The greening of the English shires

I have been suffering with a cold for the past few days. You know that woolly headed feeling, burning eyes, and lethargy. Today I thought it would be a good idea to take a walk in one of the five valleys below where we live, and see if I could blow some of the cobwebs away.

We commenced the walk at the old Canal Keeper's House. The walk meanders on the level separated by a Victorian neglected canal on one side and the river on the other. It is a walk I like as there is always plenty of interest. Lovely trees, the canal, the river, wild flowers, birds, and it is possible to peek over the walls and hedges into lots of gardens.

overgrown canal - there are plans to rejuvenate it in due course.

Wild garlic growing in profusion

The river meandering along the ends of the cottage gardens

At this stage the river opens out into a small lake. 

Swan guarding the lake

Cow Parsley

Comfrey

Campion

Dandelion seed head

A road to be explored next time

At the end of the walk a big blazing bonfire.