Daily Walk

My corner of the world is situated high up on a Cotswold escarpment, surrounded by several valleys, and gives far distant views across to Wales. The area is made up of several small scattered communities resulting in a large variety of different walks immediately on the doorstep.

Come! climb the stile and let's see what we can find on the Common. It is a designated SSSI (site of special scientific interest), a European Special Area of Conservation, and known for its rare flowers, butterflies, and prehistoric remains. 

In the dip beyond the trees lies a deep valley; the far distant blue hills are situated on the Welsh/English border, and on a good clear day it is possible to see a pyramidal shaped mountain in the Brecon Beacons called Sugar Loaf.

There are literally thousands and thousands of Primula veris - cowslips currently flowering on the Common.

Primula veris - sunset - these cowslip is not commonly found, but if you look really carefully sometimes you will manage to spot one.

But, these are the much rarer Primula elatior - oxlip, which are now beginning to go over. An oxlip is a hybrid between a cowslip and a primrose.

Arum maculatum - lords & ladies, cuckoo-pint, are reasonably common, and whilst not strictly poisonous they do contain oxalate crystals which are very sharp and can penetrate and irritate the skin.

The Orchis mascula - there are plenty of these tiny early-purple orchids in flower. There are over twenty different wild orchids growing on the Common throughout the year, a few of which are exceedingly rare and difficult to spot.

The Blackthorn blossom has been flowering continuously since March. It looks as if there will be plenty of sloe plums to pick this autumn to make some sloe gin for Christmas. Long ago the shrub was associated with witchcraft and it was thought that the wood was used to make witches' wands and staffs.

This old milestone is a reminder that once upon a time there was an ancient highway crossing over the Common carrying stage coaches down to London.

I have no idea what tree this is - do you know?

Time now to return home for a cup of tea,

but as we turn into the garden we suddenly notice that our Camassia qumash is in flower.