My daily walk was one of interest today, after the first
half hour pounding tarmac and concrete at last the atmosphere changed and my
footsteps are suddenly absorbed by the narrow farm track with lush cut grass forming
my centre eye line for the next mile or so.
Still the fen breeze blows strong and direct,
reeds rustling in the deep farm dyke and what seems like every leaf in tiny
orchards tremble. A green woodpecker gives flight as he senses my arrival into
his world, his pale green body riding that roller coaster flight of his, up and
down he travels until a loud screech signals his arrival in one of an avenue of
high poplar trees.
On my right is around
ten or twelve acres of stubble, not crisp new freshly cut wheat or barley, but
rain soaked weathered stubble that was cut a couple of weeks past and still cradles
those long lines of cut straw, now too wet to bale. On my left sit several
parcels of private land, maybe just over an acre in size, some home of small
orchards, some set with flowers for cutting, some with regimental lines of
vegetables, carrots, beans and leeks and one piece of this rich dark soil left
wild, home to an amazing array of birds, I feel so lucky and free from work and
the crazy world in which we live, even if for only an hour.
As I walked I did
wonder what backs had bent working the hoe on this stone free black soil a
hundred years ago, how cold were these open spaces that produced the food of
kings and were their lunches spent like this one, free from noise and among
natures summer theatre?
There are still
extensive areas of reed in the fenlands and the same is found here around
Upwell which is encouraged by some and frowned upon by others, to me it can
only be a great addition to the natural habitat that wildlife need here and let’s
be honest, how strange would this magical world of marsh look without the reed
beds.
As I neared the end
of my walk a grey heron took off from this hunting stance in the far end of the
dyke, his look one of disapproval and disgust, but soon I’d be gone and he
would return.
