Pea and ham soup

3rd March 2013

The sky was a little dull at 7am when Dee arrived, but blue patches gradually appeared as we were walking up through Oxen Hoath, accompanied by Sir Herne the Heron. Fieldfare were again in the parkland and swirling about like a murmuring of Starlings!

The temperature was around 2 degrees and the ground had dried out some more; there were fewer boggy bits. We stopped at the top at Gover Hill to look down on Hadlow and with just a slight mist in the valley, the Tower was looking very grand.

There are great areas of Chestnut cleared through Hurst Wood. There must be an increased market for the timber. The Army were banging and rat-tat-tatting as we walked through to Crouch.

Breakfast of pea and ham soup with fresh bread on Doris's bench and the Sun shone on our backs! Looking across the valley, the woods did appear perhaps a little greener on the other side, or was it wishful thinking and the sunshine? A Skylark was singing a jolly song as we ate. Stopping at Basted Mill, on the way to Yopps Green, we looked down into the Bourne at the bridge. There were Trout, and big ones, amongst the Chubb where a stream runs in. A good place to feed.

The fields have been ploughed, now the ground is a little dryer. People were out working this morning, taking advantage of the weather.

Up on the hill near Scathes Wood there were fine views to Hadlow and it was somewhat warmer. Another break on Paul's bench in Scathes Wood where we fed a raggedy Robin with bread (Maisie wanted it!). Robin must have had a very hard winter; he did look rough, but he was polite, just the same. Then through Ightham Mote (open now), and on to Shipbourne and home.