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Tags - pootling

Walk to a Roman Villa

August 19, 2009

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Yesterday we decided to take a drive out to a nearby town and on our return journey visit the Roman Villa at North Leigh. In the care of English Heritage this was once a paying site and it was possible to view the mosaic pavement which is housed in a special building. Sadly now that it is no longer manned the mosaic can only be viewed through the windows and whenever we have been there they have been badly in need of a bit of spit and polish. The Villa is reached down a short but fairly steep farm track and on our previous visit in May the whole lane was a mass of wild flowers - yellow buttercups, vivid blue speedwell and stark white stitchwort (or shirt's button as we always call it) were the main elements and a mass of other species added their colours to the mix. Our initial impression yesterday was of things that were fading and lacking in colour but that was before we got our eye in. The area around the excavated remains has been neatly mowed and do contain red and white clover and hop trefoil amongst the grasses but parts of the site are left to grow wild to attract wildlife and encourage flowers. Here we found purple knapweed, lilac scabious and yellow toadflax in abundance and there were a few other smaller species doing quite well.  As we began our return journey up the steep climb the opportunity to photograph other species allowed for a gentle stroll back to the road and revealed just how rich in species the lane really was. White dead nettle, yellow St John's Wort, pink and white lesser convolvulus, deep pink greater willow herb, creamy travellers joy (wild clematis or old man's beard), white yarrow, white flowered wild carrot - the list went on and on. The large blue flowers of the meadow cranesbill, the wild version of the perennial garden geraniums, had several seed heads showing where the name cranesbill originated. Nettles were still in flower and there were plenty of insects - ladybirds and bees in particular. Some plants already had a good showing of berries. Besides blackberry there were hawthorn and elderberry, deadly nightshade and the arum lily with its ramrod straight stems of red berries. All this in a stretch of around a quarter of a mile or so. What had appeared quite dull and uninteresting at first sight proved to be full of colour after all even if it was not so "in your face" as in May. One thing that did evade us on this occasion - there was no sign of the Roman snails. On our previous visit we had been privileged to find an example under the hedge near the villa.

Tags: pootling natural world

In the steps of The Bard

August 26, 2009

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Yesterday we decided to join the hordes visiting the birthplace of the Bard in order to see the recently discovered portrait before the display ends on September 6th. Our worst fears were realised when we left the car park and were immediately swallowed up in tide of tourists, none of whom were speaking English and all of whom seemed unable to follow the idea of using a pedestrian crossing. When the lights went red they continued to pour across the road until their guide ran back waving his arms and at great personal risk to himself.   Fortunately they were not in such a great hurry that once into the main street we made it to the Shakespeare centre ahead of the tide and were soon enjoying our accompanied visit to view the painting. The place was deserted and we learned that many of the tourists do not enter the exhibitions at all but simply stay outside photographing the sights and videoing themselves in front of various landmarks. As our cynical guide said, "Chances are they are doing Warwick Castle this afternoon."   In the cleverly staged introduction to Shakespeare and Stratford that followed we were again in a group of tourists who lacked the native tongue. They tried to push on though the doors to by-pass the video presentation but this they could not do. It was designed to control the flow of visitors into the house by only allowing groups through in batches. At the end of each presentation the doors opened into the next area and so on. By the third room they were resigned and sat on some of the displays to while the time.   Eventually we entered the house and they swept through ahead of us leaving us breathless. The guide in the first room chatted for some time and said most would have left the building before we reached the upper floor yet in each room there were guides to show items even if people couldn't understand the language. Glove making was demonstrated; upstairs the arrangements for sleeping for the family were explained by action as well as talk so as to reach everyone and so on.   We enjoyed our visit. There is so much more to see now than on our last visit twenty odd years ago and although we didn't make it to the church or to Anne Hathaway's cottage by purchasing a five house ticket we have earned ourselves unlimited entry for twelve months to all the properties. What extraordinary value. However, I can't help wondering if Brits abroad adopt a similar attitude to the opportunities offered. I know I have watched countless tourists’ ticking off Oxford Colleges on lists in the past and thought how sad but clearly the venues themselves find nothing extraordinary in such behaviour.

