Sunny before lunch

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Once again, the morning looked better for a leg-stretch – and as I write, there’s thunder, lightning, hailstones… Around Willey, things are starting to look green again just as autumn initiates another colour change. There are puffballs in the village hall car park, big bales in the field, hops in the hedge, damsons (mostly out of reach) – and free llama manure. That’s a first!

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Berryful

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Walks1 Comment

“It’s a very berryful autumn”. Yes, that’s a fair description, even if the word hasn’t yet made it to the dictionary. Today, we’re walking through Harnage Grange, then up past Stonewall Wood and the back of Bull Farm to Kenley ridge. The bushes beside the path in that unseen valley are heavily laden – sloes and haws predominate, but there are others (no photos of the rosehips – they wouldn’t stay still in the stiff south-easterly breeze). Another very pleasant autumnal afternoon!

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Harvests

On By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

A local circular, starting at the top of Scots Lane. Down to Bould Lane, down again to the path across the fields, to Linley Hall and beyond. Just where the path would descend to the riverbank, another way leads along the edge of Birch Wood. We skirt the steep drop down to Dean Brook to head back across the fields towards Linley Green and the start. The fields beside Bould lane have been harvested, the straw baled and the ground harrowed. Beyond Linley Hall, there’s a chap operating timber harvesting machinery. There are trees full of crab apples, there are wild plums (sadly, well out of reach), more damsons than I’ve ever seen at this time of year – and wild mushrooms at the field’s edge.

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Early autumn

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The signs are all there. Ripe berries in the hedgerow, seasonal colours developing and cooler days. Seems to have happened rather suddenly. It’s going to be dull this afternoon, but the morning should be brighter – we’re out soon after breakfast (and a quick look at the crossword), past Boldings pools and up to the old school, back via Colemore Green. Very pleasant it is too!

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Clun Castle

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We’ve visited Clun from time to time over many years, but it’s a long time since we last visited the castle. Its namesake, the GWR-designed ‘Clun Castle’, no. 7029, is possibly much better known (see Clun Castle on Geoffspages blog) – the castle itself is not the most impressive of ruins. However, it’s photogenic on its mound high above the river Clun on this bright but showery afternoon, and there are some fine views of the surrounding countryside.

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Not many more…

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It won’t be long before we enjoy this year’s last evening walk – the nights are rapidly drawing in. We’ll make the most of it on this occasion, when the air is clear and cool after a few showers earlier. The two young deer were a bonus, but a passing car (one of only three or four that passed us) disturbed them and off they went, into the woods. I don’t think they were planning on staying anyway.

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By Coundmoor Brook

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Up the lane to Harnage, then across the fields, past the farm reservoir to the path beside the wood, high above Coundmoor Brook. Down to the ford, then back along the delightful brookside path, where the snowdrops grow at the other end of the year… A very pleasant gentle wander on a warm afternoon.

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Continued…

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Just a few… A day later, and it still feels autumnal, though the sun is trying to peep through. We’re in more-or-less the same place as yesterday, but a little higher, on the shoulder of Shirlett Common – up Round Hill, down Ned’s Lane and back along the road to the start. The bracken is golden, the black bryony is living up to its name, and there’s a super big mushroom, some kind of boletus I think. We’ll leave it where it is, of course, for others to see and enjoy. It may be edible, in the same sense that Russian roulette isn’t always fatal…

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Autumnal

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It won’t be September for another two weeks, but there’s an autumnal feel to the quiet lanes around Willey (and it’s much cooler than of late, just 15C). There are blackberries and damsons in great profusion – I don’t think I’ve seen so many at this time of year. Plenty of other sights and smells too – ripening apples, elderberries and sloes, and lots of wild hops. Rub a hop flower between your hands and sniff – who’s for a pint of best bitter?

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