This is my monthly walking journal for Dember 2022. I’ve done only a few months to date.
This month the theme of ‘very wet’ continues, although it became less wet in the lead-up to Christmas. Daily temperatures were typically between 4 to 9 degrees with no frosty mornings.
Yes, the hosepipe ban is still in place in Cornwall. due to the lack of water in our reservoirs. It’s actually just Colliford Reservoir which is currently at 47% full. It’s the second largest in Cornwall but most are near-full apart from one other at 61% full. £30 was awarded to all Cornish water users because the reservoir reached the 30% target set by South West Water.
Avian flu is still with us, but it seems everyone got their Christmas poultry orders fulfilled.
Politics
This isn’t a section I intend to keep reporting on, but Rishi Sunak is still Prime Minister! That must be some sort of record. However, yet more corruption is being brought to light in his ranks with crazy amounts of money involved. We need a new breed of politicians.
Autumn to Winter
The days are certainly shorter. Despite the shortest day being the 21st of December, the lack of sun with heavy rain clouds has stretched dawn and dusk, leaving just 9am to 3pm as safe daylight hours.
Deciduous trees are all branches and no leaves now (except for Beech) Houses and buildings hidden by the foliage through the year come into view once more.
I think that our ever-greens get a better viewing at this time of year – they stand out loud and proud. Aside from the pines, rhododendrons, box, and camellias – just coming into bud – are quite common around these parts. Of course, there is holly and ivy and, if you hunt it down, there is mistletoe with its white berries growing on the branches and trunks of apple trees.
The ivy variety that I have been eyeing a bit more than most plants has now produced dull black berries and it is the birds that are reaping the benefit rather than the bees. Despite it being a pain for many gardeners, ivy is such an important plant for wildlife.
Country and Coast – December
I have done just one longish walk this month. I was excited to do this one because it featured an area of Looe that I hadn’t walked before. The Giant’s Hedge is a man-made walk that joins the estuaries of Looe to Fowey. I walked the stretch of it along the West Looe River before heading off to Polperro and then walking back to Looe along the Sw Coast Path. I’ll write about this walk someday.
The walking is much more slushy with thoroughly saturated paths and fields. Why are the reservoirs not full?
Just a bit of sun with dramatic cloudy skies makes for a great backdrop and sea colours this time of year. My Giant’s Hedge walk and daily walks around the village saw some great changes in the wintery scenery.
There are plenty of robins and blackbirds to be seen at this time of the year. Often I see a robin flying from post to post in front of me as I walk along a country path. It’s like it is leading me to someplace. There are plenty of other birds to be heard, but they are often hidden in behind the hedgerows.
Well, Christmas is coming and the local geese are just as loud. The family’s around to our place this year, so we’re on a happy cloud.
