Ramblings

Friday 2^nd February – Home – Rose runners have worked their way through various shrubs and are cut back, as best as I can manage. I use the pruner with an extendable pole and still some are out of reach. However, we have made progress and Kay works hard cutting it all into pieces to bag up. I return to the house to be called back. A piece of wood strengthening the chicken run tarpaulin has fallen with a bang causing utter terror among the hens. Somehow one has escaped, seemingly through the bit of netting covering the access to the nest box, and is proving difficult to drive back into the run. Eventually I trap her against a water butt and carry her back.

In the afternoon I make some marmalade. I use a couple of kilos of Seville oranges. It boils until the temperature seems to be a jam point. I now wait to see if it sets – it hardly ever does! But it tastes good – sweet and bitter. (It did not, will have to reboil…) (Second update – reboiled and still did not set, so orange syrup again!)

Tuesday 6^th February – Bodenham Lake – After a night of gales the wind still blows strongly. The sky is dark with angry clouds. Robins, Great and Blue Tits are all in good voice regardless. However, a dozen Wood Pigeons are hunkered down in the trees. A male Chaffinch moves down the hedgerow. A Great Spotted Woodpecker drums on one of the Lombardy Poplars. Wind driven wavelets move across the surface of the lake. A flock of 45 Cormorants and several Goosander are on the boating lake. A couple of Little Egrets are on the islands, another is in the trees. Mallard are taking shelter nearby. A Song Thrush is in full flow in the orchard hedge. Two more Little Egrets rise from the edge of the meadow bay.

Fresh leaves have appeared on an Elder in the plantation. Into the hide. Nine noisy Greylags fly in. Coot, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Geese and Tufted Duck are on the water. I search the latter for a reported Ring-necked Duck, but it does not seem to be there. The Great White Egret is by the southern reed bed. One of the Tufted Ducks catches my eye. It appears to have a grey tinge to the flank patch but I cannot see the bill. It could be the Ring-necked Duck but, annoyingly, it swims off behind the island. A Grey Heron stands on the fence at the western end. Nearby are a pair of Mandarin Duck. They then fly across to the island to join several more. The flotilla of Cormorants has grown to over eighty with more joining it.

Back across the meadow, serenaded by a Song Thrush. A Fieldfare flies off into the orchard. The Redwings seem to have departed, not surprising as there are no berries left.

Sunday 11^th February – Leominster – Plenty of blue sky and just a scattering of cloud in the east. It is cool and damp. The water level in the River Lugg has risen considerably over the past week. Yesterday we observed extensive flooding south of Worcester with acres of land underwater beyond the southern bypass. This flooding extended along the Teme valley to Knightwick. A mist lays above Easters and Lammas Meadows. Jackdaws chack and Robins sing. Brown Ash keys still hang from the branches, waiting to be evicted by the new leaves. Many Wild Arum leaves have unfurled.

Round to the White Lion. A Sparrowhawk glides rapidly across the car park to try and grab a Blue Tit that is investigating the new block that replaced the old mill. However it misses and flies off towards the Grange. Robins, Dunnocks and several Song Thrushes sing across the other side of the tracks. A Cormorant flies upstream.

Into the Millennium Park. Snowdrops are reaching their peak, creating a glorious display along the edge of the churchyard and white carpets within. The River Kenwater is flowing swiftly and slightly muddy. A Chaffinch flies up onto the trees and more Song Thrushes and Robins sing. The first daffodil is in flower in the churchyard. The bells start to ring as I pass the tower.

Into Church Street. A Starling burbles from the television aerial on the Forbury House and a Pied Wagtail runs along the portico. A woman hurries past, “A late bell ringer” she says.

Monday 12^th February – Old Clehonger – The sky is an expanse of Starling’s egg blue with brilliant sunshine and just a few clouds. There is still extensive flooding south of Leominster and south of Dinmore.

