The bitter North East wind on our meet yesterday Sunday 28th February was a sign that perhaps we haven't avoided winter after all - but it warmed up in the sun later. The Riverside is still very bare but fresh green shoots of river bank vegetation are appearing fast. On the Wild field - a surprise - small patches of Cuckooflower already flowering amongst the dry grasses - so watch out for the Orange Tip butterflies!
The cold dry northerly wind was actually welcome after many weeks and months of wet, overcast, mild weather which we had become used to on our meets. Sunday 31st January was no different, wading around in the mud and drizzle - there seemed to be no hope of either winter or spring then.
OAKS - The old and the young.
The young oak in the foreground was planted to replace the very old oak which fell in a storm on 26th April 2012. See River News on the Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation site for photos of the Environment Agency working on removing the fallen tree - a major task!
In common with all young oaks, the new tree keeps it's leaves over the winter and only loses them when the new leaf buds are about to burst into life - whilst in the background the very old oak loses its leaves in the autumn.
