In Search of Bluebells and Rape Fields

I said in my previous post here that I went in search of bluebells and rape fields this week – well I found some 🙂 !

As you know, I love doing long walks, spending all day just putting one foot in front of the other. I love the mechanical action of walking and the challenge of reaching a goal. But I also love to just wander ‘aimlessly’ with no particular plan, to set out with just a map, and maybe a book to read, and decide on the spur of the moment which way to go. These two styles of walking are very different; one involves not getting too sidetracked because you have a certain number of miles to cover, a destination to reach, the other involves deliberately choosing to get sidetracked as much as you want to, going just where the mood takes you, or indeed not going at all if some particular view cries out to be savoured.

This was a wanderer walk where I had no specific plans but just went where my feet took me……..although I did know there were bluebells in the area, and I guessed there would be rape fields because they are everywhere. This was a day to coddiwomple!

In fact on this occasion, I did what I often do – I just sat for a long time in the middle of the woods on a log just drinking everything in…..and what a wonderful time it was. The woodland was a lonely woods, one where not many feet tread, so I had it all to myself. I sat surrounded by a gently waving carpet of blue, with that lovely fresh green foliage of spring all around, listening to the rustle of leaves and the song of birds with only the distant sound of the occasional tractor to disturb my reverie.

I just feel so ‘connected’ in the countryside, I feel such a sense of belonging. We all, bugs, bats, birds, animals, trees, flowers, mountains, woodlands, clouds, wind……..and us, have life, share this earth, and are part of the same creation, so we are all kindred spirits. The flora and fauna are my ‘brothers and sisters’ and I enjoy their company.

Even the humble dandelion with its amazing, awesome, delicate, complex structure which perfectly ensures its survival, is kindred. Oh, I know it doesn’t have a brain, but it has life, just as I have life, and we share this place for a time.

The rape fields are nearing their peak of vibrant yellow, and beautiful to see on a bright sunny day such as this. The one above highlighted a problem though – you see, there is a footpath that runs directly across the field to the gap in the trees and I wanted to walk it, to walk right through the middle of the sea of yellow, but the footpath was not re-instated by the farmer after he sowed the crop. The laws of the countryside state that it is fine for footpaths to be ploughed over where they cross fields but they should be re-instated within 14 days where crops are sown and within 24 hours elsewhere. To walk across this field would have left me covered from head to toe in yellow pollen so I walked round the outside of the field.

Despite my aimless wandering and my stopping often to soak up my surroundings, I still managed to walk over 10 miles, and what beautiful miles they were. Towards the end of my walk, I took another detour to reach another of my favourite spots where there is a well placed seat. I sat and enjoyed the late afternoon sunshine, reflecting on another awesome day in the Dorset countryside. Oh how I enjoy exploring the paths and lanes of Dorset!

Thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings, and I hope you enjoy exploring with me.

Until next time,
Your friend
The Dorset Rambler

If you would like to contact me, my email address is terry.yarrow@gmail.com – comments and feedback are always welcomed.

All words and pictures in this blog are the copyright of The Dorset Rambler and may not be reproduced without permission.