West Malvern Ridge walk in the rain. Worcestershire.

Today the rain is sporadic, which is a great improvement on yesterdays constant deluge. I decided to walk the ancient ridge path from the Outdoor Centre to Croft Bank Farm as the wood would provide a natural umbrella.



The first part of the walk cuts through fields where lambs are no longer small and fragile, running to hide behind mothers fleece, but robust and stocky, standing their ground as I walk by. Their mothers in contrast look dishevelled, thick winter coats no longer needed hang from them. Like white tattered bunting rubbed off fleece scraps adorn fences and low branches.



The wood feels gloomy, almost subterranean. Yellow orchids, muddy underfoot. Bluebells, dogwood and carpets of green. The sound of a bee and the squelch of my feet accompany the song of a twittering robin. Purple violets hold my gaze whilst a wren flutters past just registering on my peripheral vision. Gentle rain recommences on the canopy of leaves. Below the fern so green is both prehistoric and architectural in form.

The stillness and permanence of an ancient landscape recorded in the doomsday book appears as was were it not for the distant sound of agricultural machine.



As the rains volume increases its rhythm and volume, it is joined by a woodpeckers sporadic rapid drumming.

The scent of wild garlic, now in bloom, is delicious. The garlic's white flowers, loose globes held high on tall stems are bright chandeliers in the gloom.



The woods canopy, like the vaulted ceiling provides the perfect stage for the song of birds to resonate against.

Tucked into the undergrowth wild strawberries flower promising future fruitfulness.



Exiting the wood through the farmyard littered with agricultural debris of rusted tractors going nowhere, weeds growing where once engines were housed. From a nearby field the low lonely bellow of a bull as I pass mallard on the pond and sheep on the verge. I finish the walk quite wet with rain both sinew and soul exhilarated.

Ridge Walk, Malvern, Worcester, Beautiful Flora.

Bluebells in the wood

Unknown wildflower

 Yesterday I walked the West Malvern Ridge walk. This walk goes from the Outdoor Centre, through the farm yard and sheep fields, then along the ancient ridge path through a wood, before coming out at Croft Bank Farm. 

Bluebell detail

It was a delightfully warm day and along the pathway you came across various wild flowers. All our native wild flowers are legally protected, and so you should never pick them as you can be prosecuted. You must leave them so they will continue to thrive and hopefully will be there for generations to come. 

Wild garlic

Pink Orchids

Cowslip, Primula veris

I point this out really as wild orchids are critically endangered because they are so beautiful people steal them to put in their own gardens. This always fail to work as the orchids are such niche and specialist plants that they will not survive in your back garden no matter how carefully you try and replicate their natural home.

Primrose

Euphorbia

Vines

Angelica and some blue flower

Wood view

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

Volterra, Easter Parade, Italy.

Volterra was originally an ancient Etruscan settlement called Velathri. It is situated in an elevated position in some of the most picturesque countryside in Italy, and much of it's ancient city walls and gates still survive.

It was on the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday that I visited it in 2011. On that day each year there is a parade, with musicians and folk dressed in historic costume. I did take pictures, but they are on a memory card I have misplaced.

Roof detail in Guarnacci Museum

We visited the Guarnacci Museum, which features many alabaster works of art. There are other museums in the town, and an art gallery also. The area is famous for its alabaster, sourced locally and there are many workshops and bargain sculptures and pieces can be bought in the many specialist gift shops.

Garden with Wistria flowering as seen from city walls

Also well worth a visit is the Piazza dei Priori, with it's Palace designed by Maestro Riccardo in 1239. The lions on it were added later in 1472 when the building became the local court, and seat to the Captain of Justice.

Volterra is also the place I enjoyed the best Italian meal I have ever eaten. It was in a little cafe, which had a shop selling pasta and oils, a covered area for eating in on the narrow street and a boar's head over the stores door. Try and find it if you ever visit.