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