A few weeks ago, on a sunny spring afternoon, we could see the yellow-gold of gorse shining through gaps in the boundary hedge. We climbed over the gate and set off for a short walk around a nearby valley.
A few New Forest ponies, looking well after early spring grass, grazed by the deserted road.
There were signs of tree buds bursting, up on the Beacon Hill.
A heathland pool, replenished by rain.
Everywhere, the coconut scent of gorse.
Around the corner....
..... we followed a narrow sandy path towards the valley bottom.
Ponies grazed in the wet mire.
With the country in Lockdown, the sky seemed bluer and the air cleaner.
I stopped to watch and listen.
No noise of traffic. Just ponies pulling grass and munching. Just a stonechat, chit-chatting somewhere in the gorse nearby.
Up a twisting sandy track , I climbed into the woodland edge towards home.
4 comments:
The next best thing to doing the walk myself DW so really enjoyed it. Beautiful
I love seeing those ponies. Beautiful photos, thanks.
'Gorse' seems to feature so often in writing about England/Scotland that I decided to investigate. It apparently doesn't grow in the US, although I'm reminded of a yellow flowering desert shrub--maybe 'greasewood.'
I like the alternate name, 'furze.' How interesting that it provides forage for the ponies.
Always good to see your "neck of the woods" and it is familiar to me too of course, from our walks there.
The gorse looks lovely - our bush in the field has gone over for the moment - must check out the ones by the river or make wine later in the year.
The ponies are looking very well - the Forest is not so over-grazed now.
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