Marvellous May, 2025
Writing this at the end of May, I can certainly say that this has been a really marvellous month. Hardly any rain (though obviously that brings its own trials), mostly quite warm and generally flora and fauna seem to be thriving at the moment. IN THE GARDEN From the scent of lilacs and the promise …...
Otley blooms
As we reach the end of April, Otley’s hedgerows, fields and patches of woodland and groaning with greenery and putting on their best blooms. So what can you see around us at the moment? Well, ash trees have mostly still not sprouted, but our oaks are in varied stages of leaf – some very green, …...
A Spring Palette
The colours of mid-April Yellow, white and green. If you look around our countryside right now, these are the predominant colours, alongside the browns of the earth and the trees. In the hedgerows, the white blackthorn blossom is over and it leaves are pushing through, but the hawthorn blossom has not quite ready to show …...
Hedgerow Jelly
Come the autumn, the hedges are dripping with fruit for birds, mammals and insects to build up their resources for the winter ahead. Likewise, I aim to fill and store jars with rich purple jams and jellies made with fruit harvested while dog walking. Any sunny afternoon I can be found scouring the hedgerows for …...
Elderflower tea anyone?
The elder tree: a tree respected for centuries, esteemed for its provision of food and health benefits to mankind, and still sharing itself with us today. Elderflower tea, anyone? Despite it being such an important tree species in the UK, many of us might struggle to identify an elder tree – especially as it’s more …...
Spring flower gallery
Spring is here and the hedgerow and verge-side wildflowers are singing with pleasure.