Snowdrop Sunday at St. Botolph's Church, Swyncombe, South Oxfordshire

On our way down to Reading we saw hundreds of snowdrops in the Oxfordshire countryside.  There were daffodils in bloom too.  They had probably been planted and had spread and were growing wild along the verges and in the woods.

On our way back home to the north of England we did a detour to see the snowdrops and aconites growing in the churchyard at St. Botolph's Church, Swyncombe.  I've shared a visit to the church before, but as it was one of the weekends in February when everyone is invited to view these delicate flowers before they go over we took the opportunity during our journey to return.  Refreshments are served by members of the congregation on these special occasions, but we didn't stay long.  It was another chance for Mr P to rest before we joined the Oxford by-pass and then drive across country to the M1 motorway.  

It's a beautiful area.  There are woodland lanes, small villages and market towns on this stretch of the road.  It's also where the red kites hang out and it's good to know that the numbers are multiplying.  We saw them flying and sailing high up in the thermals in the home counties and even beyond Oxfordshire.

We turned off by the village war memorial at Cookley Green and followed other visitors who were going to the church.

St. Botolph's was probably built by Saxon workers under the supervision of the Normans.  It's situated on the Ridgeway Path which was once a major road from Avebury in Wiltshire to the flint mines of Norfolk.

The sheep in the surrounding fields still have their woolly Winter fleeces on.

There were daffodils in bloom that must have been planted by the residents of Watlington.  They were a bright sight to greet visitors.  Up here in the north of England daffodils are still tightly in bud in our garden and we look forward to sunnier, warmer weather for them to open.  (The ones below are from March 2022).

Happy St. David's Day to all my friends with Welsh connections!  

Thank you for coming by.  Have a good weekend everyone!