15th June 2018 McLardy's bans plastic straws but not their litter.

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Friday 15th 61-70?F, 16-21?C, bright, calm and clear. Walked to the village and back and survived to tell the tale by taking to the verge several times. Afternoon ride to the shops.

An Audi raving fuckwit's station car was at the supermarket. When the driver left the shop he shrieked his tyres for 50 yards across the jam-packed car park. Then he "floored it" once on the busy shopping street. To reach at least 70mph by the unprotected junior school playground. His tires were still screeching until he was out of sight 200 yards on.

Beyond the bend there are small shops on both sides of the much narrowed road with busy crossroads at either end and several junctions with difficult exits. The speed limit is only 40kph or about 25mph in old money. With pensioners and children constantly crisscrossing the busy road. Not to mention all the heavy lorries taking a short cut through the village. Only 7 miles returning heavily laden.

Saturday 16th 61F, 15C, very cloudy and slightly breezy with scattered showers possible and thunder too, as well. As the TV weather persons are wont to say, as well, too. Just a 40 minute walk along the lanes. Surprisingly strong, easterly headwind coming back. Saw a tiny bird of prey going in a beeline like a missile across the landscape.

Talking of blowing up: The narrow strip of land beside the road, where the trees were cut down earlier this year, has exploded into dense growth. Poplars in particular are throwing hundreds of shoots from root suckers. The big stumps are also producing countless shoots from their edges. Hawthorn, blackthorn and wild roses are also doing well, now they are no longer in heavy shade. As are lots of Field maples. At this rate they will be putting on the lost height to rapidly return the strip to nature.

The broad roadside  verge of a field just down the road was deliberately planted with mixed natural species. It is superb now after only a few short years from dark twigs in long grass. The birds love it, judging from all the singing and constant movement in there. Why they choose to compete with the traffic is a mystery. I don't hear remotely the same number of birds in the forest. Perhaps hedges are far more dense. Allowing for better cover and many more, secure nesting sites.

Sunday 17th 60F, 15C, bright but cloudy with the trees moving in the wind. Another day of promised showers, possibly with thunder. A new family of Blue tits is attacking the leaves of our huge Horse chestnut which quickly turns brown every year. T'internet suggest leaf blotch fungus but clouds of tiny moths are constantly flying around the tree. We had assumed a leaf miner. It seems both attackers are a disfiguring problem. Just a 40 minute walk in breezy sunshine with lots of warblers for company in the hedgerows. A brilliant yellowhammer was crouching on a rock.

Late morning ride to the shops. When I emerged for the ride home there were ragged black clouds set against dark grey. Bad timing. It rained hard and then not so much as the overhanging trees shed bucket loads. The front tyre was spraying a solid disk of water straight into my MTB shoes. Only 7 miles. Now the sun has come out.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

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