I have outstanding annual leave which I need to use by the end of March; otherwise I lose it. My wife persuaded me to go away on my own for some hiking and reflection. There is a 50% chance that my job will be eliminated this summer so after 14 years with one employer it is time to research alternatives.
Although I was brought up in East Hampshire I never got to know Dorset well. Last June my wife and I camped at West Bay one gorgeous weekend and I was impressed by the sandstone countryside. We returned for walking last November. This week I got a good deal at the Marquis of Lorne in Nettlecombe (OS Map 194, grid reference SY517956). Breakfast was served at 09:00 and I was awake well before that.
This morning was quite blustery as can be seen by the pub sign. I just took a gentle walk through the hamlet of Nettlecombe, then down into the little valley towards Powerstock. Along the bank at the side of the path there was a fair amount of wild garlic growing.
Going up the road below Powerstock church I noticed traces of snow from the night before. Snow had been forecast for today but the air temperature is too warm for it to stay. There were clear views across the sandstone hills in the area.
After looking around Powerstock, I completed the loop following the lane back to Nettlecombe. The banks were covered with wild garlic and the growth was very impressive indeed. Some leaves were 15 cm long - a lot better than in my herb garden. Some banks had a lot of wild arum (lords and ladies). Others had long ferns.
The ferns presumably did well because of the shade of deciduous trees and the dampness of the bank.
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2007-03-19 @ 19:02