Old Tracks And New Growth

Wandlebury Country Park is equidistant from the homes of my brother and I, so makes an ideal venue for an early spring walk.

There are still no leaves on the trees in March, though there is a slight suggestion of leaf-buds on the upper branches. It was also warm enough to sit on one of the many benches - but not this one, we've only just started!

Violets are already flowering in the meadow.

This track runs alongside the Country Park and is popular with dog-walkers as they can let their dogs off-lead, something which is not allowed on the park's paths. In fact, you're even free to drive a car up here as, according to the maps of the Ordnance Survey, this is a "by-way open to all traffic" and the posts are inscribed "Highway Boundary". Apart from farm vehicles, nothing else much passes this way.

This is the Roman Road, which runs as a semi-forgotten track from the south-eastern outskirts of Cambridge. Like most of their roads it's straight as an arrow, completely ignoring the lie of the land. I think this indifference to the countryside they sought to conquer is part of the reason I've never much liked the Romans - the other part is the two years of my youth I spent wrestling with their infernal language!

There are a few patches of daffs among the Wandlebury woodlands, adding a splash of colour.

An unusual tree: the tangle on the left is the root system of the original tree which was blown over in a storm. Most of the tree was removed, as they did in those days. Some of the roots were still embedded in the soil and what was left of the old trunk began to sprout shoots. Now there are seven or eight new "trees" soaring skywards. And another tree or two have fallen between them. A regular tree soap-opera!

I wish I could say that this Grey Squirrel was living a free and blameless life in the wood, but alas it's hanging around the bird-feeders, eating up any spillage and making occasional sorties to try to knock the feeders down.

Don't be worried about this smart little fellow though, there's plenty left for him. I say "him", but to our human eyes the male and female Blue Tits are virtually identical, though I read once that to the birds themselves the difference is obvious, which is just as well I suppose. The reason is that they can see the ultra-violet part of the spectrum which makes them look very unalike.

This is Sammy and a sign tells us that Sammy is a "she". Unfortunately Sammy's got a sore foot at the moment, which is why she's been separated from the rest of the herd.

Layers of history: the dip is part of the ditch which runs around the Iron Age hill-fort. More recently a house was built on the site and I think the section of stone wall may once have been part of a bridge which was a feature of the garden. And the exposed root system bears witness to the passage of time.

I didn't even know there was an old orchard here, but we could see white blossoms frothing over the garden wall and Les spotted a door leading us to this beautiful, secluded place.

I'm pretty certain these must be old plum trees to be flowering so early in the year.

If that little Blue Tit's dapper plumage was not enough to attract a partner then this "honeymoon suite" should seal the deal! 

Despite the summery-looking blossom, the skies had clouded over and a chilly wind had got up. It was surprising how sheltered it was behind the orchard walls, which is why they were built here, to protect the trees from any spring frosts.

Take care.