One form of exercise a day ...

During this time of semi-isolation and social distancing, the ability to pursue one form of exercise a day is of vital importance. The locality around our home is a real blessing in that it is on the edge of a small village with miles of lanes and footpaths to wander - usually with nobody else in sight. I can see nobody at all for most of my 2 hours walking and only, as I return to the village, see dog walkers and others.

These images are of just one of the many walks around our area, and I will post, another time, photos of other walks to give an idea of things and places I am privileged to see.

We are fortunate to live near this old watermill, which has the mill house opposite. There are records from Victorian times that the village supported a watermill and two windmills, a blacksmith, a wheelwright and carpenter, a tailor, a cobbler, two butchers, two brickworks and three public houses!. There was also a school and school house beside the church (both buildings are still there). At least the water mill is still here, as most of the others have long been lost. 

The riverside by the mill. A lovely quiet spot where I stop and stare, virtually every time I pass.

There is another reason for stopping here at the moment, and that is to check on the pair of swans nesting here. This image is of one swan arriving to take over the duties of the other, who promptly floated off gracefully to feed upstream.

Then, along the lane to St Andrew's Church in the morning sunshine. St Andrew has little left that is medieval about it. It is a lovely example of a church that was well cared for both before and during the 19th century Anglican revival. The 18th century red brick tower is simple, with a late 19th century rebuilding of the parapet in the Suffolk crenellated style. The external walls of nave and chancel reveal 14th century origins, but all the window traceries were also replaced by the Victorians. Nothing new there! 

Only about half a mile from home yet I had already spotted something rather interesting. I would bet that very few people can remember one of these being used to get their water. This old pump has been hidden in the hedgerow for years and has recently been made visible and painted, and so stands as a rather striking memorial to our local history. Unfortunately, I can remember using one of these when I was a young lad, to fetch water in two buckets, to our house. No water `laid on` at our house then! 

Sometimes the beauty lies in the sky 

And so, turning into Pope`s Green Lane, one of my favourite lanes around home. There is only one street named Pope's Green Lane in the country, making it unique in Great Britain. Not a lot of traffic passes along here, as there are residents at the far end only. There is a Wyncoll`s Farm, part way along, but not much else these days. Times past there would have been some quarry traffic, but again, this would have exited at the far end only. Now it is all peace and quiet! 

Before many yards (or meters), I turned into a bridleway leading to Wyncoll`s Lane, and an interesting loop on my walk.This lane has some history, I believe, and I will do some research to see if there is something of interest. Meanwhile, it is a pleasant walk. 

One of the highlights on this walk is this massive oak tree - it's a beauty! 

Another view of the same oak tree. 

Then into the `tunnel`, as I name it.. The approach looks just like a hedge with a hole in it, it's like being Alice In Wonderland!.

The hedgerow meets overhead and is like a tunnel to walk through - magic! My favourite part of the lane. The lane then emerges near Wyncoll `s Farm house, where I follow the paved lane until it joins Pope`s Green lane again. 

Then a reminder of modernity, as these pylons paraded across the landscape.

The tree with no heart - gouged out by insects and weather and all sorts of natural forces, no doubt.

Speckled Wood butterfly resting on a sun bathed leaf. 

Goat's-beard - Tragopogon pratensis 

Finally a profusion of Hawthorne before arriving at the end of the lane.

My walk back along the lane had been brightened by the swathes of colour in the hedges and verges, the ones above being just a sample. This truly is a wonderful area to live in, and we feel blessed to be able to enjoy it. 

  Index of posts

Seen on my walk - bluebells and more.

The `Lock Down` to continue for three more weeks - so went the news. Oh well, just more long walks with the camera, in the sunshine. What a shame!! Several interesting plants this few days which make me glad I live on the edge of the countryside. Most of the images of plant life were taken on this one walk

What would the Spring season be without Bluebells? Here are a couple if images taken from the edge of some woods in Layham. With some really good weather this year they really are looking spectacular. 

Lone Bluebell on the roadside. 

Rands Farm in a lovely setting at the end of Rands Lane. 

Love the shape of this tree on the pathway leading to Bullocky Fen. I am told the name comes from years gone by when drovers took their cattle down this lane to drink at the lake. 

Beautiful lake owned by Hadleigh Fishing Club, tucked away at the bottom of this lane. What a spot. 

Nearby, some Horsetails. 

Horsetails are pretty unmistakable but deciding which specific species can be a bit tricky. Fortunately, the various species tend to have their own habitat preference and if you find a horsetail in damp meadows then it will almost certainly be marsh horsetail (Equisetum palustre). This one was taken in a fen area near a local fishing lake - no problem there! 

Climbing away from the fishing lake, I make my way across some fields, ending up in the driveway to Hill Farm, and then down to the Hadleigh Rugby Club. 

