A LOT OF TALKING ON THIS WALK!

The early mornings are now much darker and colder!  Today was a chance for Jenny and I to have a catch-up so there was much talking as well as walking!  We did one of our favourite walks around Shepton, where we walked through farmland and had a great view of the Charlton Road viaduct - see above.

Part of the walk was down a wooded bridleway which always has many interesting shaped branches and twigs on the ground.  In the past we have collected these for Christmas decorations etc. and today was no exception!  Jenny chose to take a striking branch with a long tall stem - ideal to stand up for a decorative, natural alternative to a Christmas tree! 

MISTS AND MELLOW FRUITFULNESS!

Judging by this morning's walk, 'the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness', is here!  Jenny and Belinda and I walked to West Shepton and ended up in Bowlish, before heading up the High Street and back home through Collett Park.

It was inspiring to chat, catch up and talk about where our lives are at the moment and what we want for the future...  

We saw plenty of flowers around Shepton and in people's front gardens, as well as blackberries and loads of red berries...

Collett Park and the allotments still have plenty of colour and interest as can be seen above.  Town Street (the pedestrian walkway joining the High Street is getting more and more interesting with new interior and vintage shops.  If you are wondering what I am looking at in the picture above - some scaffolding is being put up for a building to have a facelift.  All good news for the High Street...

A FAVOURITE WALK FOR A CATCH UP!

Today, Belinda and I took one of our favourite walks - from Dulcote to Wells.  The pathway is a mecca for joggers and people walking their dogs.  This morning the sky was blue and the sun was shining and as we hadn't met up for some time, there was plenty to talk about!  On our route to the Bishop's Palace, we came across a field of friendly bullocks - see below...

Once into Wells, I did some window shopping, looking especially at the window dressing as I help with the window in the One Craft Gallery in Shepton.  I particularly liked these clothes mannequins with their animal heads, and the white decal of cow parsley seed heads which adorn a beauty salon, (pics shown below).  A trip into Wells is also a chance for a coffee, even early in the morning...

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...

   

FROM DULCOTE TO WELLS!

Early this grey bank holiday morning, Belinda and I drove to Dulcote and then walked into the beautiful city of Wells.  We hadn't managed to get out on a walk in recent weeks so there was plenty to talk about!

Wells is dominated by its wonderful cathedral and other historic buildings, such as the Bishop's Palace and moat, which are illustrated in the two sets of photographs above...

This is such a great time of year, everything is green and lush with lovely flowers, such as these gorgeous foxgloves shown above.  On our way back to the car we investigated the entrance to Tor Hill Woods - I am standing by the map in the pic above left.  They looked very inviting, but rather hilly, (see centre top pic).  As we were short on time, we vowed to have a walk there on another occasion!

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!