‘Hello’ – that’s all we need!
I think they’ve all come up the easy way, from the east-side car park – beyond that, it’s quiet again – just the red kites (four), the ducks (dozens of them, sitting on the road), and the alpacas and llamas (of course!). It’s an interesting part of the world!
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A peacock and the dingle
Walking down to Jackfield and back, mostly by little-known paths and tracks – shady ways for a warm afternoon.
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