Bird Cherry or (Prunus padus) As its name suggests, the bird cherry is a native tree related to the wild cherry. It can be found in wet woodland or along stream edges and hedgerows. As it can tolerate greater exposure and elevation than wild cherry, it often grows in upland woodlands. Its fragrant flowers appear around April and produce black and bitter fruits. It is a useful tree for a variety of wildlife: the flowers provide nectar and pollen for insects, and the fruit are eaten by birds, badgers and small mammals. Additionally, some moth caterpillars eat the leaves. Seen on one of my walks across the fields and puzzled me for some days! 

Possible a first brood male Green Veined White. Obligingly took a rest while I photographed it 

This I believe is Sun Spurge which is classified as an annual weed, and is common throughout the UK. Seedlings usually emerge from April to October, but it can grow all year round, especially in mild climates. There were several patches near the Bluebell wood. 

Also, Spurge makes an attractive addition to the cultivated garden. This is planted against a wall and looks rather spectacular in that setting. 

Wild garlic is a medium-sized bulbous perennial with a distinctive and pungent garlicky smell that pervades woodland in spring. I believe its proper name is Ramsons or Allium ursinum 

Finally, we have Lords-and-ladies (Arum maculatum) with its bright autumn berries, is a valuable perennial for shady borders, but its tendency to self-seed means it can quickly become a nuisance. I have spotted several in the hedgerows and verges this year, and was not aware that people grew this in their gardens! 

Another great walk, although the fields are a bit rough in places! Well worth it though for all the nature seen. 

  Index of posts

Signs of Spring in Lock-Down time (2)

Some more flowers seen on my morning `One exercise session per day.` It really is surprising to see how much is to be seen every year in our verges and pathways. When you are focused, it's an amazing and beautiful world. All the following were seen on my walks.

When on your lawn, the Dandelion is a pest, but in reality is a rather pretty flower. On the plus side, Dandelion greens are edible and are a rich source of vitamin A. Dandelion has been used in traditional medical systems, including Native American, traditional Chinese, and traditional Arabic medicine.

It also has a long history of use for problems of the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts. Today, dandelion as a dietary supplement is used as a blood “tonic,” as a diuretic, for minor digestive problems, and for other purposes. The leaves and roots of the dandelion, or the whole plant, are used fresh or dried in capsules or extracts. As a food, dandelion is used as a salad green and in soups, wine, and teas. 

However! - There’s no compelling scientific evidence supporting the use of dandelion for any health condition.! So I have read. 

Here I have two offerings. One of the flower in full bloom and one of its easily recognised seed head form. I wonder how many millions of children around the world are blowing these seed heads this time of year?

This easily missed aromatic, perennial, evergreen creeper is from the mint family Lamiaceae. It is commonly known as ground-ivy,

Now this one is a bit unusual, for me anyway. Known as the Butterbur. With so many small flowers packed densely together, butterbur is very popular with bees. It is a great source of nectar early in the year, when wildflowers are still rather sparse. Butterbur is found throughout the UK, but is rarer in central and northern Scotland. It inhabits wet meadows, streamsides, roadside ditches and copses.

Often seen as a cultivated plant, the Wood forget-me-not can be found along woodland ridges and edges, in ancient and wet woodlands, and sometimes in hedgerows and verges as an escaped garden variety. It flowers between April and June.Although Water forget-me-not may have been the source of many early garden varieties of this popular plant, most are now forms of Wood forget-me-not.

Common comfrey is a hairy plant of damp ground and is found beside rivers, in fens and ditches, and on roadside verges and waste ground. It often grows in clumps and displays clusters of bell-shaped, pinky-purple flowers from May to July. It has become an important plant for organic gardeners as its roots reach deep into the soil making it rich in minerals, while its leaves can be used for slug control, as a fertiliser and as a composting aid.

And another slightly coloured Comfrey. Rather pretty.

A familiar one this, as our hedges have large masses of yellow at this time of year. Broom is a large, deciduous shrub, similar in appearance to Gorse, but without the spines. This member of the pea family is common on heaths, in open woodlands and along hedgerows, and can also be found at the coast. Its bright yellow flowers appear in spring, from April to June, and smell of vanilla. It is quite likely that Broom got its name from the fact that its long, whip-like stems were cut and tied together to make brushes. Although a number of similar species were also used in this way, Broom created the best brooms!

This unusual plant is smelt a week or ten days before the blooms appear. There is an area I pass on my morning walk, and very soon after the green shoots have grown to a few inches tall, the smell of Garlic wafts across the road! It is Few-Flowered Garlic or Leek. 

The few-flowered leek is edible and can be eaten raw as well as made into dishes. It can also be used as a herb to flavour food, much in the same way as other wild garlics. Note the bulbs formed in the bottom picture.

Pink Cherry tree blossom in mid-morning sun

White blossom in late evening sun

  Index of posts