Everywhere seems to be exceptionally colourful now, if the Wenlock Edge between Bourton and Much Wenlock is anything to go by. There are pyramid orchids all along the roadside verges, and elsewhere all kinds of flora (and some fauna…). The weather is rather flat and grey, but that’s not a problem…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=360325&Y=297755&A=Y&Z=120
Quiet? By urban standards, it’s silent, but those birds make a heck of a noise for their size! In the sound clip (below) there’s a song thrush, a blackbird, a wren and, towards the end, a chiff-chaff. Start it playing, then click the first thumbnail and view the slideshow – get a feel for the sound of Shropshire on a quiet summer’s evening…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120
A walk on the Long Mynd: Isolated showers have to fall somewhere, I suppose, and as we pull up, ready to begin our walk, the raindrops begin to fall. We’ll stay put for a few minutes, it looks like it should clear soon – which it did. We wouldn’t have got seriously wet if we’d been caught in it – but a little way to the north-west, there’s obviously a downpour, complete with a rumble of thunder. We’ll need to watch the skies carefully this afternoon!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=342605&Y=295140&A=Y&Z=120
The orchids at Benthall are on the downward slope now – still plenty of them, but they’re fading rapidly. The woods are cool and quiet, and there’s interest in the undergrowth. Those pale and slimy-looking fungi are worth a photo or two, though I’m not sure what they are. Some kind of oyster mushroom? I certainly wouldn’t want to eat them!
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=365965&Y=302600&A=Y&Z=120
We’re following the same route as two weeks ago (but in reverse) – see The bee that did not buzz. Today there were bees (mostly on the wild rose) and orchids (pyramids galore!) but no bee orchids. There were, of course, other items of interest. Those dryad’s saddle mushrooms are edible, apparently, but it would be a great shame to eat them when they make such a fine sight.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=359200&Y=298505&A=Y&Z=120
Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries – more photos and an account of our travels on the longest day of the year, using the Cheshire Day Ranger – just the ticket for a great day out. Visit “Cheshire Solstice” – now!
…and a most enjoyable one, on 21 June – the longest day of the year. We’re exploring parts of north-west England by rail, using the “Cheshire Day Ranger” ticket. A “Rail Diaries” page will appear in due course; in the meantime here’s a selection.
We had a late lunch at a huge hostelry named “The Railway”, probably because it wasn’t far from Meols railway station. But was I missing something?
For more photos and an account of our day’s travels, visit Cheshire Solstice on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
A short wander on a June evening, for a leg stretch and some different views. There are occasional views of the bridge from the back roads above the river, and there are tigers in the jungle…
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367465&Y=303650&A=Y&Z=115
As ever, despite the familiar territory, there were things of interest for the camera yesterday evening, including the first rosebay willowherb, and some wonderful mud ‘crazy paving’ (this morning’s rain will have washed all the patterns away, I suspect). Two weeks ago, the farmers were busy planting potatoes in these fields – already, they’re coming up.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=367515&Y=298310&A=Y&Z=120
The thunderstorms of last weekend washed mud down from the fields and into the centre of Bould Lane. The water has all run away – or evaporated in the hot sunshine we’ve had since the storms. The result: fragile crazy paving!
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