A river walk upstream

Hogweed growing strongly by the Quarry on the hill down to the river.

The crab apple tree in full bloom over the river.  Unfortunately it is impossible to pick any of its fruit!

This is the skull of a foal, about 5 months old, belonging to a neighbour who purported to be breeding racehorses. These ones were just shut in a field and forgotten about.  He was also responsible for the dead horse dumped in the river recently.  Police and RSPCA have been involved, apparently, and the horses taken away.

There were big purple clumps of  Ground Ivy, scrambling across the trackway.

There are still plenty of Primroses blooming. 

This is the Cothi upstream, about half a mile from our iron bridge.  The Beech trees are just breaking leaf.

Across the river, a field no longer grazed has turned into a haven for wildlife.

The farmer with the horses has employed someone to chop down every tree in what was a lovely sylvan glade . . .  Prime oak trees, everything . . .

We find this heartbreaking (and unnecessary).  Such a rape of the countryside and ruination of a wildlife habitat.  (It wasn't all just dieing Ash trees - literally every tree growing there.)

Gorse - the flowers of which will subsequently be picked for some Gorse wine, now we have FINALLY got the Champagne yeast (which took 3 weeks to get here!)

Our road is starting to look very dodgy - this is now starting to subside from an old repair several feet in from the edge of the tarmac, and the bank has dropped a couple of feet below the road in the middle . . .  I wouldn't be surprised if this section gets closed at some point.  Glad we don't live beyond it.

Right, this won't do.  Off to plant some more seeds.  I have a Bluebell Walk to report next, and a bit about brewing and winemaking too.  (We bottled Tam's beer today).