Tags: pootling natural world pootling

Compton Verney art gallery

May 19, 2010

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Yesterday we embarked on a trip to visit Compton Verney in Warwickshire, a country house that now houses an art gallery and holds exhibitions, courses and talks. True to form it ended up as a pootle. When your route takes you past the site of the Battle of Edgehill you have to search for the monument to the event don't you. Well you do if that is one of the topics you tend to write about. Then there were the villages with their churches and monuments, pumps and wells. Anyway, we ended up arriving in time for a quick lunch and then a tour of the galleries.   The current exhibition is about the works of Francis Bacon, an artist I find hard to appreciate, and I have to say we both found the permanent exhibitions of more interest. The first room houses pictures by a number of artists with Vesuvius featured in every painting. Seeing the different ways in which artists had interpreted a common theme was fascinating. However it was the top floor with its collection of British Folk Art objects that grabbed the attention.   Inn Signs and Trade Signs are just two of my favourite photography themes and we were delighted to come across some very old carved 3D inn signs and a whole range of Trade Signs, too. Talking to the room guide - always a bonus to be picked up by picking their brains - we learned more about not only the objects on display but background stories and items gleaned from talking to other visitors. Sadly photography is not allowed and I had committed the cardinal sin of forgetting to take my notebook into the galleries with me so I have been frantically trying to recall all the gems we heard. Certainly some of the signs were much older than we would have given credit for.   I have to admit to being somewhat dependent on my camera for recording things we find on our travels but a notebook comes a very close second in aiding the memory. Now all I have to do is to think how these latest titbits fit into my overall research of these topics.

Tags: pootling natural world pootling writing research pootling art signs

The Mill on the Hill

September 10, 2009

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Pootling

We have been meaning to visit Brill in Buckinghamshire for some time as the windmill, which is such a feature of the village, has recently undergone a major overhaul. Seeing it in the bright sunshine this afternoon it looked a bit stark really but no doubt it will all tone down a little with time.   It is a post mill and the last mill remaining in the village. The hillside around is full of dips and drops as clay was dug out to make bricks for a long time. This means you can get some quite dramatic shots of the mill as there is only one level access point; the rest is at a much lower level.   The restoration involved removing the sails first, then the wooden cladding and finally the machinery was removed and was taken away for complete overhaul. Earlier this summer everything was replaced. Although the machinery inside is fully restored we understand from talking to a local resident that the mill will not be able to become a working mill as the main wooden structures are too fragile and have been supported on a metal frame for some years now. The new sails are full sized, whereas the ones removed had been foreshortened for some reason. The round house of brick that protects the interior workings has been rebuilt and now has two doors as it did originally. This allowed the miller to enter the mill whichever way the mill was turned. Another original feature that has been returned is the wheel that allowed the post to be moved and the steps up to the mill itself. Although all these features had been removed since the mill last worked in the early 1900s they were original so have been included in the restoration. The white paintwork on the sails and wheel are also unlike those removed.   If you are thinking the mill looks familiar this could be because it often appears on tourist literature for the area or maybe you have seen it on TV programmes - it featured prominently in an episode of Midsummer Murders for example.   The surrounding land is common land and when we first knew it there were sheep grazing. Since this stopped a decade ago the ground has become overgrown and plant species have been crowded out so now an area is fenced off with an electric fence and is grazed by Dexter cattle to reduce the long grass and restore the variety of species once more.   A lot of changes in a short time but all for the better no doubt, once things have been allowed to settle and mature once more.   Strange how we often tend to ignore places on our own doorstep yet make great efforts when travelling on holiday. Today we had a pleasant walk and met many people to chat to and all were enjoying the sunshine.

Tags: pootling natural world pootling writing research pootling art signs pootling

No Mills or Hills!

