MELLS IS A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT!

Early this morning I went for a walk with Belinda. We took the car out of Shepton and ended up at the picturesque village of Mells.  It is a lovely village, full of beautiful historic stone buildings.  We started by walking through the churchyard and then onto public footpaths.  The church has a majestic venue of ancient yew trees (see top left pic) and around the village there were loads of flowers, including one of my favourites, Hollyhocks.  They come in such wonderful colours - see bottom middle and middle right pics above...

A large part of our walk consisted of circumnavigating an extremely large field of maize which was in places as tall as me and is still growing!

There were some interesting wildflowers, including several varieties of thistles, so we had to be careful where we walked!  It was a strange day for weather, cloudy, but extremely warm and humid.  Apparently, we are in for a mini heatwave during the next few days with hot air coming over from France, so if there is walking to be done it is best to get out early!

A COOLER MORNING BUT THE FLOWERS WERE BLOOMING!

This morning I went for a walk around the outskirts of Shepton with Belinda.  We decided not to take the car anywhere, as the thousands of people attending the nearby Glastonbury Festival, would be leaving the site, and all the roads around us would be clogged!

Our mini heatwave over the weekend has ended, thank goodness.  I prefer it a bit cooler!  We went up to Barren Down, all long grasses, wild flowers, and great views of the church and town.  We then took footpaths past the cemetery, and walked down the Meadows and up the High Street...

The recent sunshine has brought all the flowers out.  Everything is blooming!  I do enjoy looking and seeing how some people use them to enhance their entrances and front gardens.  The sculpture (see above top middle pic), embedded in gravel was rather intriguing.  At the moment there is nothing else in this front garden...

   

EASTER MONDAY MORNING IN HARRIDGE WOODS!

I can't think of a nicer way to spend the early morning of a sunny Easter Bank Holiday Monday than a walk in Harridge Woods, Oakhill with friends.  Belinda, Jenny and I hadn't met up in ages so there was a lot to talk about!  We went to see the wild garlic, but at the entrance of the woods all we could see were bluebells and evidence, in the form of logs, of a continual maintenance programme.  This work is carried out by the Somerset Wildlife Trust who own the woods. 

However, as we walked deeper into the woods, there were carpets of wild garlic.  It was mostly in leaf and bud but we did see some of pretty white star-like flowers.  We reckon another week or so before it is all in full flower.  We could certainly smell the garlic...

One of the exciting things on this particular walk, is the way the woods are reclaiming the ruins of Ashwick Grove House (see above).  Only hints of the former grand house and outbuildings remain...

Another ruin on the walk is Keepers Cottage (see top left), which has been preserved from further collapse, as a habitat for bats.  Overall, the building supports at least seven species of bat throughout the year.  These woods are a great place for fungi, wildflowers, lichen, ferns, moss, as well as birds and wild animals.  We didn't see any deer this time but we did hear plenty of birdsong and an active woodpecker!

YELLOW IS THE COLOUR OF THE MOMENT!

These two photographs sum up this morning's walk with Belinda.  The grass on the fields above Shepton was long, luscious and wet!  The weather was hazy, warm and muggy, with the promise of a hot sunny day to come.  The wildflowers were everywhere, in abundance. A few weeks ago the fields were a mass of yellow dandelions, now it is the turn of the buttercups.
  

For me, yellow is the colour of spring in the countryside, not only the wildflowers, but the fields of oilseed rape provide fabulous blocks of brilliant yellow at this time of year...

   

EARLY MORNING AT MENDIP GOLF CLUB!

Yesterday was my first early morning walk this year!  A combination of wet, cold, weather, and friends who have been away or had commitments, meant that I haven't had the motivation for a walk before!  Now, however, I have been wearing a pedometer to see what exercise I am actually getting. This has made me decide that I do indeed need to increase my movement, for all sorts of health benefits!

So, when I was asked to drive my husband up to the golf club so he could walk around with his golfing buddy, I joined them for the walk, just as the sun was rising. The reason I had to drive was that my husband had just had cataract surgery and was missing his early morning rounds!  

A couple of incidents with cameras has resulted in me having a new one that can survive my rough treatment!  I chose the Olympus Tough 5 which can be dropped without ill effect, is fully waterproof and can take pics underwater.  As wild swimming is one of my major activities this will be a bonus...

