October Visit to Herefordshire - Part 1 : Hatfield, Walk, Monkland Cheese Dairy

 

Last week we finally managed to get back to the caravan for four nights and D came with us which was great as it gave me the motivation to go out with him and enjoy his company.

There are definite signs of autumn tints appearing now in the leaves on the Herefordshire Oak.

The Octopus Tree

The Constable Tree(s)

The perennial wallflower is still flowering as is the rose in a pot.

This is the view from the lounge which we will lose should the proposed development be given permission and go ahead.

D went a walk to the Hen House one morning to buy some eggs and was lucky enough to see a Red Kite. I haven't seen one there for ages so it is good news they are still around.

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We arrived on the Tuesday afternoon and on Wednesday D and I went to Monkland Cheese Dairy to stock up on some of their delicious cheeses.

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These were the purchases and in the box is a slice of their delicious Herefordshire Apple cake.  We do have a book of Monkland Dairy Recipes and the apple cake recipe is in there so one day I will try making one at home.

On the way back we stopped off at Morrisons to do a small food shop and D took some photos of leaves and berries in the car park.

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Mistletoe growing on a tree by B and Q and a house decorated for Hallowe'en.

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A view of the lane as we drove back and were nearing Hatfield. The lanes there are very narrow and I spend most of my time praying I won't meet a tractor coming the other way!

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I did use the bat detector most nights but I wasn't picking up any bats and we didn't see any. The house martins have departed for the winter although I did see a few on our last visit.

On the Thursday D and I went to a pumpkin farm and then we visited a new church which I will write about in the next few posts.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 and those marked *D were taken by my son with the Canon SX50HS. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or one of my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks ).

Return to Herefordshire - Part 1: Hatfield

 

Last week we returned to Herefordshire for a few days.  

There have been changes in some of the Herefordshire Trees in the fortnight we have been away.

A definite hint of autumn colour in the leaves of the Herefordshire Oak.

The Octopus Tree seems to have lost most of its leaves!  The "octopus" shape is becoming more apparent now - well to me at least!

Meanwhile the Constable Tree looks more or less unchanged.

We arrived on the Tuesday lunchtime.  We didn't do the usual click and collect at Morrisons in Leominster in the afternoon as we are trying to use up food in the freezer and tins, pasta and rice in the cupboard in preparation for when we close the caravan down for a few months.  We did stop at a small Morrisons in Bromyard for just a few items and also Legges - a farmshop to buy cheese and some Peter Cook bread.  Peter Cook is a Herefordshire baker who has won many awards and I really wanted to try one of his loaves - it was delicious!

After lunch we went a walk through the site to the Hen House to buy some eggs.  The autumn colours on trees are really starting to come out now.

Mint seems to be taking over this herb pot by the office!  D has suggested when we finally get round to re-doing our own herb pot we should plant mint separately.

"Plants in Walls"

Oontitoomps!

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D carved a pumpkin

Timothy glad to be back on his shelf and a rose we picked from the garden.  There are still a few plants in flower - hollyhock, periwinkle, heather, fox and cubs and an ice plant.

A few photos taken by D in the "golden hour".  View from the side of the caravan.

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Views to the rear of the caravan - you can see the Herefordshire Oak.

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Pumpkins in Hatfield Village

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We saw and picked up bats on the bat detector on one of evenings and walking back from the Hen House saw an unusual bird of prey.  I am not sure what species it was although it did look very like a harrier - another possibility is an Osprey as they have fish in the pool at the site and Docklow Pools fishery is nearby. Although it is probably a bit late for an Osprey on passage. It definitely wasn't a Red Kite or Buzzard, Kestrel or Sparrowhawk which are the species we have seen there. Sadly we only got a silhouetted view of it in flight and the very record shot doesn't really show any details of plumage.

Photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. Photos marked *D taken by my son with the Canon SX50 HS  bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).