September 20, 2009

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Pootling

Just returned from our travels in Lincolnshire. "Why do you want to go there?" enquired a relative. "It's all flat and boring." I hate to disagree with my elders but he obviously has not encountered Steep Hill in Lincoln - or indeed any of the other sharp inclines in the city and in the Wolds. Granted it was not as challenging as some of our explorations in West Wales last year when we seemed to visit at least one ruined castle daily, each one having competed for the best steep-banked location, but there were enough ups and downs for me.   It's a few years since we ventured into Lincolnshire but I did recall a large number of windmills each selling their own stoneground flour. As one who enjoys a bit of baking I aimed to return well-stocked. For this trip our son agreed to accompany us as he was anxious to visit some of the World War II airfields and their associated museums. It seemed silly to take two cars and when he suggested doing the driving we happily agreed. I generally return from our trips with plenty of photographs and I have a pleasing amount as we were blessed with dry, if windy weather. We visited most of the market towns of the north east of the county along with Lincoln itself. However, a glance at any detailed map will show just how many of the airfields of Bomber Command can still be seen on the ground. We did pass a number of disused mills adding character to the countryside but nothing to my baking requirements. We had a bracing walk along the beach at Maplethorpe – didn’t make it as far south as Skegness -  and enjoyed several walks at Nature Reserves and along disused rail tracks but most of the photos are of aircraft, old and new, and various artistic studies of engines.   Fortunately I do still have some ideas to float before editors based on our explorations and we had a relaxing time together, which is something we don't often have with him living some distance away.

Tags: pootling natural world pootling writing research pootling art signs pootling pootling

Walks and sculptures

September 21, 2009

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Pootling

One thing on which we could all agree during our recent break was the variety of opportunities for walking. For the enthusiast there are plenty of walks available from almost any location it would seem, including the Viking Way that passed through the village where we stayed. To encourage others to get their daily exercise there are a number of less strenuous options including those at Nature Reserves like Threddlethorpe near Mablethorpe and on Forestry Commission land as at Willingham Woods near Market Rasen and the Water Rail Way that links Lincoln with Boston.   Named for the bird, the Water Rail, it uses disused rail tracks and riverside paths so is reasonably accessible for all. With several car parks along the way it is also possible to walk sections of the path and to add extra interest, as if nature and the landscape is not enough, a series of sculptures are being erected along the route. The first of these were inspired by the animals of the county and include the sadly now extinct Lincolnshire Curly Coat Pig. Two wooden sculptures of this creature now stand along the path between Bardney and Southrey. Other animals such as the Lincoln Reds (Cows) and the Lincoln Longwool Sheep are metal sculptures.   This year, to mark the Tennyson anniversary, another series of sculptures are being created to represent quotes from his poetry and one of these is a little further along the trail between Stixwould and Woodhall Spa. It is another wooden sculpture, this time of a daisy, and bears the words "And the daisy closed her crimson fringes to the shower" which is, I believe, part of In Memorium? Other pieces mark The Lady of Shalott and The Brook.   We did meet with one gentleman who felt the provision of sculptures was a waste of public money and simply encouraging the "artistic types" to waste their time but on the whole those we met whilst exploring these trails felt they enhanced and added interest to the landscape. Personally I like anything that adds an incentive to walking and is likely to appeal to all ages and I think the mix of animal and Tennyson inspired pieces will be a great asset.

Tags: pootling natural world pootling writing research pootling art signs pootling pootling pootling sculptures

