We have one car in the family now, a change which has required some adjustment to our routines as we make sure it is in the right place at the right time depending which one of us needs it. On a weekday I drive my husband to the railway station (we are lucky to live in a village with a station) first thing in the morning and then I have use of the car during the day. In late afternoon I drive the car to the station and leave it in the car park ready for him when he returns and I walk the couple of miles home.
At this time of year it is a lovely walk - here a few photographs from last week.
The hawthorn hedges near the railway station are sprouting more fresh green leaves each day, no flowers yet but the buds are formed and growing.
The blackthorn is perfect, frothy white blossom along the footpath.
At the bottom of the hill the ground has been flooded for extended periods during this long wet winter. The fields have dried out now but in many areas nothing has grown. A cereal crop (probably wheat) has been planted but there will be a much reduced yield for the farmer from this field.
Piles of logs are piled beside the lane waiting to be taken away.
Looking across the field I can see that the little woodland on the far side has been thinned out considerably.
I looked back through my photographs to find a before picture for comparison - below is the same shot in february 2012.
The trees in the photograph below are oak on the left and ash on the right.
"When the oak comes before the ash,
Then be ready for a splash.
When the ash before the oak,
Then be ready for a soak."
This year the ash seems to be more forward than the oak - maybe a wet summer.
I took these pictures last Wednesday, the 24th April and nearing the end of my walk home I heard the cuckoo for the first time this year. Cuckoos are declining in the UK so I am always pleased to hear the familiar call.
The cuckoo comes in April,
Sings her song in May,
In June she sings another tune,
In July she flies away.
A little record of my daily walk, perhaps I will post again later in the year and notice the changes along the way.
1 comment:
I love seeing your part of the world and going on walks with you. I have yet to hear a cuckoo, though I must re-visit the wood nearby that had one last year. It was quiet when we went into the wood but as we got closer to his tree, he began and just would not stop. As we walked past him and back home, he stopped again. Quite odd but lovely to hear; as clear as a bell.
Tash from vintagepretty.org
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