Permitted walk 4

Tags

BBC Lockdown Orchestra, Bluebell, Dandelion, Germander Speedwell, Glastonbury Tor, Herb Robert, Horse chestnut, Mendip Ramblers, Millfield Prep, Prickly cowthistle, sonchus asper, white dead-nettle

Shamefully, I hadn’t been out for a walk for 18 days. Well, there’s just so much to do at home. Not ‘got-to-do’, that is, though there’s some of that, but ‘want-to-do’, with so much on offer, sadly nearly always via a screen of some sort. Bridge lessons. Chances to sing. Keeping up with the news on a rolling basis, (news junkie that I am) – it’s all so fascinating, especially the science of it all. Cooking, something I don’t usually do! In order to use stuff up at the end of my fortnightly cycle of shopping, finding what I might make with given ingredients – there’s always a recipe online to cover any combination. And knitting – I’ve nearly finished my second garment since lockdown started. Given that I only knit – and that in 4-ply, for those who understand these things – when I’m watching television or listening to something (podcasts, radio), I must be doing more of that these days. So much to divert oneself, without going out. (Just this morning, I’ve been recording myself for the BBC! Singing with the BBC Lockdown Orchestra, no doubt with hundreds, maybe thousands, of others, for a video to go out on TV and radio on 14th. A steep learning curve as to the pop song, which I didn’t know, and the technical side of it – great fun.)

With no reason to go out beyond my garden, I realised that I was becoming almost afeared to go out, so just forced myself to make the effort the other day. Only that little walk up to the prep school and back. I hadn’t seen the lane for a month to the day. And what a change that month had made. So lush!

But firstly, I was pleased to see that the local park had been reopened.

My route was lined with cow parsley for most of the way. And with bird song! I was nearly deafened – it was wonderful.

Just enjoy the walk with me.

I’ll ask Mendip Ramblers to see if they’ll clear this when they’re allowed. A month ago I was thinking that this would give me a possible alternative part-walk, but field maple (I think) has taken over.

That white sheen – what is it?

Zoom. I thought so – dandelions. Pity, I missed the major blooming in the month gone by.

Herb Robert

Germander speedwell

They appear to have lost their two little friends for now, just a third full-sized pony at the end of the field – and a magpie.

Horse chestnut

Most bluebells are going over now

Now these would make a lot of rainbows!

This sign has been there since pre-lockdown…

The Tor (which is the hill, not the tower on top as many seem to think) just stolidly surveys all, as it has done for tens, hundreds, of thousands of years.

Buttercups

There are more caravans now alongside the River Brue, since the Government has obliged local authorities to provide sanitation for travellers during lockdown.

Hawthorn

When these thistly dandeliony things appear in my garden, wildlife-friendly or not, they are (carefully) yanked out. But in setting they are rather splendid. I think it’s sonchus asper, Prickly cowthistle.

One of my favourite views on the walk. So peaceful.

I meant to take the White dead-nettle but, while I was framing the picture, I noticed the shadow of something else, which pleased me.

On my return, I couldn’t help noticing that there were six council employees on the road next to the park, nor could I help asking what was going on. They were felling a dead tree at the side of the park.

And – nothing to do with my walk – I had to take a photo of this diddy, apparently one-person, recycling van which ‘did’ my house shortly afterwards. Most of our waste services have been kept going these last weeks, and those that haven’t are shortly being restored. Well done and thank you Somerset Waste Partnership.

The next walk was something completely different …