A Walk On The Common

Last Tuesday I went for a walk up on the Common as I wanted to go a little further than normal.  The weather started out fairly sunny, but by the time I had walked quite a way along a different path dark clouds were gathering overhead and I realised that I should turn back for home.  However, I did walk quite a distance.

an acer and a dogwood outside the former school buildings

a rowan tree

I walked up the hill on the left to get to the Common and hadn't used that route since October last year as I usually go further on to the main entrance.

There are three pubs in the village and the locals call this one 'The Top Pub'.  You may be wondering about the wooden 'log' in the front.  In fact it's not a log, but the remains of one of the carved wooden statues in the area.  It must have gone rotten at the base and fallen in the last year.  What a shame!

as seen 18th October 2019

The reason I haven't used this particular path up to the Common this year is because it's long and narrow and at the moment difficult to distance oneself if someone is walking down it.  However, on this occasion I could see that the path was clear so I didn't stop except to take a photo where you can see the village down below.  The horses are kept in these fields and belong to a local riding school.  

On a hill on the Common you can see for miles.

The Common is well used by dog walkers.

Although the Common is now a nature reserve it was once used by quarry owners who quarried the blocks of stone for various purposes in the local industries. These blocks can still be seen scattered everywhere in the area amongst the gorse and heather. They are now part of the environment with lichen and moss growing on them.  Trees growing on the Common are mainly birch and oak, but occasionally a wild apple tree can be seen, probably self seeded.  

The oak woods seem mysterious.  Thankfully there were dog

 walkers around so I wasn't completely alone.

In normal times and warm weather it would be

 a pleasant place to have a picnic.

There is evidence of dwellings up here and stories of who lived in this area including a cave house.  There would have been more hustle and bustle during a time when the stones were quarried.  Today the spot seems quite isolated from the local village.  In Tudor times the area was used by landowners for riding and exercising horses.  A small ancient stone circle has also been found by interested archaeologists.

Back at the main entrance I walked down hill, thankfully, for home.

Have a good weekend everyone!

The Local Park

It's been a busy week in our house as there was talk that our region in England would be moved into  the highest tier of the restrictions to manage the covid-19 pandemic.  This will come into force by the weekend (Saturday) and Mr P and I have been preparing for this in our own way ordering items that we might need if non essential stores are closed again.  I'm researching what we can and cannot do during this period, which I hope will not be for long.  As far as I can understand the situation will be reviewed in 28 days from the date we go into tier 3.  I decided to take back my books that I had on loan from the library.  I had extended my loan on line, but as the library is part of my walking routine I went back there the other afternoon.  In fact I've been for several walks this week in between the rain showers.    

The walled garden was not open as the hours are limited for visitors and I could only take a photo through the entrance gate.  I had forgotten my digital camera and had to use my mobile phone camera instead so the photos here are not so sharp.  However, you can get an idea of the changing colour of the trees.

Above is the back of the big house in the park that has offices on the top floors, the children's and adults' library on the ground floor.  The house was once owned by a local family who sold some of the estate to the city council which later became a public park. There had been plans to turn the old stable block on the right into a community facility and café, but this is on hold, of course. 

the old stable block

There are some beautiful mature trees in the park including 

this beech tree.  I noticed wallflowers have been planted out

next to it.  

Back on the high street there was a display outside the florist's shop.

 

I also took a longer walk on our local Common this week.  I'll share that next time.

Thank you for your visit.  Take care.  Hopefully I'll be back soon.