hazardwarning

I had an interesting conversation today, about the future of many services in the UK. Looking around; so many “soft” services rely on volunteers. Lunches for pensioners, drivers taking people to appointments, hospital visitors - and that’s without even considering all the various social clubs, or church-related outreach. Many of the current volunteers are growing older; coming up behind them is - nobody. The older generation retired at 60 or 65. That no longer happens; in the case of women that’s 6-7 years of potential volunteer activity gone. The current older generation are maybe the ones who cover the era when we moved from women who didn’t work, to working mothers. Nowadays, very few families can survive on one income. That has removed a further tranche of potential volunteers. My friend commented that her children were nearly all adults, she is approaching her 50s and returning to full-time rather than part-time work. A couple of generations ago she would have been looking to volunteer. That’s 17 years of volunteering lost to communities.

I think it’s a worrying trend, one which will further isolate the ill, the elderly, those struggling to make ends meet. Things previously undertaken as voluntary roles will either cease, or will become chargeable services, which will then disappear because nobody can afford them. We will be a poorer and less friendly society as a result.

Another lovely stroll in Moors Valley this morning. Took a path I rarely use and was rewarded by some lovely Autumn colour and loads of fungi.

And my acer is fast approaching peak redness.

Had a lovely, peaceful walk this morning. I should know by now that when I’m feeling anxious, I simply need to get out into the forest or onto the heaths, just me and the dog.

My local council has introduced a policy of not cutting grass verges, to promote “habitats” for wildlife. In some places they have encouraged wildflowers to grow, which looks lovely. However, in most places they are allowing the verges and vanity strips to run wild with grasses.

Just the other day I realised why I have suffered from terrible hayfever in the last couple of years, making the link between it and the introduction of this no-cutting policy. I used only to have problems with oak trees, but recently it has spread to cover the whole summer.

A lot of the grasses growing are of the type which are positively dangerous to dogs, as the fine hairs can get into their fur, into their paws and into them, causing infections and sometimes death from where they migrate to. Not to mention the increased tick population, also hazardous to dogs (and humans in some cases).

I can almost understand such a policy in urban areas, but I am surrounded by forest and heath. I also originally assumed it was introduced during the pandemic purely because of limited staff resources, but it seems not. More likely they have realised how to save some money - whilst at the same time increasing our local taxes by 3-5%, at a time when inflation was still low. (I dread to think how much more they will want next year - we already pay the second highest rate in the country).

They council are, however, quite happy to allow large developments of new housing, destorying habitat in the process. Hypocrisy? I think so.

Well, it may have been very wet for today's walk, but the light in the copse was interesting. Things look different in the wet and, according to the puppy, they smell very interesting, too.

Another early start, out by 6:30am this morning; making the most of the quiet of the early morning and the good weather, as rain is forecast for next week.

I followed one of my usual routes, then took a fairly steep path uphill towards the high point of the area. The plan was to continue across the top to join up with a trail I had walked previously. Unfortunately I turned south too soon for that, taking a route between a couple of tumuli. Not a well-used path at the bottom, and also rather boggy in places.

I ended up back where I had started, instead of coming out further east, as planned. Still, it was an adventure and the puppy is now snoozing, unaware she's about to get dumped in the bath!

Another walk in the forest, although today we reversed the route and took the path we avoided a couple of days ago. The views were worth it.

An even earlier start this morning - we were out of the house before 7am. I planned to take a familiar route, with a small diversion towards the end.

However, a path not found and another path taken took us on quite a beautiful walk.

This was looking back down a rather steep incline, but it was worth it, as the forest flattened out into some beautiful scenery. Social distancing at its very best!

This was a steeper hill we didn’t take:

We followed this path back down towards home, meeting some lovely dogs and owners along the way.

Early walk this morning. Very quiet out, lovely.

The puppy got her first tennis ball to play with today and is very pleased with herself.

I took the opportunity of a self-amusing puppy to play with the portrait function on my iPhone 11. Not on people, ooh no, why waste it on humans when plants are so much nicer!

These shots are of a large viburnum in my back garden, which flowers later than some of my others. Yes, I’m a fan - evergreen, early flowering and the buds and flowers are just exquisite.