a favourite walk in springtime

 One of the walks around Littlebury Green skirts the Audley End estate – with a blubell wood –

and banks of cowslips

– a snail feeds on a nettle –    

– and what a beautiful flower white deadnettle is when you look closely –  

– and dogs mercury is coming into flower with its  spiky inflorescences – 

John Clare noticed this early-flowering plant in ’Morning Pleasures’ –

Where mid the dark dog-mercury that abounds

Round each moss-stump, the woodlark hides her nest.

– and a stinging nettle in its full spring glory –

– country folklore recommends nettle juice combed through the hair  as a cure for both baldness and dandruff –and as a hairwash to improve the colour and glossiness of hair – and at this time of year nettles make wonderful soup (pick them with gloves on though!) –  

The wood is sweet, I love it well

In spending there my leisure hours

To look the snail its painted shell

And search about for curious flowers

John Clare