Tuesday 21 April 2020

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).

16 comments:

  1. That farmer needs a good slap up the head and besides a huge fine he needs to we working mucking out stalls.
    parsnip

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  2. Shall we say he has a wee bit of a problem with the bottle parsnip . . .and has had for many years now.

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  3. Looking forward to the brewing and winemaking post. So sad to see the skull and hear about the horses, such a shame. The tree too were heartbreaking to see chopped down. Stay safe.

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    1. I'll do it tomorrow MM - we bottled the beer today. It is a shame about the horses and I am so relieved they have been taken away now. The tree carnage was upsetting and unnecessary. Stay safe too.

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  4. We had a field by us when we farmed where horses were neglected. The RSPCA finally stepped in but we found it a very difficult time.

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    1. It's never easy in such situations. Bad enough to see it unfold . . .

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  5. A lovely walk. I thought it was prosecutable to chop down trees? Criminal in my mind anyway.

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    1. Well, he's a farmer and it seems that such things are allowable.

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  6. I am glad the horses were taken away from the owner. Treating animals in such a terrible manner deserves some jail time in my mind.

    God bless.

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    1. You and me both. Some people just shouldn't have animals. I look forward to reading the court case in our local paper although it will be deemed a "first offence"- only we all know it is NOT.

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  7. Morning Jennie.
    The crab apple blossom is just lovely and, yes, shame about the fruit being inaccessible. Lovely ground ivy, too. The river scenes are so pretty. Ooh is Gorse Champagne tasty, never heard of that. So lovely that you can enjoy the countryside during these difficult times. Enjoy your sowing, I have to re-sow my carrots as decided to dig up the rogue spuds which had disturbed some of original sowings. Take care and look forward to seeing the Bluebell Walk. Lou.xx

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    1. Hi Lou. Gorse wine is like drinking liquid sunshine. Oh my goodness, it is good stuff. Not sure if mine will be along those lines, but I can but try!

      We have some yellow carrots on order (belt and braces) from Real Seeds, so have a backup now.

      It's always lovely along by the river. Stay safe my dear. xxx

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  8. What a lovely walk - what I really miss at the moment is walking in the countryside, by rivers and woods and seeing all the wild flowers as they emerge :( Awful about those trees just being cut down :( and I hope the person with horses gets his just deserts!!

    Planted some seeds yesterday here too - after anxiety of shopping being delivered and the dreaded wiping it over and quarantining - I needed to do something to make myself feel good!! :)

    Look forward to seeing the bluebells. Take care and stay safe and well.

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    1. Oh RR - isn't it horrid, when we get so anxious over shopping possibly bringing in the virus? It seems to be the same for so many of us in blogland, and when I've been bloghopping I hear of the anxiety of people trying to keep their distance when HAVING to go to the supermarket, and other idiots just carrying on as if they'd never heard of a Pandemic! Glad you got some seeds started.

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  9. Thank you for taking us on another beautiful walk in your area. I am so sorry to hear about the foal and the horses, it is good to hear the authorities stepped in I do hope that is the end of his horse keeping time. It sounds like he should not be farming if he also cuts down trees in such a manner.

    Your gorse champagne sounds amazing!

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    1. Well, I'll let you know when it's made whether it's drinkable or not! It should taste like liquid sunshine! Note the use of the word "should"!!

      I think there must be a grant for cutting down hedges to the base again as he's done it right up the valley on his land.

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