This camera is also good for close-ups, so I did some practice shots, as demonstrated above.  Even on a cold, frosty February morning there were signs of wildflowers on the golf course. 

We were at the Mendip Golf course, which is high up and has superb views.  You can see for miles and miles...

MAY IS BLOOMING!

No sun this morning, but at least it wasn't raining or as cold as it has been lately! My companion was Miriam, and as time was tight, we kept our walk local. We had a look at Shepton's Friday market, which was just setting up, and I showed Miriam the window I had recently dressed at the One Craft Gallery (see middle, left pic).   

Our walk took us through Collett Park, which was looking lush and green, and past the allotments, which had many signs of planting activity (see photographs above).

May is my favourite month of the year - maybe because it is my birthday month!  It is named after the greek goddess, Maia, who is also identified with the Roman goddess of fertility, Bona Dea.

May is certainly fertile - it is said, that this is the month when plants really start to grow.  On our travels today we saw plenty of evidence of this - clouds of white cow parsley, loads of blossom and gardens full of colourful flowers...

IN SEARCH OF BLUEBELLS!

It was great to get out again for an early morning walk.  Today I went with Belinda on a mission - to find an easily accessible bluebell wood, that would be suitable to take her mother to!  As she lives in Wells, we drove to Dulcote and took a bridleway towards the city, until we veered off into woods on the right.  There we were rewarded with a result - drifts of bluebells creating areas of beautiful blue/purple haze!

Unfortunately, even on this lovely route, the problems of graffiti and homelessness cannot be escaped.  We passed several structures in the woods, that had signs of occupation at sometime.  As we passed one (see above top right), we could hear the sounds of someone sleeping inside!

We also passed a Romany travellers camp, complete with horse and traditional  gypsy caravan (see above), and in the middle of the woods (see above, middle right), we came across one of the big problems of the countryside today - fly-tipping... 

Although the sun wasn't shining, and we haven't had rain for ages, everywhere looked green and lush.  It is such a lovely time of year with an array of fresh greens, and the delicate colours of the wild flowers...

PERFECT WALKING WEATHER!

This morning was perfect walking weather - bright and sunny but not too warm.  I had Belinda for company.  We took a wooded path that neither of us had been on before - it was uphill and went on and on!

We noticed a lot of flying insects around, but luckily, apart from being annoying, they didn't seem to be nibbling...  Whenever I go into the countryside on warm evenings, I always wear a herbal insect repellent from the health food shop, as I am always getting bitten!  I don't think I better go to Scotland, as I hear that midges can smell human flesh a mile away!

We took a footpath that went right through somebody's garden.  At first we couldn't see the way out so we had a really good look around!  If it was my garden I think I would have put a couple of arrows to show the way...

The fields of grains are growing well while some footpaths are becoming overgrown. We had to find sticks to beat down the brambles and stinging nettles and I still managed to get stung!

In a hedgerow, we saw large, white bindweed flowers - not something I would want in my garden!  However, Belinda said, "there is Granny Out of Bed".  She went on to explain that as a child she would pick the flower head, recite the rhyme - 'granny, granny, pop out of bed', and on the word 'pop' she would squeeze the base and the flower would pop out!  I tried it and it does work.

You learn something new everyday...

   

FRIDAY IS FISH DAY!

Today was lovely walking weather - pleasantly warm.  Jenny and I did some window shopping and looked at other people's gardens - something we never tire of!  We went in a big circle walking to Bowlish and ended back at Shepton Market by the Market Cross.  It looked a bit bare today as the plant man was missing - too hot for his flowers - someone suggested!  The Bell pub (see below), was looking pristine - the scaffolding has come off the front so we can now see the improvements... 

However, it was fish that we were after.  The fishmonger has a new ice machine so he can keep his fish cool in the summer heat!  We both bought some fresh mackerel, which is particularly good at the moment, and in the news, as it is a good source of Vitamin D!  Something the health arbiters are telling us, at the moment, that we should all get more of...

There were wonderful flower displays and lush greenery everywhere - even an empty house, where the garden had gone wild with bindweed (see above left), looked impressive!

HEATWAVE COMING!

When I woke up this morning it was misty, but by the time I reached Belinda's house it had cleared and the sun was out.  As Jenny is only walking on a Friday, I have managed to persuade Belinda into a regular Monday walk!

Last night's Countryfile on tv was all about wild flower meadows, so I felt inspired to suggest we went up to Barren Down - the nearest one I could think of!  

