I wanted to wander somewhere lovely to mark Easter Day, since walking is worship and spring is resurrection, so I went back to Winterbourne to do the lovely dog-friendly walk there, only now six weeks further into the season.
This time Cwtch and I were accompanied by the Northerner, and the blackthorn was in full bloom.
St Michael's, Winterbourne on the skyline
Ash flower-burst
The skylarks were out in full force and very noisy
Monks Pool, starred with celandines, seemed a lot less brooding than it had the first time Cwtch and I visited.
From Monk's Pool we walked through part of Bradley Brook Nature Reserve. The water was very clear in parts.
Bradley Brook
Brittlestem, I think ...
... and turkeytail
celandines and red dead nettles, speedwell, greater stitchwort and dandelions, forget-me-nots, bluebells, ground ivy, primroses, daisy with blowfly, a dandelion growing on a tree, alkanet and celandine, violet, vetch
Common Carder bumble bee, brimstone and tortoiseshell butterflies
This blackthorn at the side of the brook is full of flower and lichen and very atmospheric.
A rare incidence where we're waiting for the Northerner to catch up.
I know the default is to call lamas lamas even when they're alpacas, but these are large beasts and I'm sure lamas are what they are.
This is such a lovely walk, we'll be back again in a few weeks, when spring turns to summer.
