And who could blame this young lady for taking the opportunity to sunbath….even though it is still January. The long curving Horns of the Longhorn Cattle do make them look a little fearsome but in reality they are the most placid of animals.
Yes, it is still January and by rights we should be shivering in what would normally be freezing temperatures. We have had heavy rains and gales and they did bring their own problems …..but you would be forgiven for imagining that we have skipped a season and going straight to spring.
We have a number of very old Oaks in this part of the country, some at well over 1000 years old. The recent winds may well have stripped them of leaves but thankfully have caused no damage, proof indeed that they are a perhaps the most resilient of trees…..
Hiding away behind a stone wall from which it has gained shelter this Fern shows all the indications that it too has escaped winter. New shoots are already starting into life in the deep in its crown…..
Bracken still retains both its autumn colour and body as yet untroubled by any snow fall that would flatten it as if by magic. Until then it is doing its best to disguise both the track and style in the fence…..
So you see, our Winter still continues to confuse us. Here in the high Beech Woods you would be hard pressed to identify just what season we are actually ‘enjoying’ and enjoying is exactly what we are doing….
Roll on Spring…or are we already there?
19th January
© David Oakes 2014
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 