We were at Malvern again yesterday, to check out a Militaria Fair they hold there. Homework done and no need to go again. On the way out, we stopped so I could take photos of the stupendous views. Needless to say, houses in Malvern with a view like this sell at a premium . . .
Then we drove on to the beautiful ancient church of St Mary's at Kempley, where we were meeting with my friend J.
Kempley church has stunning Medieval wall paintings, which were whitewashed over as "idolatory" in Cromwell's times. Fortunately they have been rediscovered and restored where possible. I have written a post about this church before, so will move on to the beautiful wild daffodils which still grow in this area.
So we left the churchyard, with just a quick photo of the daffs growing there - but they need another couple of weeks, J thinks as there is just a sprinkling at the moment.
So from Kempley we drove through Dymock to a piece of woodland where daffodils used to be picked for the Birmingham market. J's aunty (nearly a centenarian now) and her mum and gran, used to be amongst the pickers. Even before school to satisfy demand if Easter was early and the daffodils few in number, because then there would be a premium for them.
Another rarity these days, the scented White Violets growing on a sunny bank.
The woodland was criss-crossed with daffodil-edged rides such as this one, and if I thought this was pretty and daffodils a-plenty, I had a treat in store.
Between the trees the woodland floor was carpeted with daffodils.
There were primroses too of course.
According to J, these are still only about 2/3 out - and they are always earlier in the woods. In the fields they are well behind, as we saw later when we visited one of the few fields which has been left unploughed by the farmer, so show this area how it used to be 100 years ago.
I took lots of similar photos, but I suspect you get the gist of this natural beauty by now.
Leaving the woodland.
Aiming towards the sun made it look like last week's eclipse again!
The daffodil field, which in full bloom, you can scarcely see any grass because of the flowers. It has a way to go yet.
One last close up of these tiny daffodils. We still have a few here in Wales - they like wetter woods, and I know of some in a damp cleft in a meadow locally. See these in all their glory and you will never plant a King Alfred again.
If you want to head for the Dymock/Much Marcle/Kempley triangle on the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire border this coming weekend, you will not be disappointed, as the daffodils are just starting to bloom and it is a beautiful and historically very interesting area.
