Commuting in I passed the unnecessary, but welcoming glow of exterior lights, which needed next month. Despite having been laid several years ago, today the wildlife garden hedgerow wiggled branches of Dog Wood and Hazel above the fence.
I was on a mission to check the Herford Cattle, in Johnston Meadow, which were meant to be in Haysom in Arable. Cleary inadequate gate closure by some persons…. On the way I passed small (child fist sized) excavations created by either Squirrels or a Badger. Still bales sat in South Field, hence our electric fence installed along the southern boundary. Amongst the grassland Yellow Hawkbit flowers were obvious. Around the hay rake quarr stunted Ox Eye Daisies flowers were seen, although some had lost their white petals. Dry Dwarf Thistle heads had turned a pale yellow / brown. Although, here Yellow Wort heads were closed, open flowers were later seen upon the coastal ridge. Cotoneaster berries threaten to spread the plant further into the grassland. In Saxon the heavily laden bale trailed had made clear tracks through the grass. With heads bowed, Woolly Thistle needed to set seed to the wind. Primitive (yet invasive) lower plant Mares Tail was at the fringes of Bramble where one of its white flowers showed. Robin “clicks” came from scrub that obscured deep quarry cavities. Ivy flowers were fading to make way for the last berries nature would provide. Meanwhile, Black Bryony fruits had already shrivelled.
Approaching Herren Ground I was reassured to hear “mooing” as our neighbour’s excavator prowled the quarry fringe with arm a bucket raised like a metal dinosaur. A trio of Magpies were amongst the cattle crowded into the gateway. I released the cattle to be able to graze both meadows, for now. Katie and I were please to fing hooves had not damaged the Johnston Pond liner. Lilly leaves, damp moss and Common (Norfolk) Reed along with the white flowers of Bog Bean (which should have stopped flowering in June). One last calf emerged from the crisp, dry, brown Bracken. A male Stonechat, Chiff Chaff encounter and Common Toadflax flowers added to my morning pleasure.