More walks with sculptures

September 26, 2009

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Pootling

Yesterday we travelled down through the Forest of Dean to visit our son in Wales. As it was a lovely day and we were not expected until early evening we planned to stop off in the Forest of Dean and walk the Sculpture Trail that we first tackled around twenty years ago, one of the first around I would imagine. With one thing and another we ended up leaving later and realised we would not have time for the full trail of four and a half miles but we noted another trail nearby which featured sculptures, too.   The new trail is a sensory trail set up to be easily accessible and with Braille signage to aid those with sight problems. In most places a sensory garden, for example, will feature scented and tactile plants. Here the trail is within the arboretum which has a number of unusual species. Each notable tree carries a label in very large clear lettering (about two inches high) with the information in Braille beneath. In addition the sculptures themselves had been produced by visually impaired craftsmen. There was a tree seat with large leaves for the seat backs and seats that fitted together like large jigsaw pieces. There was also a large sundial with a stained glass panel in the gnomon.   Over the past year we have noticed a lot of these easy access trails appearing and walks designed for those with wheelchair or pushchairs to negotiate round the route. In the New Forest there were a couple of these trails.   Whilst we would have liked to tackle the longer walk and reacquaint ourselves with the huge stained glass panel that marks the end of the trail it was good to find new territory to explore even if the length of the walk was less than a mile. At least we arrived in good time to start the wood staining on our son's house.  Boy does it get boring standing at the foot of a ladder!

Tags: pootling natural world pootling writing research pootling art signs pootling pootling pootling sculptures pootling walks sculptures

Close to home

March 27, 2010

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Pootling

It is a sad fact we are probably more familiar with places we have visited on holiday than our own locality. A few years back I sent a letter to a local paper asking for readers' help with a topic I was researching. The editor was intrigued and in turn interviewed me for his paper. When he discovered some of the topics we enjoy searching out he asked if I had taken any shots of an example in a town less than ten miles away and I had to admit I had not.   With this in mind we have been visiting local towns on Sundays. Why Sundays? Two reasons. In our area parking charges are quite high but many places do not make a charge on a Sunday. More importantly there are less people about and I am far more likely to be able to take the photographs I want without waiting for people to pass. This was something we initially discovered when visiting towns and cities on holidays. Sundays were easier for negotiating unfamiliar streets and strange road layouts, too.   This is proving very useful. I already have enough pictures to support articles on a couple of my favourite topics. Having had a few pieces published by a couple of local magazines I needed new articles to pitch to the editors who are now familiar with my work and I often find the pictures throw up the themes. Admittedly a few places were not open so return visits will be needed but by taking the photos while I could easily do so I have much reduced the time we will need to spend on subsequent visits.   There has also been another benefit. People seem more relaxed and several have stopped to chat and have passed on local knowledge leading us to make more discoveries we may never have made on our own. All in all this is proving to be an excellent strategy.

Spring into summer

April 9, 2010

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Pootling

There was no way we were going to pass up the chance to go for a pootle yesterday with the first really warm and spring like day we have had. Aiming for a National Trust property that didn't open until 2 meant we had plenty of time to explore villages on the way and were delighted to find all the churches open. Found plenty of interest from decorative tiling to an intriguing gravestone and with walking around each village in search of other treasures as well we didn't arrive until 2 and still had our picnic to consume before we visited the house and grounds.   Eating a picnic out of doors rather than huddled in the car for the first time this year enabled us to watch the antics of a variety of bee species exploring the violets that abounded in the picnic area. The huge bumble bees weighed the delicate violets right down to the ground but they sprung up as soon as the bee moved on. We watched a tiny beetle climb right to the top of a blade of grass and then fly off. All these things that generally go on quite unnoticed.   The grounds of the house were a mass of daffodils, some as tall as the toddlers that wandered through them at snail pace despite the entreaties of their parents. It made a wonderful cheerful splash of colour and made you feel spring was really here at last. Before we headed home we went into the nearby village and down to the banks of the Thames where we watched a pair of swans enjoying a Jacuzzi thanks to the water rushing through the weir. Every now and then they stretched up to flap their wings and then settled back to put their feathers in place. Curtains of pale green willow hung down and diffused the bright sunlight and it all felt wonderful.   Returning to our car we were absolutely amazed to see not one but two swallows perched on the telephone cables. Not having a telephoto lens I hesitated to even attempt a photo but did manage to get a distant shot just to prove what we saw. Looking back at our records for last year it was another two weeks before we saw swallows in our own village only about thirty miles away. So one swallow may not make a summer but how about two?   Calling in at the shops on our way home I checked some magazines I had recently submitted letters to - something I do whenever I have had a week with no submissions at all - and was delighted to see one of my letters in TV Times. It was even better to receive a message from Susan later that evening letting me know about the letter in case I had missed it. What a great ending to a really special day.   Today has been just as sunny but other things have occupied out time although we did get out for a short walk and found plenty more flowers to photograph and I also got some shots of various trees in flower.

