Horse feeding time is always easier in the warmer months – with enough grass to graze on, there is no requirement for hay to be provided morning and night, just the “evening meal” of various mixtures depending on the particular animal. Tommy and Flash are both in their mid twenties, so tend to have more supplements and specific feeds. Additionally, Tommy had a habit of rushing through his food and then kicking Flash off his and finishing it for him (too kind!). So now Flash is fed outside the field in a temporary “pen” which means he gets to eat all of his meal and in peace.

As Spring continues to roll in, the birdlife returns to the lane – Robins tend to be about most of the year, but are more prevalent this time of year. They are always waiting for bits of bread and/or dropped feed from the horses’ bowls.

The lambs are growing and at a stage where they are needing a bit more management, just as with children growing out of the toddler stage. The electricity pylon in the field seems to serve as a makeshift “crèche” where all the youngsters are gathered by their mothers. The ewes take it in turns to watch over the youngsters while those “off shift” wander off for a quiet munch and bit of peace and quiet by themselves.

Here is more evidence of the birdlife returning. I would like to have got a clearer picture of this colourful bullfinch but this was as best as I could get and, despite being somewhat in the bushes, the striking colours are still visible.

And given the improving weather, we are all eager to get outside and feel the warmth of the sun on our heads including Willow, who decided that the low wall outside the conservatory was as good a place as any to have a sit down.

Last week, as the weather started to ease towards Spring, I showed some early work starting in creosoting sheds and shelters to help them recover from the winter battering and protect them for the future. Now work is starting in the lane to clear the debris of the many storms we have had – branches etc – from the verges in preparation for the first mowing of the year.

Oh and yes, one of the five houses in the lane is for sale – not something that happens too often. Not quite sure how much passing trade the boards will attract.

The sheep are back in the field next to the top of the lane. The spring lambs hopefully are keeping warm. The numbers are for identification rather than a game of “spot the lamb” bingo – although maybe there’s an idea in there somewhere!

As well as eating grass, feed supplement to help with the sheep welfare is brought round to each field and emptied into a specific location by a tractor with a funnel release on the back. Think this fellow below has spotted it early and is hoping for first pickings.

I, and many others, regularly walk dogs in the lane but occasionally people walk their horse as well. This can help exercise an injury which is still not ready to be ridden on. Or, in rarer cases, which I have witnessed, when the rider has been unceremoniously unseated and doesn’t care to re-board just yet! (not the case below, I hasten to add!)

Sunsets, as I mentioned in an earlier post, can be quite beautiful. At this time of year, before the trees have started to leaf, the view of a decent setting sun through the branches can be quite spectacular.

Spring continues to move in and early plants are starting to come through, such as these catkins on a bush halfway down the driveway. I think this was obviously the offshoot of a willow tree originally as that would explain the catkins themselves and the timing of their appearance.

But just to remind us it is very early Spring and that maybe not all the storms have passed, Winter has one (hopefully) last burst which topples over two of the three conifers outside the conservatory (and these pots aren’t light). Earlier on in the year, the bench at the side was pictured blown forwards so it shows how exposed we are at the top of the hill as this is a gust from the opposite direction.

An occasional reminder of our closeness to the coast occurs every now and then. Although it is 15km, as the seagull flies, to the nearest coastal point at Poole – windy weather at sea can drive these guys inland by some distance and they can be found digging for worms along with the crows and ravens in the nearby farm fields as this fine fellow shows.

The sun returned later in the week and that’s a cue for a little sunbathing! In Tommy the horse’s case this follows a quick roll in the mud first. He’s never going to win the horse version of Cruft’s but we love him. Not sure what’s happening with that tongue!!

A favourite pastime of all country living dogs is hunting – something, anything. I have mentioned Lottie’s attempts at rabbit chasing before but at this time of year it’s field mice and dormice that attract her attention. There is obviously a nest somewhere in the undergrowth at the top of the field and she can spend hours, literally, just staring and waiting for some movement. Usually this ends with her wandering off bored and despondent after 2-3 hours or, if some activity is spotted, leaping up into the air with four paws off the ground and landing on….. nothing.

Spring is starting to spring and the first sunny weather is with us at last. Although there is a chilly wind and the nights are frosty, there is a definite tell-tale feeling of warmth coming from the sun. Walking down the lane with the dog is suddenly much more scenic and providing views of the lovely countryside that we all recognise and love.