Old Clehonger is some distance from the village. The latter is mainly 20^th century development. In Domesday, Clehonger was in two manors, one was held by Ansfrid de Cormeilles consisting of five hides of ploughland paying geld and one hide waste, with woodland and a mill; the other held by one Ilbert Fitzturold and was largely described as waste with only 3 ploughs to merit a mention. By the 14^th century it was the property of the Pembridge family. It then passed to the Barres, then Aubreys and finally the Matthews. I park outside the church of All Saints. Several Chaffinches are in song. The church was mainly built during the 13^th and 14^th centuries, although there was once a Norman church on the site and some of that building is still present. The chancel was rebuilt in the 19^th century and further restoration was undertaken in 1956. The original dedication was to S^t Mary, the first time that All Saints was used was in 1742.The graves to the north of the church and a mixture of 19^th and 20^th century. The War Memorial also stands here. Beside it is a large enclosure containing the tombs of the Matthews, the largest being Henry, Viscount Llandaff. South of the church building there are again early 20^th century headstones including a couple of Celtic crosses and then a substantial number of modern graves, very many in black stone with white or gold lettering. A 17^th century building next to the churchyard appears to have been abandoned.

Across the road is a large pool on which there are several Mallard, Moorhens and a Little Grebe. The reed bed had many chocolate heads of bulrush. Along the road is the old school, erected in 1841, a substantial building believed to have been built on part of the site of the Manor House, itself burnt down around 1790. The school closed in 1974 and was converted into house in 1995. Many other houses are modern. A good number of birds are in song, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Blue and Great Tits, Robins and a Starling. A lane leads to Clehonger Manor and then becomes a track. Wood Pigeons clatter out of the trees. House Sparrows chatter. Past a timber-framed cottage. The track becomes a muddy footpath.

The footpath climbs gently until it enters a field from which there is a wide vista across western Herefordshire into Wales. A cold wind blows. A track turns south and passes the modern barns and Georgian farmhouse of Bowling Green farm. To the east of the track is an enclosure called the Bowling Green, barely of discernable ridges on the field marking its boundaries. It is recorded that the local lock-up was sited here. I scuttle quickly along the road which is busy with fast moving traffic. Into Church Road and Old Clehonger. Blackthorn is coming into blossom. Blackbirds and noisy House Sparrows are in the hedgerow. The houses are modern with the exception of the large old vicarage built in 1865. A key for the church should be available from a modern bungalow but as the curtains are still drawn I decide not to call. The houses get older approaching the church, including the old forge and smithy.

S^t Valentine’s Day – Wednesday 14^th February – Leominster – Another grey, wet morning. Before dawn the air rings with the songs of Blackbirds, singing lustily in the dark. Another repeats the alarm call. Snowdrops are in every part of the garden. Delicate crocuses are flowering purple and yellow. Rhubarb seems to grow several inches overnight.

Bodenham Lake – Rain falls again. There is still extensive flooding south of the town and fields along the Gloucester road have standing water. The lane to the lake is closed so a diversion takes me to the east part of the village and on to the older part. A large flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls stand in a large pool in the middle of a field. Robins, Blackbirds, Great Tits and Dunnocks sing. Blue Tits flit between the trees. A Song Thrush sings without its normal repeated phrases. Further down the track several are singing as one would expect. Most of the islands on the boating lake are submerged. Canada Geese, Greylags, Mallard and a Great Crested Grebe are on the water.

Long-tailed Tits fly from the lakeside trees into the orchard. The meadow is saturated. More Song Thrushes are singing, their songs a melodic chorus over the background of gabbling Canada Geese. A Common Buzzard flies out of Westfield wood and heads east. A pair of Carrion Crows fly up to ensure that it continues on its journey.

Into the hide. The water level is high and the water a dirty tan colour. A single Mandarin Duck is at the western end. The mass of geese are on the southern side and a few Mallard are scattered about. A pair of Mute Swans are in front of the southern hide. More Mandarin Ducks are in the trees on the island. Another pair of Mute Swans swim out from the north-western corner. A couple of Tufted Duck are present. A pair of Grey Herons fly in and seemingly look at the tops of the trees on the island possibly as potential nesting sites. Clouds drift through the tree tops on Dinmore Hill. However the rain has stopped. A Coot swims past the western reed bed where a Little Egret is skulking. Three Ring-necked Pheasants fly across the fields. Three Little Egrets fly around the water. Another flies onto an island tree.

