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A fresh look

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.”

Even the butterflies are golden

I know the weather had to break sometime but the sunshine of the past week has really lifted the spirits and the change in the countryside has been almost visible in its speed. I always think of the predominant colour as being yellow or golden at this time although the bank of wood anemones, with their white petals and soft pink blush on the underside, is looking pretty good too along our road.   The gardens have their daffodils but the roadside verges sport lesser celandine, dandelion and groundsel whilst the woodland areas have their primroses and even the motorway banks have displays of cowslips, planted when the road opened over twenty years ago and now well established. Cowslips used to be common in the countryside but they suffered a massive decline and the planting of these patches along stretches of road have done much to bring them back. I recall a talk given by Molly Harris, Martha of The Archers, when she discussed the making of cowslip wine by villagers in the past. I suspect it is the use of herbicides and loss of farming land to building rather than over-zealous production of wine that lead to their decline though. Dandelions and groundsel are, of course, considered weeds when growing in the wrong place and I suspect the local cricket team will need to mow their outfield pretty soon if the dandelions pictured are to be conquered. Meanwhile, they give a lovely glow of colour.   In the garden we have seen lots of butterflies including the buttery yellow Brimstone with its pale green underside to the wings,  and the hedgerows are full of yellow hammers this year, a bird we have seen much less in recent years so hopefully this indicates a boost in their numbers. It has been good to work in the garden, dry the washing with ease out of doors and generally enjoy the warm glow of spring sunshine.

Signs of Spring

Sunshine tempted us to do some gardening yesterday. Aiming to cut back dogwood and buddleias we discovered all sorts of things beginning to stir into life. The hellebores are holding their heads above their old leaves so will be removing those to set the flowers off better in a day or two. Crocuses were open in the shelter of the patio and even the daffodils were developing buds now. They were late coming through but a few warmer days and they will soon make up for it. When they appear it makes you want to stretch up your head and enjoy the sunshine, too, so after a morning spent gardening we set out for the walk.   Apart from hazel catkins in the hedgerows the trees seem quite reluctant to welcome a seasonal change as yet. The buds on the ash, the distinctive black spade-shaped buds, were still firmly closed but stood out well viewed against the clear blue sky. We even found a few daisies open but it cannot be spring as yet because we were unable to tread on seven at a time.   I wonder if anyone else has come across this definition of spring. At school a retired art teacher returned to cover for a teacher who had an accident. One day she delighted us by telling us how she and our revered deputy head teacher had studied the lawn in her garden looking for a patch of seven daisies that could be covered by a single footprint. When you could do that, she assured us, spring is surely here.  As you can see something did stick in my mind from her words of wisdom! I have never heard the idea anywhere else but would love to know if others know of this or indeed other ways of determining the return of spring.

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