Hiley Website

We're at home, but then you've probably guessed that !

This self-isolation is hard work, as everyone in the media is saying "find things to do" instead of going out.

As a result I'm busier than ever as I feel I ought to be doing all those jobs that have been put to one side over winter.

Hang on . . . we're retired and we don't have to work that hard . . .

but then the weather is nice so let's get outside with a paint brush, a trowel or a camera.

The Marsh Marigolds on the paddock are in full bloom.

They virtually disappeared without trace over winter but have suddenly blossomed, taking advantage of the moist conditions by the pond.



Last year's Primulas have re-flowered despite their winter move.	The Lesser Celandine are the first real wild flower in the meadow



The pond weed is growing well, if not too well in places !	The view from the far side of the stream.

The blue chord is holding a fine net in place to protect the frog spawn.

It has been problem-free so far and we have young tadpoles in the water, but the weed makes it difficult to judge how many.

Well, at least they'll have something to eat and shelter under, as last year the ducks seemed to feast on all the newly hatched spawn.



The trees are starting to come into leaf, this one a Quince . . .	. . . and this one the Cornas Mas (continental) Cherry

The leaves on this one are small but the tree has already flowered (like the Forsythia) before the leaves appear.

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We walk the dogs each day but don't always take the camera.

I usually have the phone though, so we do have an record if a photographic opportunity arises.

The young flock in the Church field as we pass the Kirkstile Inn.

The youngsters are starting to grow up and are at that age when they gang up for mad races around the field.

Dylan and Dougal always nudge us into a walk after lunch

and a stroll up to Harry's Pool is always appreciated by them, especially of there's a stick or ball to swim for.

We are allowed out to go shopping, so on a quick trip to Lorton for milk and eggs

I just had to stop at Scale Hill to admire their display of white daffodils / narcissus in full bloom.

Behind me is the view up to Brackenthwaite Hows with Grasmoor beyond.

This could be Forbes' squill or Lucile's glory-of-the-snow, one of the early spring flowering bulbs

which naturalise well in a dry hedge or open woodland environment.

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On another walk the weather was more overcast.

Low Fell from the Foulsyke Road . . . no colour yet on these trees.

However the Hawthorn on the other side of the road has accelerated its leaf growth in the last few weeks.

The dogs and I walk around to the the Village Hall, where there's a great panoramic view of the valley.

As a Millennium project, a three dimensional representation of the view was commissioned.

Highlighted are the Church and the Kirkstile buildings with the backdrop of Mellbreak and the Buttermere Fells.

[The Roman numerals on the mountains relate to a key below the plaque for their names ]



Stepping back for a double view of Mellbreak.	Red Honesty adds colour to the roadside.

Red Campion (?) adds colour . . .

A big thanks you to Angie, Gill, Helmut plus Steve and Eileen who all corrected me on the identification of the plant.

I was not convinced on my first choice due to the complete (not serrated) petals and poor leaf identification. Your id. is much better. For those of a similar talent to mine, these are the plants that produce the translucent silver coin seed pods, beloved by flower arrangers.

The Quarry field has new black lamb varieties as well as white.

The daffodils in the churchyard have been beautiful but are just starting to fade.

I really like this artistic headstone on Chris Todd's grave. He was a great character and a keen sheep dog trialist,

winning awards nationally and in the "One man and his dog" television competitions. He is sadly missed.

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It is just a few hundred yards now and we're home for supper.

With the change of social routine, the sunshine and the clocks having 'gone back'

it is often difficult to tell the day, let alone the time of day.

It's gone six and the dogs will want their supper too when we get home.

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Due to the internet information overload at this time where every organisation under the sun is writing about the Covis-19 situation,

it is delightful to find and read the nice emails that you send.

Some of you also send pictures of how you are coping and where you walk, I leave you with a few . . .

Dear Ann & Roger

We are enjoying your regular updates on the website very much and you seem to be coping very well in the lock down. You asked for pictures, but as our current walks are restricted to staying close to home, we haven’t had the opportunity to take a decent one. We are, however, attaching a photo taken from Cow Bridge Car Park in May 2017. It was a wonderful day’s walk in superb weather and a great mountain day memory.

You may wonder what happened to all the old toilet rolls, well here is your answer. They are very useful when growing onions from seed and can just be dropped whole into the planting holes when the plants are ready. While Roger was painting the exterior of your greenhouse Chris was painting shading on the exterior of ours.

There is plenty still to do in the garden and just about every tomato seed sown this year has germinated. We are fortunate to have a garden in which to enjoy the fine weather, but feel very sorry for those incarcerated in buildings without garden areas.

Please keep the reports coming. They are much appreciated and the next best thing to actually being in the Lake District. It’s lovely to see the dogs cavorting around.

Best wishes Chris & Linda

Hi Roger, the first of the Bluebells from our local, (Sulham) woods in Berkshire.

I’m still not sure how local your local walks should be. Is the southern view point of Low Fell local enough ? I know the pine tree is.

Scanned picture of Mellbreak from that view point taken many years ago (1985 I think) with my old Pentax ME, when we had to send the roll of film away for developing! I think your cottage is just off the left of the picture. My wife Lindsay seemed more interested in the view across Loweswater. She might have spotted the Peregrines !

Regards and look after yourselves, John (of Tilehurst, W. Berks).

Thanks John, our cottage is just out of the photo on the left. Still too early for our bluebells . . . RmH

Early morning in Setmurthy Woods a few days ago, walking from Setmurthy to Cockermouth.

With camera dangling in hand, I saw something streak across the road but needed a few seconds to turn things on. The light was poor but I do know that hares will dart back suddenly if they don’t go round in circles . . . so I waited.

Can you see the hare on the right hand picture ? It’s a bit like your Stoat from last week, elusive ... or is it a stump? Chris G.

I've cropped your second picture to highlight the hare . . . at least in your pictures the animal in question can be seen !! . . . RmH

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Never think we will get tired of your lovely photos, there is always excitement when one of us says to the other . . .

"Roger’s got some more photos up"

I’ve included some more photos taken within our parish boundaries, there are over 18 miles of public rights of way in East Bridgford Parish and it is getting more difficult to walk some of them now. We live in an arable area and have many public footpaths of 1.5 metres which makes meeting people rather a problem unless you step into the crop, which is not fair on our farmers

This field of oil seed rape just coming into flower is on the ‘ridge,’ north of our village. Makes you feel spring is well on its way. A little further on is the River Trent, as it makes it way to Newark and eventually to the Humber.

Just to show it is not all long views, at the bottom of the hill, in the far left of the photo above, we join Old Hill Lane, designated a bridleway. Another long distance view from Old Hill Lane.

We live in an arable area and have many public footpaths that cross fields, minimum width 1 metre, and field edge (headland) footpaths, width minimum 1.5 metres, which makes meeting people rather a problem at this time of social-distancing, unless you step into the crop, which is not fair on our farmers.

To the west this time and over the Trent Valley, the Ratcliffe upon Soar power station is about 15 miles away!

We do so miss the mountains, please do keep your pictures coming.

from Hilary & David.

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