A walk along our Green Lanes

We are lucky to have a network of traditional Green Lanes around our village.  These are ancient packhorse and drovers’ tracks which have left behind a legacy of deeply hidden pathways running between banks and hedges – often up to 15 feet high on either side.  We are also fortunate that those near us have not been allowed to become neglected and overgrown, but are maintained, with new hardcore deposited every few years to counteract the effects of erosion.  Earlier today Ben and I set off to walk the lanes between Chillington and our nearest neighbouring village, Stokenham. 

Although the flowering season is past its peak it’s surprising how much there is to see in the hedgerows if you take the time to stop and look.  Bluebells, Primroses and Orchids are finished, but there are still some tall spires of Foxgloves remaining, the Vetch is in full flower and there are even tiny wild strawberries to be found if you bend and part the leaves with your fingers. 

At Carehouse Cross we turned down the bridleway towards home.   Here the lane is very deep indeed and the hedges rise on either side …

 And although you are high above the village and you know the land runs down towards the sea, you cannot see anything until you come to a gap in the hedge where a gate once stood …

Would you like to see the view? Let’s go a little way into the field ….

 Yes – there is the sea.  I knew it was there!  Then the lane closes in again, and it feels as though you might be underwater in the damp greenery beneath the trees… 

And it’s downhill all the way home! 

Finally, I’d like to say “Thank you” to everyone who left lovely comments or emailed me about my Dandelion Bunny cushion.  I’ve decided that I will include the pattern in the August issue of the Bustle & Sew e-zine in honour of another bunny pattern creator.  (Very excited here!) Yes, there will be an interview with the amazingly talented Debi Birkin in the August issue.  Debi is the lady who created the knitting pattern that I knit my bunnies from – including Betsy in the picture above. 

But that’s not all … as well as an interview with Debi, there will be a giveaway to enter only in the magazine to win my Betsy Bunny – complete with stripey stockings and little pink shoes.  That’s in the August issue out at the end of this month.  Plus loads more too – hope to have more photos to show you next time.