April wasteland, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire.

Lovely shaped tree

The most mistletoe covered tree around

 Inspired by

"The Wasteland


April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain
Winter kept us warm covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little with dried tubers.

TS Eliot 1922"

This year however the forgetful snow seems to have forgotten to leave.

The hour has moved forward into summertime, and with it our thoughts. No longer are we content to wear the heavy coat that stilted both our movement and out spirit. Awakening from the winter sleep of apathy and dull listlessness I find I want ti sing. I want to feel the warm sun on my limbs, and the soft caress of the hyacinth scented air. Like the bud I am eager to embrace life.

Too short in this life are we young enough to embrace all that our bodies are capable of, and old enough to value the day. On the starting block of the seasons of growth, flower and fruitfulness we find ourselves limbering up for the race of our lives.

Happily today, although the mornings are sharp and frosty, finally some warmth from the sun is reaching us in Worcestershire, and the skies are jewel blue and beautiful.

The still snow covered Malvern Hills

Interesting trees and sky

Woolhope Dome and Broadmoor Common, Herefordshire.

Mistletoe detail

Crocus and daffodil

Today I went on a circular walk  through an area known as the Woolhope Dome and across a Nature Reserve called Broadmoor Common. We used a pub called The Crown as the place to start and finish our walk. The food there is great and so it is also where we had our lunch. This also means the 12th century church, visible from almost all points along our walk, signposted for us where we had parked our car. 

Broadmore Common, which we crossed at a part of the walk, is a species rich and valuable grassland common. We saw sheep and lambs, cows,  Canada geese, common geese and hens whilst on the walk. 

An easy and interesting walk, with many sweet bridges, stiles and kissing gates, it is well signposted and is 6.5 miles in length. Free leaflets with maps are available from local tourist information centres.

Various views from walk 

Apple orchard crossed on walk

One of several duck ponds

Suckley bridle path walk

View of the hills above Suckley

A stream along the route

Mistletoe balls in distant trees

Yesterday I went walking along a bridle path in Suckley. Suckley is a small village, and quite flat so easy to walk in. Hills above it meant that it wasn't quite so windy and cold there. The weather has been very cold recently. There are a number of different public paths, and the bridle path in particular is nice and clear, and an excellent surface with pleasing views.

Path over bridge along route

Suckley village church