March

It’s difficult not to focus on the weather at the moment as we are getting such a wide range in the past weeks. We have had lots and lots of rain. It is still very mucky underfoot and you have to think where you can walk. For a couple of days last week you couldn’t get over the bridges at Crummock.

We have had some gloriously sunny days with snow on the fells and I can’t resist taking yet another photo of the view from Foulsyke down to the lake.

Last week I went up Raven Crag at Thirlmere: it has been difficult to access for a while but now it is a lovely walk with new steps up the final ascent. It was a day of heavy cloud so there was no view from the top, the only photo I took was of a very attractive tree stump on the way down.

Spring however is progressing, there has been frogspawn billowing out of the pool by the pump house at Crummock.

The daffodils in Loweswater Churchyard are looking beautiful despite the weather.

and there are a few remaining crocuses.

Last Friday I was surprised by an incredible display of daffodils on High Rigg by St John’s in the Vale: we wondered how they had got there.

Primroses are appearing in the hedgerows, these were on the track down to Maggie’s Bridge at Loweswater.

Many of you will be aware of the extensive felling of larch trees because of phytophthora ramorum in Holme Wood. The wood is now being restored and there was a day for the local community to get together and help. Hundreds of trees were planted and my friend Judy and I helped plant over eight hundred primroses.