A Tale of Three Weekends

Saturday December 7th
A beautiful, clear blue morning. Unseasonably warm. Walking through the Millennium Green on my usual route along The Smite. Robin, Wren and Long Tailed Tits all extremely vocal for the time of year. As I exit the metal gate on Smite Lane and peer over the bridge (hoping for a glimpse of the Kingfisher!) I hear a sound that lifts my heart – the cascading song of a Skylark! It feels like a spring morning.

Saturday December 14th
Up before the sun. A cold, biting wind. As I walk to the end of The Row and enter the footpath, a lone Robin hops a few feet in front of me. Much to the amusement of my springer, Whisky! I follow it to the end of the path and it flits into the Hawthorn hedge at shoulder height. It sits there and allows me a clear view of it’s beautiful, red breast. I tip my hat and walk on. As I exit the footpath and enter the field I am hit by the force of the wind, charging across the field like an angry stampede. All leaves have been blown away. The oak beside Gibson’s Bridge stands strong, it’s silhouette etched into the clear blue sky.

Later the same day I head out for a run before the sun disappears. The wind is still strong and cold but it is a sunny afternoon. Heading back along The Smite the pale, pink sun lights up the wings of a flock of Fieldfares. There must be 200 or more of these Northern relatives of the Thrush. As the flock disappears an Egret takes flight in a slow, deliberate ascent. As it banks in front of me the sun catches it and it could be a phoenix rising! I follow its arc into the distance on my right and I then catch a ghostly image hunting in a copse of trees. The Barn Owl is out early, 3pm, it must have predicted the heavy rain that arrived later that evening- Barn Owls can’t hunt in the rain as their wings get waterlogged and they are unable to fly.

Saturday December 21st
Heavy rain yesterday. Mill Lane flooded again. Dry and cloudy, but bright. Entering the field I see the extent of the flooding. The fields, dykes and Smite become one. A truly awesome sight. The footpath is muddy but passable. Up on Gibson’s Bridge I’m surrounded by the pale chocolate coloured river. The footpath on the other side is under a few inches of water. As I enter the wooden gate I have to take a left into The Green as the path along The Smite is impassable – even in my wellies! I cut round to the right back onto the river path and it is a bit easier- but still within 2 inches of the top of my boots! I make it to the willow arch and exit the metal gate. The Smite has burst its banks 3 times in the past 5 years. It has now burst its banks 3 times this Autumn/Winter alone. I’ve spoken to other villagers and this appears to be the worst in 30 years. With this in mind we have decided to redesign the eco loo so that it sits up above ground level rather than have a pit dug down that would be a potential flood risk.