A fresh look

April 20, 2010

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Pootling

Had intended being on holiday this week but have ended up pootling locally and enjoying another short break in the New Forest. We were there around this time last year so it was interesting to make comparisons. Although technically a fortnight later the trees are not as advanced and the wild flowers not as prolific but the ponies were as much in evidence as ever and we did come across one mare with her very gangly new foal. The ponies still have their rather rough winter coat in the main and were often seen nibbling their backs and rubbing against trees. We also saw deer from the deer viewing platform set up in the area where wardens regularly feed to roe deer.   Over the past few years facilities for visitors have improved dramatically with way marked walks, set areas for barbecues, building camps with fallen timber and a host of ideas for people of all ages being established. One sad thing was to see the recently developed Tall Trees Trail fenced off. This level walk through an arboretum in the north west of the forest had been designed for those in wheelchairs or people with young children or buggies to enjoy. It took in the tallest, widest and straightest trees and had information boards for adults and children to follow. Unfortunately when the arboretum was set up rhododendrons were fashionable and they have now had to be cleared for the effect they are having on the Oak trees in the area. The trees are subject to Sudden Oak Death as a result. Although a new route has been laid out this avoids three of the five major attractions. A shorter route is the senses walk with examples of trees that can be touched, smelt and even listened to. Great fun.   Surprisingly I took few photos although anyone looking at those I did take would probably be very puzzled as several involved litter of various types. Even in this beautiful part of the country people cannot be bothered to take home their rubbish and cans, bottles and plastic remain as an eyesore and even worse as a hazard to the wild life. Seeing this brought on thoughts for an article, hence the pictures. Thank goodness with digital you no longer send things off to be printed. I cannot imagine what thoughts might go through the heads of processors if they saw some of the shots I choose to take!   There was even inspiration at the hotel. Not only did the guests themselves provide several opportunities for people watching with some interesting results but the hotel room contained a copy of the local county magazine so I was able to do market research after dinner. Arrived home too late to take part in the Chat session last night. However, on checking emails I found a request to provide an article for a magazine I wrote for last year. In the words of an old Royal Mail advert, the editor stated “I have a slot free in our summer issue and wanted a piece on helping children with number and I thought of you.”

Heritage Coast

May 4, 2010

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Pootling

After two long weekends spent helping our son with decorating and the week between spent dealing with various appointments and so on we are back home for a while and able to return to some form of normality.   Despite a heavy schedule of decorating tasks to tackle at the weekend we did spend some time exploring the beautiful and generally overlooked Heritage Coast south of the M4 near Bridgend. Driving round by Ogmore Castle with the stepping stones nearby for crossing the river we came across a Village Sign. This was one of those decorative signs erected by the community rather than a council sign and proved to be one of three along this stretch of coast. We have been photographing these signs for almost twenty years after spotting them in East Anglia where they originated and indeed where they are now very common. In Wales there are few examples so it was great to find these.   Although it was sunny the wind was very strong so we had a bracing walk along the river bank before driving on to where it meets the sea. Lovely beaches, numerous walks available and all relatively quiet. A real calm in busy weekend.

