Ollie: Back on Hoe Rough

November 19, 2018 ~ beetleypete ~ 54 Comments

***All photos can be enlarged, by clicking on them***

For a long time now, there has been a sizable herd of cows and their calves grazing on Hoe Rough. This has meant that I have been unable to go there with Ollie, and have had to find other places to go, to extend his walks. Earlier this week, the herd was removed, so I took the camera over there this afternoon on our walk.

On the way, Beetley Meadows was finally showing some Autumn colours in the surrounding trees.

This tree has fallen into the river, and been left there by the local Nature Trust. Last week, I spotted some squirrels using it as a bridge across the river. So today, I waded into the middle, to get a photo of it. Sadly, no squirrels crossed it when I was there.

Some of the trees have already lost most or all of their leaves, like this one on the riverbank.

And these tall ones nearby.

We crossed the main road, and went over to Hoe Common. I got as far as the private lane that leads to a large farm.

For November, it was excellent weather, even though it was almost dark when I got back at 3:45 pm.

Camera-shy Ollie

January 14, 2017 ~ beetleypete ~ 33 Comments

Today was bright and cold. The mud has finally started to harden, so I decided on a longer walk today, in advance of the rain forecast for tomorrow. I took the camera along, and headed for Hoe Common. On the way, I took this shot of a cattle waterer over on Hoe Rough. It’s an ingenious device. The cows push their snouts against the curved part, and that siphons water from the river with a pump-action. You can just make out the ice in the water.

(All photos can be enlarged for detail, and that will be necessary, to read the notice board shot.)

This useful information board is provided at Hoe Common. I have seen most of the animals and birds mentioned, but not a Linnet.

Across the old railway tracks, these prickly hedges that line the fields have been cut back for winter. They use a tractor, with an attachment that looks like a giant domestic hedge trimmer.

On the locked gate that leads to a farm is this reassuring notice.

Walking back across the common, I noticed this tall stile has been erected, to give access into a fenced off area. I have no idea why it is fenced off, as walkers are allowed, and the fence wires are too wide to keep out any wildlife.

Apologies to all the fans of photos of Ollie. He was camera-shy today, and would not stop for a moment to be in any of the photos!

A break from the gloom

November 10, 2016 ~ beetleypete ~ 46 Comments

Hoe Rough, in November sunshine.

The past week has been pretty dismal, weather-wise. Dark skies, lights on by midday, and dull dog-walks in constant rain, and slippery mud. By yesterday, I was beginning to feel pretty glum. The ‘winter blues’ had come early, and I was dreading the long months ahead.
This morning didn’t start out much better, but by dog-walking time, the sun was out, and the sky was blue. I was enthused to take my camera, and set out for a longer walk than we have enjoyed recently.
All photos can be clicked on for detail.

Not many trees around here turn into interesting colours during Autumn, but this one added a splash of yellow-gold.

A small Muntjac deer suddenly appeared on the path, and Ollie gave chase enthusiastically. They were both moving too fast for me to get a photo, so I had to settle for one of a panting Ollie, when he returned from the ‘hunt’.

I continued across the road to Hoe Common. This is the entrance gate, with small signs to advise local walkers of routes, and a warning about the poisonous snakes that live there. The long bamboo stick is my dog-walking stick.

In the woods, I came across this example of a Fly Agaric mushroom. Despite having hallucinogenic properties, they are also poisonous, so best avoided. This one had toppled over a little, and I had to use the flash in the dark woodland.

Sadly, darkening skies heralded a change in the day’s weather, so I decided to head home. Back near the gate, I spotted this leaf-strewn patch, lit by the last few rays of sunshine.

Sure enough, it was soon raining hard, and the passing cars were using their headlights. By the time we reached home, we had both had a good soaking, and it was back to the gloom that I had tried to escape from. At least we had enjoyed a short break from it.

The neglected bench

May 24, 2016 ~ beetleypete ~ 24 Comments

This bench is at the far end of Hoe Common, so ideally suited for a rest, after walking that far. It has a view across to Beetley, but in some respects, the bench is more interesting than the view.
(The photos are both large files, and can be clicked on, to enlarge them.)

It has obviously been around a while. It has no dedication, and I have no idea who placed it there, or why. When you sit against the backrest, your feet can only just touch the ground. The area nearby is not maintained, and nettles and grasses flourish under and around it. It is the only bench in that place, and the only bench for a long way off. It is made of wood, and they didn’t bother to trim it neatly, or to polish and prepare it.

This is a natural bench, surrounded by nature. For that reason, I think it is far superior to many other benches in this area, which are made of resin, or resemble traditional park benches. It is by far my favourite bench, and has provided me with much-needed rest in the rare hot summers we have experienced, since moving here. I have never seen anyone else sitting on it, but I always make sure to take a seat there, at least for a while.

I like to think that the bench appreciates my dalliance, and sees some sense in its purpose.

