The Best of Times

Hello Lovelies,

yesterday morning I went along to youngest's  primary school to watch him sing and perform in a special assembly.

Afterwards I was chatting to another Mum about how quickly these early school years have passed. Just a few words about how precious these years and moments are was enough to make us both quiet emotional.

 Youngest will be starting secondary school in September. I can hardly believe our family's association with this wonderful place will soon be over. 

I walked back home feeling a little melancholy, but my mood was soon lifted by the sight of our front garden....it's hard to be sad for long on a sunny May day...........

There was no time to go walking yesterday, but I still time to stop the car on the way to town with Mum.

 I find it hard to resist photographing the pretty villages we pass through when everywhere looks so beautiful........

And the countryside is looking stunning too.......

I love to see traditional hedge laying....as seen in the foreground of this photo.....if you click on the photo you can see a large Hawthorn sapling has even been bent to incorporate it into this natural, living barrier.

Further along the roads I had to stop and photograph another favourite view...............

How different it looks to February HERE

One final stop was made at a local Nature reserve...........

I think, due to the common sight of Yellow fields of Rapeseed around these parts , it's easy to overlook such a wonderful sight as this traditional Wild flower meadow.............

But this is no intensely farmed crop field.........it's a haven for wildlife and beautiful wild flowers.
 A traditional, seasonally flooded  hay meadow....a rare sight these days............

Originally an ancient Lammas Meadow , which was rented out to local  farmers in small parcels for the hay crop cut on Lammas Day ( August 1st) and then returned to common grazing. It's now designated a sight of special scientific interest and  managed by the Wildlife Trusts.

You can read more about Britain Wild flower meadows HERE ........it's where I found out what a Lammas Meadow is :0)

I didn't spend long there yesterday but it was lovely to spot Clover for the first time this year...........

 along with tall grasses and Yarrow..............

But it was the abundance of Buttercups that really made my heart sing..........such a wonderful sight against the backdrop of a beautiful blue sky...........

How I love this time of year and this time in my life.
Jacquie x

Edited to Add.....HERE'S a link to the Wildlife Trusts 40 best U.K. wild flower meadows......maybe there's one near you x