Circular walk, West Malvern, near Worcester.

This walk starts and ends by the Outdoor Centre in West Malvern, at the top of Old Hollow road. Walk down the path through the outdoor centre and on to the farm. You cross the yard through the two metal gates and then stick to the path through two fields in which sheep are grazing. At the top far corner f the next field you go up through the next field and in the top corner you pass under trees to a path entering the wood. After you pass through the wooden gate you go a little further up before meeting a path making a t with the one you are on. You have now done the hardest part of the walk. Take the left hand path and you follow the ridge through the woods until you reach a metal gate. This is a long flat section of the walk. You now go through a farm yard and then on to the bottom of a private road. Just past a few houses on the left is a footpath sign, and following this you go through a few fields and then are back at the first farm at the outdoor centre.

Sheep freshly shorn

Here are a few of the sights I saw today following this walk.

First field

View north

Towards wooden gate onto ridge

Tree detail

Ridge path

Path in dappled shade

View west towards Herefordshire

View east across to Malvern Hill from second farm

Lower path back to first farm

Interesting burr in hedgerow

Lovely Lillies, Lilium, Malvern, Worcestershire.

A warm start to August has really helped my lilies bloom magnificently. Grown from bulbs, these flowers are frost hardy and once planted require little from you to ensure they flower spectacularly every year. The only real problem I have faced is the lily beetle. This beetle is a jewel bright red colour when in its adult form. If you spot them you must remove them by hand and destroy. The beetles are quite pretty and easy to spot, but their young cause amazing amount of damage and will eat not only the flowers and leaves, but also bury down and devour the bulb. They are harder to spot, black brown in colour and maggot like, and as a defence they cover themselves with their own poo. Sadly these also need to be picked off by hand and destroyed.  It is all well worth it though as I hope these pictures from my garden show.

Garden looking gorgeous, Worcestershire.

Purple clematis

Hosta

Poppy and allium

The bright abundant flowers of spring are

 over,replaced by summers flowers, jewel

 bright and deeply fragrant blooms vying

 with one another for attention.

Scabious blue

Deep orange lily

Light blue allium

Yellow honeysuckle

Fragrant pink honeysuckle

West Fest, Music Festival 2013, Worcestershire,

Main stage to left of inflatable slide

West Fest is a small music festival held annually in West Malvern, Worcestershire. This year it took place on the 6th July, a fantastically beautiful Saturday, bathed in sunshine and set as always on the village playing fields. This year there were three music stages, as a new stage, The Deakin Diversity stage, made it's first appearance. The main stage, (loud electric) and the second stage, (which is an acoustic stage) played host to 15 different bands, rock and roll/ jazz/ country/ original groups and those playing mostly covers- a very varied mix. The diversity stage had a more "world music" feel, but also saw a silent disco take it's turn. I have been to every West Fest, and the event must have been going now for about ten years. The bands get better and better each year.

View from inside the shade of beer tent

A one day event it's entry is priced so anyone can afford to go, and all it's profits go every year to help various charities. Look out for when it is to be staged next year as it is well worth visiting.

There were also at least twenty art and craft stalls etc

Priory Park, Malvern, Worcestershire.

Geranium

Yellow Rose

Hebe in flower

  Priory park is looking lovely
 at the moment. Here are just a view floral highlights.

Pink lupin

Rather fancy carnation

Less fancy but delightfully smelling carnation

Purple lupin

View across one of the ponds

Walk from the Wyche to the singing Kettle, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire.

I enjoyed a very windy Sunday walk yesterday. It certainly blew away the cobwebs. The plentiful rain we have been experiencing lately means it is very lush and green at the moment. Park at the Wyche church carpark and then walk south along the path furthest away from the church, if you want to follow this walk.

Happy Sheep

Pine cones in the tree canopy

Fox gloves

The pathway

Lovely cows

More lovely cows along the pathway.

My favourite walk, British Camp, Malvern, Worcestershire

At last the rain has stopped for a few hours, so I quickly decided to treat myself to my favourite walk.

The wood looks so lush this time of year

The reservoir

A patch of wild flowers

Wild flower detail

Wild flower panoramic

Rape seed fields as seen from top

British Camp earthworks 

View down from summit looking north