Upper Beacon Road, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire.

L-R Broom and Gorse bushes

Pathway

After just over a week of warm sunshine filled days the rain has returned.

One of my favourite walks in this weather is over the hill, towards the beacon from the Upper Beacon Road car park. An easy climb, and although you cannot see very far due to the heavy mist, the large expanses of yellow gorse and broom plants at this time of year.

Broom 

Beautiful birds of prey

Sparrow hawk

Barn owl

 I love spending as much time as possible outside, walking the hills or just pottering around in my garden. I know the names of quite a lot of the plants I see about the place, the trees, flowers and weeds. I like to think of my self as a country person, but in one area I am sadly lacking knowledge. 

Harris hawk

The common garden birds I know as they have distinctive calls and sit there long enough for me to see their distinctive markings. The big scary birds of prey however are a mystery. I am forever spotting large birds overhead and have no idea what they are. Owls are quite easy as long as they are the barn or tawny varieties. To me all the others look the same. Hawks and kestrels all look alike and just seem like small eagles I guess. 

Golden eagle

I thought I would look up what they look like and see if next time I see them I can work out what they are. Thought you might like to try that too.

Red kite

Kestral

Earnslaw Quarry Lake, Malvern hills, Worcestershire.

Dappled woods and fresh foliage

From Earnslaw Quarry car park go north along the easy access path to a grassy clearing with several benches. Behind the banked wall of trees a path leads you down to Earnslaw lake.

Bluebells along the path

The trees around the clearing

Forget-me-nots along the path

Everything, the grass, foliage, gently unfurling ferns are so very very verdant, vigorous and vital. In the ancient woods all is new and every breath you feels is life affirming. Blue flowers in patches embellish the dappled floors. Earnslaw lake, the flooded quarry, mystically reflects the fairytale foliage.

Ferns unfurling

Nature on such a day as this seems bounteous and protective rather than red in tooth and claw.

Earnslaw lake from above

Mystic looking tree roots

Earnslaw lake reflecting it's surrounding and so disappearing

Bluebells, Old Hills, Callow End, Worcester.

Okay so the dandylions were lovely too

Today I took my friends to see the bluebell wood. I was thrilled to see how fabulous they looked. The bluebells are all open and such a deep pure blue. If you have time and live close enough it is the place to be. here a just a few pictures of them.

Well dressed, Malvern Hills, Worcester

St James' Church

More of the wells from Malvern Hills Well Dressing annual festival, (see yesterdays entry for more details). St James' Church well was dressed by Sara Bennett and Brian Graham.

West Malvern Tap

West Malvern Tap was decorated in various princess fairy tale themes, including Rapunzel. This well was the work of West Malvern Garden and Nature Club.

Haysald

Hayslad well as dressed by Dan and Karen Smith is going to be the site of one of the well blessings. The blessing ceremony there will be conducted on Monday at 3pm by members of local Druid groups and anyone is welcome to join them.

Royal Well

Royal well was dressed by Carol, Wayne and Pippa Seaton.

Evendine Spring

Evendine spring was decorated by Aquartet taking their inspiration from the tradition of Faeries, Dryads and Naiads in folklore.

Lower Wyche Trough

At Lower Wyche Well the Himalayan story of Saraswati and was dressed by Caroline Harris and Jean Williams.

Whilst the Lower Wyche spout, dressed by Debbie and Jess Sly tells John Ruskin's tale of The King of the Golden River.

Malvhina

Malvhina Well was dressed by Jan Bowden and will be the site of the local Buddhists water blessing ceremony on Monday at 11am, and all are welcome to attend.

Temperance Fountain

The Temperance Fountain well was dressed by the St Joseph's Swans and Cygnets Pre-School, and they had written a tales about a princess and a swan and her cygnets, which was very sweet.

Stocks drinking Fountain

The Stocks drinking Fountain Well, situated just below the local stocks, was dressed by the 7th Malvern Girls Brigade, as The Three Billy Goats Gruff and came complete with bridge, goats and a troll with oranges for eyes.

Clock Tower

The clocktower well was dressed by Ian Woodcock and Susan Hale and consisted of a decorated tree and willow gazebo frame, and a rather stunning green man over the tower entrance.

Tank Quarry

Rapunzel was the theme again, at the North Malvern Tap at Tank Quarry, which was dressed by 1st Malvern Link Rainbows and Brownies.

My favourite wells would be, in first place the Temperance Fountain Well by St Josephs Pre-school, in second place would be Bilbo Baggins home by Sheila Maund, as shown yesterday. Equal third would be the Girls Brigade Billy Goats and the Jack and the Beanstalk well by Malvern Wells school.

Sunshine, Elgar and bluebells, Malvern Wells Common, Worcestershire.

The Elgars bench path

Horse chestnut Avenue

A wonderfully warm morning, bathed in glorious sunshine. I parked in the upper car park off Peachfield Road and walked along the top path past Elgar's bench. Yellow wood anemones still adorn the lush green grass and the young leaves are now opening upon the horse chestnut avenue.

Elgar's Bench

Mirror like pool

 The pool is perfectly clear and still, reflecting the sky above as well as any mirror.

Blue bells just opening

Beyond the pool I found the first bluebells I have seen in flower this year. It will be at least another week before the bluebells on the west side of the hill open, but here on the east side spring is looking beautifully brilliant.

Bluebell detail

The hill above Elgar's bench

British Camp reservoir, Malvern Hills, Worcester,

Deep thoughts

I like to sit and think,

Besides a lake or pool.

Is it the language used,

That makes it seem so true.

To reflect on life where water,

Holds a mirror to our mind.

To see the light there,

Where sun skips on the surface.

To dive our deepest depths,

Where dark weeds drag and drown.

To let our mind view ,

Great vista's and vast horizons.

And finally focus on 

That one distilled answer.

A reflective poem, wirtten beside the reservoir at British Camp, by Izzy.B.Silver