Hidden Treasures

June 27, 2010

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Pootling

At the end of last week we set off for one of our short breaks. Originally only booked for one night but the hotel was ideally situated and the weather promised to remain fine so we stayed over another night. Came back all inspired to write and share with others and found the site unavailable. I wish I could say I have spent the time normally occupied with viewing the site doing some usefull writing but it would not be true although I have carried out a lot of research based on our trip.   Had intended taking a break in East Anglia but clearly so had a lot of people and the places we aimed to stay had no vacancies. Headed instead for the Herefordshire/Welsh border and unearthed a wealth of treasures. These included not only places but also people, all willing to talk and share their time.   This is Kilvert country and we visited many of the churches with which he was associated as well as admiring the beautiful countryside he had roamed. There were villages and scattered buildings that had probably changed very little in the intervening years at least in terms of size and structure.   Hay on Wye got a short visit and yes, we did check out some of the bookshops although surprisingly for us we didn't actually make any purchases. Walking country footpaths, talking to the people who knew them and had known them all their lives, we learned a great deal.   Even the hotel had its story to add. An old coaching inn it was bound to have an interesting past and it didn't disappoint.   Finally we drove back via the Golden Valley with all the delights that offered. A truly beautiful part of the world and one that is largely unspoiled. Needless to say the list of possible articles to stem from even a short stay is growing daily. We set off with nothing in view to visit as we had planned a trip in quite another area so everything we found was pure serendipity and it really does work.    (No pictures at present. Imaging software is on main computer which crashed this morning!)

Pootling and photographs

May 21, 2010

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Research

An overcast day made it ideal for photography yesterday. Not so good if I wanted to take views ( blue sky best in those) but for close-up photos of details like tiled doorways and signs the lack of sun casting shadows was a boon.   My husband views our trips as a sort of treasure hunt. We set out with some locations in mind but soon become side-tracked into villages, often by nothing more than the name or a sign promising an old church. Yesterday proved one of those days. In fact we despaired of ever reaching our two furthest points where we had very specific items to record – a painted wall advert glimpsed almost five years ago when we had no camera with us and an inn sign, not painted on board, but formed out of tiles.   Having walked up and down the streets of two small market towns – always go up and back, preferably returning on the opposite side of the road so as not to miss details on the sides of buildings – we fully appreciated what ribbon development meant as each was around a mile in length. With these and all the little villages that caught our eye we had just an hour left to capture our intended treasures.   The painted advert was located and we parked quite near. As I took a number of shots an elderly lady passing by commented that she was delighted someone was taking notice of the sign. She knew for a fact it had been there 54 years as she had lived there that long and she had seen it repainted a couple of times, too. Little details like that can only come from chatting to people.   Parking was trickier when it came to the inn sign so I had to trek back alone. I took a number of shots again, including several of the building and the new hanging sign alongside.   As a result of this pootle I now have pictures that fit into a number of categories with potential to illustrate several articles. One of the reasons I take several shots from slightly varied angles is to have a range to offer different editors. One may want detailed photos and another maybe a more general shot for example. The treasure hunt comes in when you think less than half the things photographed were even known to us at the start of the day and I have spent some of today researching the background to a couple of these. Now where exactly did highwaymen come into the picture?

The healing power of plants

July 3, 2010

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Writing

A recent stay in South Wales saw us exploring the market town of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan. We have visited before and it is a delightful little town with plenty of lovely old buildings and shops as in many old market towns. On our last visit there was news of a physic garden being developed and we were keen to see how this had developed. This was clearly a very good time of year to visit. The paths were edged with lavender and the scent from the flowers and buzz of the bees were the first impressions received. The central area of the garden, however, has been laid out in beds, each devoted to a group of plants thought to aid various medical conditions and improve the functions of various parts of the body. These included lungs, bones, skin and hair, kidneys and heart. There were also plants to aid childbirth and nerves. A number of the plants we would consider wild flowers including St John's Wort and Comfrey. These we had also seen flowering in the hedgerows of the area so the garden not only reflects the past but also has links to the present. Many modern preparations include these plants in their production too. The monasteries once had gardens for medicinal herbs but after their dissolution other gardens were developed, the most famous being the Chelsea Physic Garden. Today there are a number of these gardens around the country, many like the Cowbridge example, of recent planting. Linking plants together in this way makes a wonderful display for any garden and could easily be adopted as a plan for a domestic garden. Many of us have areas devoted to herbs, and herbs feature largely in these physic gardens too, but the addition of the wider range of plants is very colourful indeed.   (Still no access to my photo software so no pictures at present)

