Back To Herefordshire - Part 2: Mortimer Forest and Views of Ludlow

 

On Thursday the weather was much better - the wind had dropped and the showers had disappeared - so we decided to visit Mortimer Forest for a walk as it is another place D hasn't visited.

Timothy was not going to be left behind!

Mortimer Forest covers over 1000 hectares and was created in the 1920's by the Forestry Commission. It does, however, contain fragments of ancient Saxon forests that were once used for hunting. The FC decided to use the name Mortimer Forest due to the presence on the site of the Saxon hunting forests of Mocktree, Deerfold and Dringewood which had been granted to Ralph de Mortimer.

Once again we followed the Easy Access Trail which follows two loops in a figure of eight.

Wood Sorrel

Coltsfoot

It was while I was trying to take photos of violets on a sunny, sandy bank that I spotted a movement.  It was a Common Lizard. I can't tell you how chuffed I was to spot this.  I've seen Wall Lizards on the Isle of Wight in recent years but they are not native to England and slow worms (which are native) in various locations  - but the last native Common lizards I saw in the wild were when I was a child so its a long time ago!  Unfortunately it was moving very fast and the only other picture I managed was one of its tail!  D and B were hundreds of yards ahead of me (as usual). I did call them back but by then it had disappeared into the foliage.

Near Peeler Pond we saw a Brimstone and a Red Admiral and also watched a Chiffchaff foraging for insects in a nearby tree.

Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage

Dog's Mercury

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D managed to get a photo from the car of these gorgeous chimney pots in Ludford.

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On the way back we stopped off at the viewpoint above Whitcliff Common with wonderful views of Ludlow, including the castle and St Laurence Church, and the Brown Clee and Titterstone Clee Hill (you may remember we drove up there on our last visit).

 

Note for Deborah - another one of those memorial benches!

Back at the caravan the Herefordshire Oak Tree looks much the same as 3 or 4 weeks ago!

Cloudscape at Hatfield

With no leaves you can see the pool below from the rear of the caravan.

Primroses and hyacinths in our tiny garden. The scent from the latter is amazing :)

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

*D photos taken by David with the Canon SX50HS bridge camera. Rest of pictures taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera.

Herefordshire Again - Part 3: Mortimer Forest

 

Mortimer Forest was very quiet and peaceful and there were less cars in the car park than on the first visit and we only saw a few people during the entire walk.  We ate a picnic lunch in the car and I was thrilled to see several Silver Washed Fritillaries flying past (the first I have seen this year). No chance of a photo though as the only one that stopped flying was someway away and kept its wings closed! The trees provided some welcome shade from the sun and heat!

We did the same "easy access" trail as last time.  It is made of two loops in a "figure of eight" and again we walked both loops.

Every time I stopped to take a photo or identify a plant or butterfly B and E got further and further ahead :(

Hedge Woundwort

Heavily cropped photo of a Ringlet.

Peeler Pond - we saw many Broad-bodied Chasers (males)

Rosebay Willowherb, Meadowsweet and Foxglove

Back at the car park.

The final post of this visit to Herefordshire will include visits to two local churches - sadly one closed and one only open for private prayer but there was plenty to see in the churchyards and on the exterior of the churches.

Stay safe and well everyone.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. D was working from home Thursday and Friday so couldn't accompany us.