It does not take long for the constant yelping of geese begins to grate on my nerves, so I retreat. Magpies fly around the paddocks. Chaffinches are in the Alders. A Green Woodpecker yaffles in the woods. Overhead, a pair of Ravens soar and another cronks in the trees. A flock of Long-tailed Tits moves along the hedgerow. The sun makes a brief appearance.

Friday 16^th February – Home – Another episode of atrial fibrillation grounds me. The chillies sown a couple of weeks ago have had some success at germination and four now are slowly growing in the bathroom. Tomato seeds are sown – Black Opal, Currant, Buffalo Horn, Red Bush and Homosa. The garden is, as seems usual these days, saturated by overnight rain. The day is grey but mild.

Sunday 18^th February – Leominster – The sky is a combination of blue and grey. High clouds, some relatively thick, are barely moving, drifting very, very slowly eastwards. The early morning Blackbird is still singing although without its pre-dawn vigour. Rain fell heavily overnight and the streets are still wet. Jackdaws are on rooftops, peering down chimney pots. Some ornamental cherries are already pink with blossom. Onto the railway bridge. A Carrion Crow flies to the top of a tree and bobs up and down as it barks its call.

Onto Butts Bridge. The water level in the River Lugg is still high, little changed over recent weeks but its colour is again rusty red-brown from all the soil sediment it is carrying. Song Thrushes, a Chaffinch, Robins and a Wren are in song.

Back to Pinsley Mill. Song Thrushes are at full volume across the railway track. Wood Pigeons however just sit silently. Into the Orchard where yellow Lesser Celandines are coming into flower under the still dormant apple trees. Work has begun on cutting up the fallen tree by the Millennium stones. Into the Peace Garden. Wild Arums have grown rapidly. The River Kenwater is pale chocolate brown and flowing rapidly. Cloud is thickening overhead which bodes ill for the washing hung out earlier. Many Snowdrops are beginning to go over, their beauty so fleeting.

Home – By the afternoon, clouds have thinned and the sun shines. It slowly sinks towards the west and the temperature begins to drop. A Robin is singing as usual, this time in the apple trees at the end of the garden. Goldfinches twitter and buzz high in the top of the Horse Chestnut. Both Black and Red Currant bushes have leaf buds on the verge of opening. Rhubarb is growing rapidly.

Friday 23^rd February – Eardisland – Dark clouds move eastwards. It is not raining at this moment but there had been a good deal over the last few days and there is extensive flooding across the country again. The River Arrow flows under the bridge, the water moving quickly, the level high and well coloured. Several old houses in the east end of the village are being renovated, one taken back to the oak frame. Staick House is surrounded by scaffolding. The building dates from the 14^th century with 17^th century additions. Renovation began two years ago.

The former mill race is also flowing rapidly. Beside it is the village shop in the dovecote. It is receiving a bread delivery. Across the road is the Court House, an early 17^th century farmhouse. By the bridge is another timber-framed house, the former Grammar school of around 1650. Into the village centre past the Manor House built in the 17^th century, raised and partly refronted early 18^th century and extensively restored in the late 20^th century. Opposite are the village’s the two pubs. AA box 321 stands next to The Cross Inn. Into Church Road beside the pub and past a short terrace of house dated 1899. The lane runs round the base of the churchyard and past the former vicarage. More timber-framed houses are followed by a few 20^th century houses. 19^th century cottages stand next to the village community centre, formally the village school. A path leads back to the church.

