A Cotswold Year - Charting the seasons in the South Cotswolds


Tuesday 30 April 2013

Ash Trees

Trees are starting to burst into leaf everywhere now including these strange ash buds.
The old saying is that oak out before ash due for a splash, ash out before oak due for a soak but they seem to be out at the same time this year.

Saturday 27 April 2013

Wild Garlic Pesto


Well now that the woods in the Cotswolds are full of Wild Garlic leaves we decided it was time to forage and get cooking.
First efforts look delicious...Wild Garlic Pesto is easy to make and goes well with pasta, mashed potato and sounds good on toast too so we are looking forward to trying it.
As the woods are close to our cottage and the bunch I picked was quite large Wild Garlic Soup is on the stove now too.
Will let you know how they taste, any other suggestions welcome.
Update.... both were delicious.



Friday 26 April 2013

Spring has sprung


It's really starting to feel like springtime now with the hedges greening up and lots of young lambs in the fields. Birds are singing loudly establishing territories and attracting mates.
Bees are much in evidence buzzing around spring flowers and the first few butterflies are taking to the air.

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Paragliders enjoying the sunshine

Lovely sunny morning here for St George's Day and the sky seems full of Paragliders enjoying the conditions. Lets hope this is the beginning of summer.

Friday 19 April 2013

Mallard Ducklings

Broods of mallard ducklings are one of the delights of springtime and the female mallards can be seen with a dozen or so downy ducklings following.

Common Crane


How marvellous to see Cranes making and defending a nest in Gloucestershire thanks to the Great Crane Project. These 3 year old cranes were released on the Somerset Levels but have found their way back to WWT Slimbridge where their nesting behaviour  is clearly visible from the hide.

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Wood Anemone

Spring may be a little late but at least the wood anemones are in bloom carpeting the woodland floor.

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Spring still slow in coming

Having been away from the area for over two weeks we expected to return to full blown Springtime. However from what we understand from family, neighbours and our observations we see that we haven't missed this exciting period after all. The farmers around are busy with spring time activities, muck spreading, rolling and harrowing the fields getting the grassland ready for the growing season.