On Tuesday, which looked like the best day of this week weather-wise, I took myself off for a picnic and my first solitary walk since March. Throughout the lockdown Toby and I have walked almost every day in his favourite woods, rain or shine (and sometimes very heavy rain), and the same route because sameness is a comfort to Toby and he has definite ideas about which paths to take in the woods so I am happy to let him lead. Walking so frequently in the same place as spring developed into summer has been fascinating – seeing the progression of greenery throughout the wood, the growth of different plants and emergence of different insects. But walking with Toby is all about his wants and needs and so there’s not been time for the leisurely wandering that I like to do on my own with my camera in hand.
For my walk I head to Panshanger park, which is a nature reserve on the edge of Hertford. It’s a wonderful site with the ruins of an old orangery (all that is left of a once grand country house); lots of ancient trees, including the famous one called the Panshanger oak and a system of lakes that are former gravel extraction sites now returned to nature and linked by River Mimram – a crystal clear and swift running chalk river. The park gets busy near to the carpark but once you work your way along the river and through the meadows you leave the picnicking families behind and it feels as though you are deep in natural countryside. I spent 4 hours there, wandering over 5 miles, stopping for a picnic lunch and taking my time to notice all of the natural wonders that can be seen by slowing down and paying attention. It was a wonderful tonic and I arrived home again tired, a little sunburnt (despite the lack of obvious sunshine) and feeling the peaceful contentment that I always rediscover when I’ve had a day out on my own in nature. So here are some photos of my day: the wandering pathways through frothy cow parsley and hog weed; the meadows full of wild flowers buzzing and chirrupping with thousands of insects; the cool and vibrant green-ness that banks the river course; the beautiful longhorn cattle that are now resident in the pastures and the wonderful variety of flowers, plants and bugs, some of them quite scary looking! I hope you enjoy them, I’ll certainly enjoy looking at them again in the future, especially when I’m back to walks with Toby over the long summer break.
Well I hope your weekend brings you a little of what you love, and that you find the same peace and contentment that Panshanger brought me this week 🙂
little cotton rabbits 
Just beautiful pictures! I hope you and Toby are managing through all of this craziness. I have a lot of personal experience with out-of-the-ordinary children. I really enjoy your photography and your fun knitting patterns. Thank you for being so willing to share !
Michelle
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It looks gorgeous, and you have captured the midsummer abundance of nature beautifully. I particularly like the creature clinging to the blade of grass and the twisted (oak) tree in the picture underneath. I’m glad you managed to have a moment away to enjoy it all. CJ xx
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what a treasure!!! thanks for sharing…and how lovely you can pretend that this is all there for you and you alone!!!
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It looks very peaceful and definitely good for the soul!! I love all those things you’ve described and of course the wonderful smell of all that greenery!
Happy weekend Julie,
V x
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Once again your pictures are simply beautiful and so peaceful and calming to look at. I still think you should do a coffee table book.
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So many beautiful pictures Julie and thank you for sharing and may Toby be enjoying his days too. Time alone can be such a heart lifting adventure xo
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Thank you for taking us on a beautiful walk with you. I have found myself being more observant of all the wonders right in front of me this spring and summer.
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Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos – your pictures are a real credit to you and it’s good to see you getting out again and feeling the benefit. I have been thinking about upgrading from my phone to a proper camera – could you say which one you use? Maybe in a later post you would consider giving some photography tips? (Your knitting tips have moved me up to the next level!) Thanks again Julie. You are an inspiration.
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Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
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Your photos are always so lovely! It is a great pleasure to imagine oneself in those places.
The plants are just enough different from those in New England that it seems exotic, yet also familiar and soothing.
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preciosas fotos.
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Your fotos are allways SO beautiful! This time they remember me to “Wind in the Willows” which I read during the last days (in German…) I nearly can smell the gras and the water!
I am glad for your time alone to strength (?) you for the days with Toby. You do a wonderful job, if job ist the right word…May I ask You, does Toby speak with you?
Thank You for sharing the fotos and parts of Your family-life, Yours, Barbara from Vienna
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