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Tuesday, 23 March 2021

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. 



28 comments:

  1. wow pretty pictures from your place!

    Thanx for sharing :))

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  2. Utter bliss from the comfort of my arm chair.

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  3. The gorgeous blossoms. Spring is such an early visitor there. Lucky you.

    I want to follow that Roman road but I totally agree about their language.

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  4. I so love that first shot...as well as all the others. Sammy is a beauty! Maple trees are really full of buds here...others not so much.

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  5. A beautiful spring-time walk there. Love these photos most especially that unusual tree and the very beautiful Sammy.

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  6. Terrific trip today! Thanks so much for all of the beauty and nature you shared!

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  7. Sammy looks tough for a girl, and she desperately needs her bangs (fringe) trimmed - poor thing doesn't look very happy! Love English Blue Tits, such pretty colors. See that squirrel - multiply by at least 12 and that's what I have to contend with here in my garden. They destroy my bird feeders and eat so much seed and suet, grrrrrr! But I still love feeding the birds and don't intend to give up. Blossoms are are so pretty, definitely herald spring.

    I wish I could meet my brother (and only sibling) also named John, halfway for a country walk. Bit difficult though - he lives near Carcassonne in a tiny village, I'm stuck here across the pond in North Carolina!

    Enjoy the week John, hopes it warms up a bit for more beautiful English countryside rambles.
    Mary -

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  8. Cool it might have been but your meanders (even down that straight Roman road) were wonderful to see. Thank you.

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  9. That orchard is a wonderland! We are just getting snowdrops flowering so tree blossoms are probably a month away.

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  10. Glad to see you posting again. That blue tit is sure pretty. I've never seen one before, and your photo is awesome. So is Sammy. What a lady.

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  11. Beautiful images, John. Love the critters!

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  12. What a delightful walk you and your brother took this day - thank you for sharing the journey. Thank you also for dropping by my blog and adding your family's experience of separation (through migration) decades before the long distance communication opportunities we have at our disposal today. Keep safe John.

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  13. Love all the blooming spring flowers! Lovely walk!

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  14. Those are some blossoms! That's a really interesting tree too. I like interesting trees.

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  15. Beautiful blossom, wild violets and very interesting tree roots too! Thank you!

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  16. Beautiful blossoms, - we are not that advanced here, but looking forward to all the fruit trees being in flower, sometime in early April....

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  17. A lovely walk filled with signs of spring everywhere. Thank goodness for places like this at any time, but especially now when the pandemic places so many restrictions on us. The blossom is breathtaking.

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  18. Gracias, por sus fotografías me dan alegría, esperanza y paz. Por fortuna puedo leerlo en español. su descubrimiento del espejo es fantástico.

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  19. How beautiful the flowering trees are. It's amazing how the trees keep sending up new growth even when their roots are bared and unprotected. This was a lovely walk. Thank you. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

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  20. What lovely spring flowers on this old road. And what a delightful name is Wandlebury. I wonder if anybird is checking out that pretty birdhouse yet!

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  21. I love the frothy plum trees. Squirrels and I battle constantly. They are winning.

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  22. Beautiful blossom. I've hardly noticed any here yet. It's been pretty chilly so far.

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  23. Your walks are so wonderful. I like to pretend I am there. Thank you for bringing us along.

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  24. So enjoyed seeing the blooming orchard. Here there is just a hint of red in some of the trees. Daughter tells me it will be May before we see spring in its fullness. I hope the bulbs she planted out front of our house will show long before then. There are other plants to discover as spring unfolds here since we moved here in December when everything was dormant.

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  25. Hi John - what a fabulous place for the two of you to meet up ... have a walk, a good chat, take a few photos and chew the cud ... love Sammy ... but the whole area is delightful to see - thanks for sharing. Cheers Hilary

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  26. The blossom trees are spectacular in spring 🌸 you always find wonderful things to share on these walks John, merci beaucoup and happy weekend ✨

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