Into the churchyard. A red sandstone memorial of 1738 on the church wall has eroded so the names of those remembered can no longer be discerned. Nearby is a tomb-recess with a shield which has also eroded to illegibility. Mid 18^th century gravestones lean against the porch wall. The church is open. The building dates from around 1200 and extended in the mid 14^th century. It is believed the tower fell in 1728 and extensive rebuilding took place, including a new west tower. The church was restored in 1864 by H Curzon. In the nave is a list of vicars from 1278. The first woman to hold the post was in 2000. There are two tomb-recesses in the nave, one containing a chest. A three seat sedilia in the chancel is 14^th century. The organ is by H B Abberley, installed in 1920 by Colonel and M^rs Clowes of Burton Court in memory of their son, L^t Peter Warren Clowes, killed in 1918 in an engagement at Waffusee Aban Court, near Amiens. The font was installed in 1850. The East window is by Burlison and Grylls. Other glass is by James Powell. A 20^th century bronze of George and The Dragon is a memorial to Peter Legh Clowes who died in 1925. There is a ring of eight bells and a plaque records a peal on 26^th December 1953 lasting 2 hours 53 minutes of Eardisland Delight Major, composed by C W Roberts.

In the churchyard a Great Tit calls and two Common Buzzards circle over nearby fields. To the north of the church is the wooded tump of the castle. Eardisland Castle was a Braose fortress which was certainly in existence by 1230 when the last Braose of Radnor was hanged by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. The castle later was owned by the Mortimers of Wigmore.

Monday 26^th February – Leominster – A bright morning with a bitterly cold northerly wind. Down to Butts Bridge. A Dunnock sings beside the railway. The River Lugg flows swiftly but the water level has fallen and the water is clearer than last week. No birds sing in the brisk wind.

Back over the railway bridge. As usual the south bound train is running late. Blue Tits chatter in the trees beside the track. The train arrives, a 37 year old 153 class, so much for the modernisation of the line.

Into the Millennium park. The snowdrops have gone to seed. Blackthorn is in blossom. Ransoms, Wild Garlic, leaves have emerged. The River Kenwater flows swiftly and grey-green in colour. Through the churchyard. A few Jackdaws chack as they take advantage of the wind to soar. Otherwise there is just the sound of the wind in the trees.

Home – The cherry and apricot in the fruit cage have grown through the netting, so I cut back the errant twigs and branches. Pots are filled with compost and taken indoors to warm before the chilli seedlings in the bathroom are transplanted into them.

Wednesday 28^th February – Bodenham – Another grey, damp day with light rain. A couple of dozen Mute Swans are on the flood waters south of Leominster. Mist hangs over Dinmore Hill and Westfield Wood from where the yaffle of Green Woodpecker can be heard. A Great Spotted Woodpecker drums in lakeside trees. Grey pussy willow buds are opening on the Goat Willows and yellow catkins on Hazels. Fresh green leaves are appearing on Brambles, Stinging Nettles, Wild Arum, Herb Robert and Cleavers. The water level in the lake has risen. Two Oystercatchers are on the landing stage, their beaks tucked under their wing.

Wild Arum leaves come in various patterns some are pure green all over, others have clear veins in a darker colour and some have dark spots. The big willow tree at the end of the meadow is covered in creamy-yellow pollen-loaded catkins. Many trees in the plantation have socks of emerald mosses.

There is little on the water, just a few Canada Geese, four Tufted Duck, a couple of Mallard and a Great Crested Grebe. The majority of the geese, probably around over hundred, are on the south bank and the meadow beyond. However, an explosion of gabbling reveals there are more on the island. Two Oystercatchers fly around, a third stands on an exposed rock. The rain gets heavier. A large number of the Canada Geese set off across the water. A few more Mallard appear. An Egyptian Goose suddenly flies around the lake and disappears again. A Mandarin Duck swims out from the island. Greylags fly off the meadow onto the water. A pair of Shelduck swim out from behind the island. A Great Crested Grebe that has regrown its headdress dives over the submerged scrape.

Back to the meadow where Blackbirds, Dunnocks and Song Thrushes search the sodden turf for worms. Hawthorn leaves are starting to unfurl. I am surprised to see several Redwings and hear a Fieldfare in the orchards, I had thought they had all headed back north.