As the weather suddenly took on a more inclement outlook, we made a last minute decision to 'do' the nearby Sculpture Trail in the grounds of the Long Mynd Hotel - a shorter and more sheltered walk. The work of a local woodcarver, Dave Bytheway, carried out some years earlier (going by the state of some of the carvings) we wandered around somewhat aimlessly as there was no map or guide to show where the sculptured pieces were.
Goodness knows how many sculptures there are but these are the ones we saw ...
Photo 1: At the Start of the Trail
Photo 2: The Three Bears
Two pictures of this eagle (?): my preference (Photo 3) and Mary's (Photo 4).
Photo 3: Here's Looking at You
Photo 4: Here's Looking the Other Way
You had to keep your eyes peeled otherwise you could easily miss some of the well-hidden wood carvings.
Photo 5: Owl (obviously)
Photo 6: Eagle in Flight
Photo 7: Otters
Photo 8: Gnome Alone
Photo 9: A Second Gnome in the Country
Photo 10: Menacing Owl
Photo 11: Gone Fishing
Photo 12: Green Woodpecker
And finally, something not carved out of wood ...
Photo 13: Stag Doing What Stag's Do
It was now half past four and time to escape the wind and rain and head for our accommodation for the next two nights ...
... with the promise of better weather for the next couple of days
Another day, another holiday. This is a busy time of the year in the garden so it's good to have a few short breaks for the mind and body to recover. Church Stretton is an historic market town close to the Shropshire Hills. We visited many times either camping or staying B&B. The town is on the Hereford to Shrewsbury railway line and we have caught the train on previous occasions. This time we went by campervan even though we were staying B&B.
Photo 1: Stokesay Castle, Craven Arms
Church Stretton is 40 miles due north of Hereford on the A49 and it takes about an hour by road. We always try to make the journey part of the holiday so dropped in on Stokesay Castle on the way. Described as the finest and best preserved fortified medieval Manor house in England, it really is a gem. Photo 1 is taken from the doorway of the Great Hall looking back towards the gatehouse.
Photo 2: Inside the Great Hall, Stokesay Castle
We had to cut short the excellent audio tour because the chill wind meant the house was extremely draughty and cold, especially with all the doors open and no windows! It was actually warmer outside with the benefit of some weak spring sunshine. Fortunately, being English Heritage members (with free entry) we didn't feel the need to overextend our stay to get our monies worth.
Some parts of the house were clearly more expensively furnished & comfortable such as the Solar - the private living and sleeping quarters of the owners.
Photo 3: The Solar, Stokesay Castle
You can ascend the North Tower ...
Photo 4: North Tower, Stokesay Castle
... for excellent views of the surrounding countryside.
Mary had noticed one or two swallows flying around the castle so we were not surprised to hear this one singing his/her heart out from this overflow.
Video 1: Singing Swallow, Stokesay Castle (18/4/24)
A couple of close-up photos of this remarkably tame specimen ..
Photo 5: Swallow, Stokesay Castle (18/4/24)
Photo 6: Swallow, Stokesay Castle (18/4/24)
In the North Tower, numerous swallows were flying in and out, pairing up and building nests ...
Photo 7: Pair of Swallows, North Tower, Stokesay Castle (18/4/24)
Time to say goodbye to Stokesay with one last look at the entrance to the castle ...
Photo 8: Entrance to Stokesay Castle
... and a trio of yellow Spring flowers: from left to right - false oxlip, primrose and cowslip.
Once you have forget-me-nots, you wont be able to remember the time you didn't have them! They will happily invade any and all areas - even growing where you might not think possible.
Photo 1: Swathes of Forget-me-nots in the Secret Garden
Easy to grow and, fortunately, easy to pull up when they grow where you don't want them.
The flowers undergo an interesting change after fertilization - the yellow corona, designed to attract pollinating insects, changes to white when there is no more nectar left (Photo 2). Indirectly, this reroutes the bees and other pollinators to other 'yellow' forget-me-not flowers thus making the pollination process more efficient.
Photo 2: Close-up of 'It'll Come to me in a Minute'
Lea & Paget's Wood is but a short walk from Common Hill Nature Reserve and we often combine the two on a visit to either one. Described by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust as 'one of the finest ancient, semi-natural broad-leaved woodlands left in the Wye valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'. Predominantly a mixture of sessile oak and ash trees, it continues to suffer tree loss due to ash dieback.
In spite of the destruction, wood clearance leaves space for other plants to grow and thrive: e.g. this Herb Paris had established itself in the middle of the wide path shown in Photo 2.
Photo 4: Herb Paris (Lea & Paget's Wood, 14/4/24)
The bluebells were out but it is a little early - it will look more impressive in a couple of weeks.
Photo 5: Bluebells at Lea & Paget's Wood (14/4/24)
Although we have had a lot of rain recently, Lea & Paget's Wood is always a good place to visit if you are interested in moss-covered tree stumps and fungi.
Lea & Paget's Wood is usually a good place to spot Orange-Tip Butterflies because one of its main food plants, cuckoo flower, is widespread throughout the wood [note: both cuckoo flower and cuckooflower are widely used names; Lady's Smock is an alternative name].
Photo 9: Orange-tip Butterfly on Cuckooflower - side view (Lea & Paget's Wood, 14/4/24)
Common Hill is a nearby nature reserve under the care of the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust. I have described the nature reserve here with updates here, here, here, here, here, and here. This was our first visit of 2024 (Sunday 14th April). The early purple orchids had started to show ...
Photo 1: Early Purple Orchid (Common Hill, 14/4/24)
On the way, we popped into Sainsbury's for some sandwiches, snacks (KitKat) and fruit (satsuma-type) and enjoyed our picnic with great views and melodic accompaniment (birdsong) ...
Photo 2: View from the Picnic Bench
It is a little early in the season for the main flush of flowers (late April/early May is better) but there were still plenty of violets (of the common dog variety) ...
Photo 3: Dog Violet (Common Hill, 12/4/24)
... and cowslips on display ...
Photo 4: Cowslips on Ant Hill (Common Hill, 12/4/24)
A list of flowering plants observed on the nature reserve:
Common Dog Violet
Barren strawberry
Bluebell
Bush Vetch
Common Dog Violet
Cowslip
Cuckoo Pint
Dandelion
Dog's Mercury
Early Purple Orchid
Field Forget-me-not
Field Wood-rush
Ground Ivy
Lady's Smock
Lesser Celandine
Meadow Buttercup
Primrose
Wood Spurge
There was plenty of bird song, dominated by the chiffchaff, but including all the usual suspects: blue and great tit, song thrush, blackbird, etc. No butterfly sightings - there was a cold wind.
Photo 5: Looking into Round's Meadow from Lower Path (Common Hill, 12/4/24)
For Part I of View from the Rear Window - February 2024, see here. Blogger has been playing up recently and this seemed the quickest workaround. At the end of each monthly report, I add a few photos from the garden. So here goes:
Photo 1: Snowdrops in our Mini-Wood (3rd February)
Photo 2: Primrose with Auricula in the background (5th February))
Photo 3: Primroses (5th February)
Photo 4: Auricula (7th February)
Photo 5: Pitcher Plant (7th February)
Photo 6: Crocus (9th February)
Photo 7: Daffodil (10th February)
Photo 8: Crocus (10th February)
Photo 9: A Clump of Crocuses (16th February) with Daffodil Interloper
Photo 10: A Clump of Crocuses (20th February) with Daffodil Interloper
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