The meadow was full of grasses and wild flowers, mainly yellow and purple and wildlife - saw plenty of slugs and snails!  Barren Down seems a world away from the town, and yet it is such a wonderful resource, on the doorstep.  Belinda brought her 35mm camera and I caught her (see above) trying to photograph a beautiful butterfly...

Our long walk took us on footpaths over farmland where the crops are growing fast. Thank goodness most farmers respect rights of way and make provisions.  I accidentally got a shock from an electric fence, my fault - I was too busy taking pics to notice it!  The farmer had put a cover over it (see pic above left), where you had to climb over it to reach the stile...

In the past we have been on footpaths and found that our way is barred by cattle, which we are always wary of and avoid.   One farmer even has a notice saying 'beware of the bull', in a field that contains a footpath!

We have been promised a mini heatwave and it certainly became warmer and warmer as the walk progressed.  On our way back through town we saw some beautiful garden flowers, and I was grateful to sit in Belinda's garden and drink a glass of coconut water - very hydrating!

   

SUMMER IS HERE!

It was a real Summer morning for our walk.  It was bright and warm - quite humid actually, and certainly the warmest morning we have had this year!  We hiked over farmland, marvelling at the abundance of wild flowers and the Charlton Viaduct, which never fails to impress.  As you can see above, we passed some other walkers admiring the view...

When the weather is so good it is a great idea to visit a garden which is open with the National Garden Scheme.  This scheme, which has been going since 1927, has raised more than 45 million pounds for nursing and caring charities. Today, I have been involved with a garden at East Burford House, which has been open for the last couple of days as part of this scheme...

I designed the poster for it and the One Craft Gallery had a pop-up shop in a garden room, leading onto one of the terraced gardens.  It was very hot, even with the french doors wide open!  There was also a second hand books stall and a plant stand with all the proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer charity.  The pics above give a taster of the beautiful gardens of East Burford House (just outside Shepton, near Pilton), which contain some wonderful sculptures and many interesting things!

I had a good time manning the shop and meeting people, who were interested in buying the art and crafts on offer.  Particularly popular, were the ceramic garden sculptures and handmade sunhats!

FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!

Today, June 1st, is the meteorological start of summer, although you wouldn't believe it by the weather!  It was windy, grey and damp...

We didn't have long today, so it was a walk to West Shepton going the other way round!  We went past the football club which, I must admit, I have never seen before - don't think they figure in the football league!

May and June are such good months for lush, fresh greenery, blossom and flowers - both wild and cultivated...

I love roses and have just bought 5 David Austin roses to put in my front garden. They are all beautiful shades of pink and I am so looking forward to smelling them, as they are specially cultivated for their old fashioned rose fragrance.  I have some white ones in the back garden and when they are in bloom they always look and smell gorgeous...

I saw, on tv last week, David Austin meeting the Queen at the Chelsea Flower Show. They are both 90 this year and both still working!  In the early 50s, David Austin set out to develop a beautiful rose and he is still doing that today, only now it has developed into a world renowned rose breeding family business...

WILDFLOWER FRIDAY!

We set off under an overcast sky to West Shepton, as last year we had really admired the cow parsley, on one particular bridleway and wanted to see what it was like.  By the time we got there it was raining, but we weren't disappointed as besides the white billowing clouds of cow parsley, it was a day for spotting wild flowers - buttercups, dandelions, vetch, daises, lady's smock, red campion etc. As a child I used to press and name them, so I tend to be more familiar with them than flowers in the garden!

My skin felt great this morning and I felt quite buff, as yesterday I had a restful afternoon having a facial and pedicure at Skin and Tonic!  Jenny gave my skin quite an MOT, including eyelashes and brows trimmed and darkened.  The microblading on my eyebrows she did earlier in the year is still looking good!  And I now have some lovely red toes to peek out of summer sandals...

I would rather spend money on grooming - I went for hair highlights this afternoon - than expensive clothes.  After all, style and looking good is all about how you wear things - they can come from the charity shop!  If you feel your hair and make-up are the best they can be, it gives you confidence, which shows!  And clothes and make-up look so much better over a healthy and looked after face and body!

  
By the time we had finished our circular walk, the sun was shining and all the dog walkers looked happy!  Jenny made friends with a lonely and sad looking horse, which was quite an achievement as he wasn't that friendly, and she is a bit scared of horses...