Search for inspiration

August 5, 2010

10 comments

Writing

Various things have conspired to make writing difficult this past week, not least having the whole family visiting for a celebration at the weekend. In fact the only actual writing done in the past week was undertaken whilst waiting for an appointment and I ended up using a number of scraps of paper for this from till receipts and shopping lists to the envelope for the appointment. I have still to transcribe that lot.   Meanwhile we spent one day visiting the Heritage Motor Museum with family members. This might not have been my choice - vehicles have no interest other than their ability to transport on the whole  -  but I could appreciate the historical details and confess to even trying out some of the activities. Of late I have become increasingly aware of how much is now provided to keep all the family amused at such venues. Here there were regular tables with tracing and colouring activities, paper car models to make and other fun crafts in addition to the hands-on machines and vehicles that could be clambered over. A recent visit to the River and Rowing Museum at Henley revealed numerous activities around the museum and even a rucksack of items for children to carry allowing them to do puzzles or crafts in any location. Mark you most would not want to leave the wonderful Wind in the Willows display or the activity room with rowing boats and rowing machines and puzzles galore.   So, activities for children or the way in which venues attract families is definitely one area to consider for an article. However, I often find something quite small can spark an idea. In this instance it was two menus for dinners to celebrate milestones in car manufacture. One for a group of dignitaries was written in plain straightforward English. The second, for a works dinner, was all in French although a rough translation I managed suggests the fare was pretty basic nonetheless. I began to recall menus I had seen at other venues and realised there must be an article in this. With our own celebrations in mind I suppose this was bound to spark the idea but I know what I shall be on the lookout for on our trips now.

Another case of serendipity

August 12, 2010

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Writing

I recently wrote an entry on my website  about the things one finds when visiting a church. Whenever we explore a location we always try to visit the church as, besides being most likely the oldest building in the community, so many other things are housed there these days. We have seen at least three old fire engines - well fire pumps really - in locations nationwide and more than once we have learned of local customs from artefacts or photos in a church.   Earlier this week we went out to take a specific photograph for a piece I was writing, combining this with fetching in some groceries. Never liking to take the same route both ways if we can pootle we returned via a village we had explored some years ago and decided to walk round again and take new pictures. We parked near the church but this was our last port of call. As I was reading a notice in one area OH was browsing the publications searching out a copy of the church guide and he spotted a free local magazine. This was new to us and glancing through I could see possibilities.   It seems it is not just new to us but this was only the second issue. An email to the editor for guidelines received an almost instant response - maybe because as yet he is not commissioning work but is looking for this for later in the year. However he has been back to me after checking out the website (first time I have had an evidence of this happening despite quoting it on all queries) and has asked for some suggestions. Early days I appreciate and maybe come to nothing but you really don't know what you may learn in church. Yet another case for serendipity at work this year.

