Having started life in the city where the well known nursery rhyme originates, the inmates at Wakefield prison would exercise around the Mulberry bush in the prison grounds. I'm told it flourishes there still to this day, but I've never seen it (obviously)! So I was delighted to find a Mulberry tree earlier in the week in one of our local parks. It seems no-one knows what it is, it is laden with fruit, and the floor around it is stained a rich purple with the ripe berries. We had fun with the dogs there today, they eating them and we climbing the tree to collect them (you're never too old to climb a tree). I was surprised to find out that there are only around 200 of these trees in the UK, looks like the barbet may outnumber them soon!
Strolling across the Abbey Field this afternoon, the sun was shining and the church bells were pealing to announce the arrival of the soon to be newly-weds. Cutting through the churchyard, the local wildlife played it safe by perching out of Mirabelles reach. Through the gate we hear the sound of leather on willow, non of the players in their cricket whites, nor a beautiful lush ground, but an impromtu game, that was a pleasure to sit and watch. I just love this ritual that is so much a part of an English summer, shame my dogs are French and just don't understand cricket!
Our morning walk saw not another human or dog. We had the whole park to ourselves. And as you can see, it wasn't at sunrise, so where is everyone? But while the park was empty, this young man had a ball chasing up and down. And I got him to pose for a photo with no distractions.
On just one walk, the dogs can meet and see so many new things. I hate doing the same old boring walk each day, so try to liven things up by going on different routes or to completely new places. Our walk this morning saw us circling a newly built school, where there were huge numbers of people turning up for the celebrations of Eid. Just two minutes later, Nelly was having a swim in a man made lake whilst I was able to enjoy watching the bright blue Damselflies theough the reed beds,skimming over the surface of the water. Our walks home this week have been filled with collecting blackberries, early crop apples and wild mint. The dogs are all able to delicately pick blackberries without prickling themselves. We have had fun making jams and jellies with the goodies we have found on our walks over the years, and this year looks like being a good one for my store cupboard.
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