Ollie stood by it today. He allowed me a rare photo opportunity. Perhaps he instinctively knows.

Hoe Common, with Ollie and the camera

October 11, 2015 ~ beetleypete ~ 27 Comments

The blue skies and sunshine this afternoon indicated the chance of some decent photographic opportunities. I decided to take Ollie in the car to Hoe Common. We would normally walk there, but the access, via Hoe Rough, is very muddy at the moment, and also has a large herd of cows and calves grazing on it. They are not that fond of dogs, so I have been keeping out of their way. After a short drive along quiet country lanes, we parked near the disused railway.

As usual, all the photos are large files, and can be clicked on for more detail.

Arriving at the common from the west, it is apparent that it is a a little higher than the surrounding area. This photo was taken looking across in the direction of Beetley. Other than the farm in the distance, there is nothing to interrupt the view.

The common was once known for large areas of lavender growing there. Over the decades, these have been swamped by bracken, and woodland has grown around the edges too.

The conservation trust volunteers are doing their best to reintroduce lavender to the common. They are stripping back large areas of bracken to encourage this, and to help the birds and other wildlife too.

A circular path provides a nice walk around the whole area. The camera did its best with the very difficult lighting conditions inside this woodland section, but this photo is unfortunately not very sharp. Either I moved, or the shutter speed was too slow for the lens stabilisation.

Back at the car, I walked onto the old railway bridge for this next photo. The railway from Dereham to Sheringham has not been used since the 1960s, and the local Mid-Norfolk Railway, a group of enthusiasts and volunteers, are working hard to restore the sleepers and track, in the hope of reopening the stretch for pleasure trips to the coast. This is looking North, towards Holt.

I then drove up to the hamlet of Worthing, close to North Elmham, to visit the round tower church. That will feature in another post.

Ollie and the wildflowers

June 19, 2015June 20, 2015 ~ beetleypete ~ 23 Comments

Unlike today, which has been dull and feeling chilly, Thursday afternoon was most pleasant. The sky was blue, and a fresh breeze had driven away the humidity. As Ollie had been stuck indoors waiting for me to get back from the car repairers, I decided to reward him with a longer walk, taking in somewhere we hadn’t been for a while. After the usual couple of circuits by the river, to allow him in for a refreshing dip and a drink, we went across the road bridge, and into Hoe Rough. Ollie likes to roll in the mounds of spiny grass there, and was soon rushing around excitedly.

We carried on through the metal gate, and took the narrower path leading to the Holt Road. This has become quite overgrown, and I had to be careful of the stinging nettles, as I was wearing shorts. We crossed the often busy country road ahead, and continued up to the wooded path that leads onto Hoe Common. This is not an open common, rather a woodland, with designated paths around it. There has been a lot of conservation work there recently, including the clearing of large areas of bracken, and the erection of attractive visitor information signs. I noticed that the bracken had already grown back, threatening to undo all the hard work of those who helped to remove it.

We took the path straight on, passing open fields to the left, which now contain grazing cattle, after being empty for most of the year. There are good views across from the higher ground here, and a handy bench to rest on, as you stop to admire them. But Ollie was in no mood for stopping, and pressed on, heading for the small lane, and the disused railway beyond. I went up to make sure he stopped at the road, and we then walked onto the old railway bridge. I was surprised to see some vintage carriages have reached this far along the line. The Mid Norfolk Railway is managed by volunteers, and they run trains from Dereham to Wymondham, primarily for pleasure trips, but also for the crowds of rail enthusiasts who come to look at their work. They are hoping to extend the line north to the coast, and have been working for years to repair the old rails and sleepers.

Either side of the bridge, the normally fallow fields are now full of wildflowers. In most parts, they are waist-high, but there are tiny narrow paths trodden in them, around the edges. The natural display was good to see, with flowers of all kinds mixed in with the assorted tall grasses. We headed off into the south field, where I walked carefully, making sure that I didn’t flatten any of the flowers or plants. I also had to avoid a veritable carpet of bees. The ground is completely covered in clover, both white and purple varieties, and it is irresistible to hundreds of local bees, who buzzed their wings as they worked. Ollie went ahead, invisible in the deep stems. I could tell where he was by watching the heads of the flowers and grass twitch as he went through. He found some pheasants on his travels, and they took off, squawking annoyance, as they always do.

Heading back the same way, we passed the deep ditches on Hoe Common. These are fenced off by barbed wire, and it is just as well, as the unwary could take a real tumble, if they didn’t watch their step. They are also of historical importance, as they were originally practice trenches, dug out during the First World War. Soldiers destined for service on the western front would be trained in this area, and later, in WWll, they were used as defences by the Home Guard. Once back in Beetley Meadows again, Ollie enjoyed a cooling plunge in the river, before we headed home. We had been out for over two and a half hours, and we had both enjoyed our encounter with the wildflowers.