Pastoral Scenes

A stroll along the upper reaches of the River Ivel (and back again) yielded a batch of photos that look as though they were taken far from the madding crowds. In fact we're on the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border, not far from the A1 road and a busy train line. But this little corner is overlooked and forgotten, like a little sleep left in the corner of a bright and wakeful eye.

And nothing is brighter than the lone poppy shining at the edge of the wheatfield. They always seem wide-awake and cheerful to me despite every folkloric association being with death and sleep, a reference to the opium poppy no doubt.

Norton Mill overhangs the narrow public road. It is the first, as one travels down the river, of many watermills that once ground wheat and barley ("corn" as all grains would be known in England). Nowadays the mills are converted to desirable residences, though once they were the throbbing heart of the economy.

The many horses around here also have a much less active life than they would have done in times past.

The tiny village of Radwell has a suitably small church that sits in a perfect setting. It's a very old church though much restored in the Victorian era. Inside there's an interesting monument to Mary Plomer who died in 1605 that we might see another time.

Someone in the village has a garden that backs down on to the river. 

Radwell has a very large millpond with assorted wildfowl on its waters. While taking a few pictures I witnessed some bird behaviour (or rather misbehaviour!) that I've never seen before. Suddenly a swan took exception to a Greylag Goose and attacked it, forcing it under the water as though attempting to drown the unfortunate bird. Not a bit of it, the goose then swam underwater for ten yards or so, passing beneath some other swans. It then began to bite the feet of these swans who were but innocent bystanders.

All farms, wherever they are, seem to use equipment till it breaks then forget all about it for years. Most of it becomes an eyesore but occasionally something demands to be part of a picture.

Ox-eye Daisies are having one of their periodic good years when they seem to bloom more densely than ever on every field margin and roadside verge.

The River Ivel just outside Stotfold slides between trees and rushes. This view can be had from what is still called "New Bridge" on the map, though it's no longer in general use having been deemed not sufficiently strong to carry modern traffic. 

While tramping along the rather overgrown riverside path it was quite a surprise to suddenly cross this magnificent tree lined track which leads down to the Mill House.

My route passed through flowery meadows with isolated oak trees. Single oaks like this used to exist in the landscape to provide beams for houses and barns. The spreading branches provided conveniently curved timbers for cruck construction, where wall posts bend inwards and continue as roof beams. Builders of the time knew that nothing compared for strength with what nature designed.

The perfect rural hideaway perhaps. Many of those who live in these parts work in the city and come home to live like peasants at weekends - very well-dressed peasants with smartphones and four wheel drive cars, it's true, 

Just outside Baldock there's a beautiful flowery meadow, probably restored and managed for maximum flowering. I wandered around twice before leaving.

And finally........

In the midst of all this beauty I couldn't resist a little tongue-in-cheek satire....."Preparing today's children for life's challenges". Yes, indeed.


Take care.