Ready to fly the nest

These four fledgling Thrushes will soon be ready to leave their nest in our shed and try their wings for the first time.

Waves in the meadow grass

The grass in the meadows is getting long and will soon be cut for for silage to feed the livestock in the winter.Meanwhile the wind makes waves in the grass like water.When the fields have been cut the grass will regrow and be used for summer grazing of cattle and sheep.

Narrow lanes even narrower

The speedy growth of Cow Parsley on the roadside verges makes our narrow lanes even narrower for a while,until the banks are cut back.

Time for a haircut?

These sheep look distinctly uncomfortable in the hot weather as it must be time to be shorn of their winter coat of wool.

Happy as a pig in muck?

There is not even much mud about after recent dry weather.These free range pigs look happy rooting around in the field and must have a much better life than those cooped up in factory farm sheds

Summer Shade

As the temperatures rise the leaf canopy has become more dense giving welcome cool dappled shade from the summer sun. These beech trees are in the Slad Valley made famous by Laurie Lee in his novel "Cider with Rosie"

Woodruff is a delightful plant found in woods and hedgerows of the Cotswolds at this time of year. It's leaves are in whorls under delicate white flowers and looked so pretty in the bright spring light yesterday.

Harts Tongue Fern

Just as you thought the Harts tongue fern was dead the new shoots spring up from the remains of last years foliage.

Down by the River

On a warm spring day the banks of the Severn are a fantastic place to while away a few hours. At low tide Shelduck sift the mud for snails.Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers chatter in the reeds.The Severn is a mile wide at this point and has the second highest tidal range in the world.

Wood Garlic

One of the last of the spring woodland plants is Ramsons or Wood Garlic.The unmistakeable aroma of garlic permeates the woods and the white flowers line the edge of the woodland paths. The leaves and bulbs can be eaten though we have never tried them.From now on the woodland canopy of leaves starts to block the sunlight leaving only the ferns surviving in the shady conditions.