Positivity

 Last week finally felt like a new beginning; it was good. What a huge relief it is to hear that the death rate has fallen drastically day by day. There is still no room, however, for complacency, the flies in the ointment are those continually emerging variants. Essential shops have opened allowing me to have a much needed haircut, and we have foraged in our local wood for wild garlic leaves to make pesto. A lovely outing was enjoyed to Herefordshire, and also the previously mentioned trip to meet our son and his wife in Oxfordshire.

Online I had admired a light that I could use specifically for evening reading, but really wanted to view it in reality. Having acquainted myself with information about the most suitable lighting to use, I discovered that the important fact is to use a light that gives at least 450 lumens. I also wanted a 'warm' rather than a 'cold' light. The light above fitted the bill, the copper lining to the shade gives a lovely warm glow and the 6W LED bulb offers the correct number of lumens. It sits perfectly above the chair in which I like to read, so I am happy.                                        We enjoyed a lovely spring day out at a NT garden in Herefordshire. The garden, which is one of our favourites, sits alongside the R. Wye snaking its way through the countryside from mid-Wales until it meets up and joins the might R. Severn.

The garden has been left natural with a large variety of wildflowers to be seen throughout the whole year. 

The footpaths meander through large ancient trees which allow continual glimpses of the water lying far below.

Seventy species of birds have been spotted within the grounds - on the day of our visit, we sighted our first Swallows of this year arriving back for the summer from Africa, they swooped joyfully above our heads. There are otters in the river, and it is not uncommon to see a ballet of swans progressing gracefully along the water.

There are plenty of seats where you can rest awhile, just enjoy contemplating nature, or have a picnic.

The newly emerged weeping willow leaves formed a vibrant chartreuse curtain down by the riverside. 

There is just a hint of blue in this image, our native bluebells are beginning to open, so a visit to the woods is on the cards.  

We returned home refreshed and invigorated.

The Awakening

Snowdrops have been nodding their heads for weeks in our gardens - finally mother nature has caste off her winter mantle and rubbed the dust out of her eyes. She has opened wide her paint box and splashed yellows, pinks and blues around our land.

Blue skies, brilliant sunshine, an early morning nip in the air all succeeded in tempting us out for our first picnic of the year to The Weir Garden, Herefordshire. 

A garden sitting high on a loop of the River Wye as it meanders from Wales through the Herefordshire countryside before journeying on to the Bristol Channel and out in to the Atlantic 

A musical cacophany of bird song filled the air, chirping Robins protecting their territory, the mewing of six large Buzzards as angry nesting Rooks chased them away from their tree top eries, whilst across the river two Bean geese honked at us before taking flight to breed in Scandinavia. 

The garden is managed in a natural way to create a varied habitat for wildlife. There is very little formality apart from some large topiary domes, and structures which give interesting walks, and steep steps to explore up and down the river bank. 

A garden of many pathways to explore

Ancient woodlands - excavations have shown that there once was a multi roomed Roman residence complete with columns and mosaics thought to have belonged to a Roman official from nearby Kenchester

Glades filled with naturalised flowers

but always acccompanied by tantalising glimpses of the River Wye as it merrily travels on its way