The Invisible Hare

Yesterday (10th March 2024) was Mothering Sunday or Mother's Day. Mary received flowers, chocolate and tisanes and spoke to all the children. I suggested we went out for afternoon tea but first Mary wanted to wade through some muddy fields. So off to Quebb Corner Meadow, a nature reserve promising wild daffodils. Although sparse, there were wild daffodils around the field edge. We are hoping for a bigger and better display next weekend at the Kempley Daffodil Weekend.

Photo 1: Wild Daffodils, Quebbs Corner Meadow (10/3/24)

There were a few other flowering plants such as these primroses ...

Photo 2: Primroses, Quebb Corner Meadow (10/3/24)

... but the main feature was the boggy ground. Mary clearly had not had enough squelching through sodden grass and suggested a visit to another nearby nature reserve, Birches Farm. This was muddy and wet the last time we visited at this time of the year, and it certainly didn't disappoint this time. In the race to be Top Bog, Birches Farm won hands down.

The real reason Mary likes to visit Birches Farm is that it lists brown hare as a species seen there. Mary has a fascination with hares. We have seen them in Herefordshire though not recently. I'm of the opinion you don't go looking for hares; serendipity is the only way you will ever see them.

The invisible hare

Goes unseen

It's never there

Nor ever been

Naturally, we did not see any hares.

There were some nice trees though ...

Photo 3: Birches Farm (10/1/24)

Photo 4: Birches Farm (10/1/24)

Photo 5: Birches Farm (10/1/24)

... along with the sound of woodpeckers.

Finally, we made it to the Timothy & Birch tearooms for some excellent cake and hot drinks. Even bought a couple of things from the homewares shop before heading home.