And, as if to prove the point, the animals are already seeking out the sunny bits and enjoying that early spring sunshine. It’s a hard life being a cat in the countryside!

Flowers are starting to bloom and here’s a quintessentially English cottage view across the fence to next door, who are very proud of their garden – quite rightly so.

At this time of year, it’s great to be able to spend time outdoors which also presents an opportunity to get started on the jobs that need doing to get everything up and running for the seasons ahead. I have to say creosoting is not my favourite pastime but it’s one of those jobs that is quite satisfying at the end as you can see the benefits of your labour. Here’s a before and after image of the woodshed which had taken a bit of a battering in the winter storms.

Three sheds and a horse shelter done – one more shed to go!! Oh, and then it’s the benches and the decking! Thanks to Annie for the last two photos (and the creosoting!)

At last the sun has come out for a few days on end, the fields are starting to dry up, there are blue skies and the birds, particularly the blackbirds, are starting to sing more – a sure sign that spring is on its way. A chaffinch or two have been spotted in the trees:

And even the pigeons, who are with us all year, are looking chirpier. Here’s a fellow who has just had a crafty drink from the horses’ water butt. The tell-tale drip still on the edge of his beak!

Although the sun is out, it is still early in the year so wrapping up warm is essential, especially if you are out and about in the fields. Here is a “traditional” activity that takes place on a daily basis given the number of people that keep their horses in the fields around the lane. Not sure if there is an official or technical name, but it is generally known as “poo-picking”. All you need is a rake, a scoop and a wheelbarrow – well, and a horse as well, I guess.

At the opposite end of the lane to me lies a small 35 acre wood which provides a great spot for rambling, dog walking and general nature spotting in the 3 “nice” seasons. As the mud subsides there will be more opportunities to spend time there – usually with Lottie the dog. At the front of the wood, shown below, there is now a clearing where the overhead electricity wires run. Although it was a shame to lose a number of trees,  powerful winds over the last few years have continually felled trees anyway – and some of these take down the wires causing blackouts locally. The process seems to be working because, as I write, despite a number of heavy storms this year, we have escaped unscathed in the area.

And finally, if you remember those hardy daffodils that I showed a few weeks back, they are now flourishing along with a plethora of snowdrops.

Finally this week, Wednesday aside so we won’t talk about that, there is some respite from the rain which means there are more signs of activity in the lane. I am not sure what a collective noun of horse carers/stable ladies is but here is an impromptu meeting in the middle of the lane – the beauty of it is that you can just stop and have a chat without too much worry about holding any passing traffic up. I must have tried to take this picture about half a dozen times but every time a rather hairy black creature wanted to be in the frame, so in the end I left her there!

The sunshine makes everything so much brighter and prettier. Here is a view down the central path of the racehorse stables – could almost be spring!

And as if to enhance the view that we are finally heading out of the dark months and into the light, the sheep are back in the field at the top of the lane. These guys are pretty much “teenagers” so are a bit hardier than baby lambs. It is a beautiful site to see them on the hill around the tower.

Oh – and if you could just pose for the camera please?

And it is not just the sheep that are enjoying the sun. Tom and his playmate Flash – I think the official term is “companion” – are out and about away from the shelter of the corners of the field and enjoying the warmth and the grass. Flash is an ironic name as he doesn’t move very fast and tends not to bend his knees even when he runs. But he is a dear little thing and does his job well.

Fingers crossed for more dry weather !!

Just when we thought that the storms may have passed, along comes another one – can’t even remember the names any more, it feels like we must have gone round the alphabet at least once already! Really strong gusts this time around – the bench below is pretty heavy but it was completely uplifted off its feet!

As the year goes on, hopefully more nature photos of things growing and enjoying the environment will become more prevalent. In the meantime, here is another visitor to the lane. There are a lot of pheasants around at this time of year and I managed to capture this handsome fellow,  grazing around in the horses’ field.

Given the location of the lane, we get some lovely open vistas to view including clear skies at night – some of those to be featured I’m sure – and rainbows when the conditions are right. The strange thing about the one below was that the sky all around was blue apart from one large cloud – you can see the clear sky on the right.

Finally, later in the week, some proper winter weather and we awoke to a beautiful frosty and somewhat misty day. This is from the top of the drive looking across to the copse at the other end of the farm.