Another unlikely poetry spot

August 22, 2010

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Writing

Fruits of the countryside

November 12, 2009

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Natural World

Hard to believe that this morning we actually ventured forth in lovely autumn sunshine. The rain is being driven against the window and it is as gloomy as winter. The morning sunshine did, however, allow us to return to the mystery tree covered in fruit about which I wrote last week.   We had long considered it to be a crab apple from the blossom but on closer inspection the fruits were on long stems and in bunches like cherries and the leaves had a serrated edge. Although our trees book uses photos rather than drawings there were no crab apples anything like this, hence the picture last week being titled wild cherry.   It was Bob who raised the seeds of doubt but it was only today we have the definitive answer. My OH suddenly realised we could solve the issue by cutting a fruit on half. A cherry would contain a stone but cutting an apple in half across the middle reveals the distinctive star pattern with seeds and thus it proved to be. So we are back with the crab apple title. The tree is in a stretch of hedge containing several different species which would normally be taken to indicate a hedge of some age. It is away from any of the local villages so unlikely to be seed from a cultivated variety. There is a variety of crab apple found in the southern counties which resembles this specimen so we have to conclude that it has spread northwards to some extent.   Our trip today, though took us further afield and I finally tracked down a spindle tree. Unremarkable for most of the year this tree produces what I consider to be our most beautiful fruit - in appearance that is. I spotted it from some distance away and on closer inspection the hedge it was in had been cut back with one of those awful flailing cutters. The result was no fruits at all low down but a mass higher up the tree. A deep ditch of water meant that I could get no closer than four feet away but at least a couple of shots came out OK and one shows not only the bright pink fruit but also the orange seed emerging in the centre. There used to be many of these trees in the hedgerows around but I have searched for almost a month before finding this single example. What I hope to do is to return to these bushes at intervals over the coming year to record them in their different stages of development. That is the plan at least.

The Benefits of Conservation

July 10, 2010

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Natural World

No doubt when the various bodies involved in the conservation of historic sites set about their task the consideration of the natural world is not a high priority yet we are acutely aware on our travels that these sites are often the best for observing wild-life, especially of a floral nature.   The steep banks of castle mounds for example allow a multitude of species to flourish and the ruins themselves support a wide range of opportunistic plants. On one site we recorded over thirty species that we could identify easily and there were others that will take some more research to name with confidence. One thing that becomes obvious when looking outside your own location is the diversity of flowers that grow in this country, some growing only within a very restricted geographical area. Whilst I am reasonably confident naming plants locally a trip of only fifty miles can produce a number of puzzles to solve.   The flowers are the obvious indicators of the benefits of these historic sites but they in turn support insects, birds and small mammals. Without these areas free from pesticides and other human activity there would be many more species of flora and fauna at risk.   Next time you visit a castle or even a stately home look around for signs of nature. Don’t overlook the obvious species such as daisy and clover but look out for others, too. We have found a camera an excellent tool. When locating an unknown flower taking a quick photo usually provides sufficient information to make an accurate identification from a field guide at our leisure. In fact a camera is becoming as indispensible as a notebook on our travels and is used for far more than simply an aide memoire.

Poetry Emotion

October 1, 2010

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Life

On our travels last week we came across a surprising amount of poetry. This was not the usual display of familiar works but the outpouring of feeling from people, often in extreme circumstances.   The oldest example was written in thanks to a local benefactor in providing a lifeboat for a small fishing community following a disaster which impacted harshly on its inhabitants. The poem appeared in the local museum alongside exhibits showing the harshness of conditions two hundred years ago and the challenge faced by all who put to sea. It also featured on a sculpture trail along the coast, putting it into context with other events.   The other poems all featured in displays related to more recent events and linked to the Second World War. A member of the Home Guard for a small fishing village had written a poem after the War that reflected the truth behind the image of Dad’s Army. Sadly the photos I attempted of this offering are indistinct but a couple of lines will give the gist   “They promised pikes and staves to wield No warrior trappings yours to don.”   Two further poems relate to a single former RAF airfield, long returned to its agricultural use. One was displayed in the village church which had served the base during the war and still carries memories of the link. The poem was written following a visit years after the war when the former airman had tried to piece together the geography of the landscape he once knew and relate it to those who would never return to explore as he had done. The verses painted a clear image of what had once lain just across the fields. The second, found in a museum, described how ground crew waited for the sound of returning crew in the sunset. A much simpler poem yet equally as moving.   Whilst all these poems were written some time after the event it was the final poem that was most poignant. Written in POW camp by the sole survivor of a seven man crew he ended his poem   “And you loved living Every bit as much as I.”   I studied the First World War poets at school but it was difficult to fully appreciate them in a sterile classroom atmosphere. These poems, displayed in their locations, may not have been great poetry but they were full of feeling and of their place and time.

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wordsmith
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A writing miscellany.

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