Sadly, there were none around - in fact, I haven't seen them in this area for a few years now. Although the area doesn't look very promising for wildlife (huge prairie type fields and not many hedges) I have seen some good birds in the area in the past including Golden Plover, Corn Bunting and Yellow Wagtails. Merlin used to over-winter in the area too.
We stopped off briefly at the Church of St Chad - parts of which date back to the 13th century.
The churchyard was full of daffodils and celandines and
I did like this bench encircling a yew.
(Photos taken by D with the Canon Bridge camera.)
I'm currently reading "Meadowland" and would highly recommend this superb book. The prose is beautiful and the book is also stuffed full of interesting facts on flora and fauna. I am rationing myself to a chapter a night as it is one of those books I just don't want to finish!
Moths
I suspect a few visitors to my blog are looking for posts on Garden Moths so just to let you know I now post on garden wildlife on a different blog. There is a link at the top of the page on the right.
15 comments:
I know how it goes with a good book:) Sometimes you just want to absorb every word and take your time. It looks like fun. As for the hare, it's a curious thing. Even if you didn't find any, it's great that you went looking for them. And yes! A tearoom! I have never seen one before. I didn't know what to call it. Now I know. And next time, I'll stop for a desert just like you do:)
Chris Rohrer Thanks Chris :) I think I will be rereading this book once finished.
My son was disappointed not to see hares but I just enjoyed the trip out regardless :)
lol re: the tearoom :) You would love it over here there are thousands of them - look forward to seeing your dessert when you next find one :)
I was given Meadowland as a Christmas present and I really enjoyed it too. I'd love to have my own meadow so full of wildlife! I think it's one of the books I'll always keep dipping into.
I'm pleased to read about your other blog and I'll go and visit now!
Wendy Thanks so much Wendy. It is a wonderful meadow and the author has such a great prose style. I keep making notes of pages which are particularly lovely :)
Thanks for visiting the other blog and leaving a comment. I am not really sure why I decided to put garden wildlife on a separate blog but one of these days I may merge them back together again :)
Shame you didn't manage to see any Hares, another book I would like to read. Going to have to set a time once a week for reading as the books are piling up...
Amanda xx
Amanda Peters - Thanks Amanda. I do wonder if hares are still in the area as I saw them regularly for many years but the last few nothing at all :( Know the feeling re: books building up - have made a real effort this year to spend time each evening reading. Will post the other 2 books I told you about on other blog either tomorrow or Friday. Hope "Old Man" is improving.
Always good to find an enjoyable read.Pity there are no HAres
Another interesting post and find it odd that you are short of hares in their native land. We have lots around here at present and would be quite happy to send back to the UK. They do do a bit of damage to small plants and did demolish one of our pumpkins, but have never been a major pest in Australia like rabbits.
Just noted your other blog so will start following it as well.
Margaret Adamson - Thanks Margaret :)
Ian - Thanks Ian and thanks very much for visiting my other blog and leaving a comment.
Hares have declined about 80% in the last 100 years due to a number of reasons such as agricultural intensification and change of land use (sadly, the same reasons for the decline of so many species) and they are also still shot (there is no closed season) :( Such a shame as they are such beautiful mammals - I think they are more widespread in some areas of England e.g. the East.
Celandine is having a rare old time of it this spring. In previous years it's just been next to water round here, this year there are carpets of it around trees!
Shame about the hares. Another book that looks good too. Thanks for sharing. :-)
What a shame you didn't see any hares, they are such beautiful creatures. The last time I saw one was about three years ago running briefly at the side of the road in the hedgerow before disappearing under a field gate. The book looks wonderful, I may track it down at the library. It would be lovely to sit on that bench in the heat of a summer afternoon, it looks cool and peaceful:)
Simon Douglas Thompson - Thanks Simon - yes similar situation here re: Lesser Celandine. There are carpets of it everywhere :)
Deb - Thanks Deb - it was a shame re: lack of hares - I do hope they haven't completely disappeared from the area.
Rosie - Thanks Rosie. I can't remember if the last time I saw one was at the location mentioned in the post or it may have been on the Isle of Wight. We used to see them a lot in the East Midlands when my husband's mother lived in Daventry. The bench would be a great place to read the book - hope you can track it down.
Funnily enough, we have seen two hares recently, in Oxfordshire, crossing the road in front of our car; the closest I had seen them for years!
Toffeeapple - Thanks for the comment. So pleased to hear of your sighting - especially such a close encounter (it must have been a magical moment!) :)
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