Finally, you have to be prepared for slower journey times around here – often getting caught behind tractors on the roads nearby. Sometimes it’s horse boxes – this is very much horse country – and here’s one coming back from an outing, heading to the stable yard at the top of the lane.

One of the things about living in an unmade up lane is that the council don’t pop round and repair the pot-holes as they would on a normal road. Come to think of it, they don’t do it on a normal road very often! The difference is that they will never do it, rather than once every couple of years or so. Consequently, it is up to the residents to take it upon themselves to keep the track relatively passable. The normal process is that someone with the heavy duty equipment does the work and everyone else chips in towards the materials although occasionally small repairs just get done on the fly. Recently, some of the damage done by the recent storms has attracted attention.

I’ve introduced one or two of the characters who share this environment with me and here’s another one – Spooner the cat. It’s a great environment for a cat to live in. It looks like he is having a relax in the field below but on closer inspection, he has actually popped out for a take-away, of which there are many opportunities.

I have saved the more ghoulish close-ups to protect the squeamish!

I have mentioned before about the small racehorse stable next door and here is a food delivery arriving! Not quite Tesco Direct but just as handy! The supplier is the local thatcher who also grows his own hay. In case you are wondering, the vehicle at the front of the picture is a poo-picker – for horses of course. Well, you wouldn’t expect the stable staff to wander round all those fields with a shovel and a wheelbarrow! This little beauty is towed along behind a quad bike.

And as reminder of the mild winter we have had, here is one of the many groups of daffodils which are flourishing quite happily on the verges in early February.

For a dog, who thinks she is a cunning hunter, there are always opportunities to look out for in case stray wildlife should have the temerity to come onto “her” land. The fact that Lottie has only ever caught three rabbits in her entire life, two of which were dead before she saw them, never dents her optimism. So, sitting on the edge of the path scanning her territory is often on the agenda. The temporary gravel trench in front of her was one that I had to dig in a hurry after heavy rain the other weekend as the conservatory was in danger of flooding due to the amount of water coming off the field above us.

Talking of rain, I have a drainage ditch running along the side of my driveway to take any excess water away. Much of the year this is pretty dry with just a trickle of water passing down it. However, with the recent inclement weather caused by various storms with increasingly bizarre names – Gertrude for heaven’s sakes!!! – this has turned into a full blown stream.

Being in a higher-up open environment provides some great weather views, particularly sunrises and sunsets. I am sure a number of these will feature as we go through the year and here is the first, taken on one of those rare bright and clear evenings. At this time of year, the bareness of the trees arguably provides a more interesting vista than in the summer.

The picture below may well look like a view of some telegraph poles which, in fact, it is. However they illustrate another facet of rural living. The local exchange was recently converted to superfast fibre broadband, which means I now get speeds of 8-10mbs as opposed to around 1.5 mbs. Townies may scoff but it means I can now do emails and watch Netflix at the same time. What more can a man ask for? The only issue is that the last 400 metres of connectivity is still via overhead lines for most of the village. Earlier this week the broadband was very intermittent – not ideal for somebody who works from home. A couple of days later, a very nice man from BT Openreach climbed up the far pole to repair a frayed cable and got everything up and running again. So an interesting mix of 20th and 21st Century technology links us to the modern world!

As January comes to an end, I look forward to being able to post pictures of things other than rain and flooding – but who knows!

Those of us that live in the lane are rightly proud of it and try and keep it looking good – we are not talking suburban twee garden good here but just tidy and a nice and pleasant environment. So a polite sign at the first bend as you come into the “private” bit is there to remind people to take care.

Unfortunately, there are always those that don’t seem to be able to respect the environment. Most of the problem is speeding by delivery vehicles or visitors, or people riding up on the verge when something is coming the other way rather than reversing a few yards to one of many places where passing is possible. The damage below is just an example of someone deciding that it’s ok to drive over the grass.

My neighbour who is the official “owner” of the lane spends many hours himself and employing a gardener to keep the lane looking nice. So, it’s out with the digger to repair the bank and flatten out the verge. The grass, fortunately, will grow back fairly quickly.

So much for the bad news 🙂 . This week saw the first real frosts of the winter – third week in January! The landscape is transformed into something more like one would expect at this time of year.