About the author
Posted on April 9, 2021
The author and editor of GREENWOOD showing an early interest in wildlife – feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square in London. Way back in the day, vendors sold seed for people to give to the pigeons which used to flock there, and were incredibly tame, often sitting on your head or hand. The activity was soon banned as the birds made such a mess. Of course, it goes without saying, that the author would never dream of giving food to specifically attract pigeons at Greenwood House – they don’t need any encouraging!
Cattle in the sugar beet
Posted on April 8, 2021
Over the winter months cattle have been introduced to the field situated immediately to the south of Greenwood House, on the opposite side of the road. The field slopes gently upwards to the horizon. It was planted with sugar beet in the autumn after the barley was harvested. The young animals have been steadily munching their way down the field, their range being controlled by a moveable fence. They line up along the boundary to eat the freshly available crop. This activity has the neat advantage of fattening the animals and at the same time fertilising the ground for the next crop sowing .
Flowers at the Cricket Ground
Posted on April 7, 2021
Have you noticed the splendid flower planters just outside the cricket pavilion? They are absolutely beautiful. Such lovely colourful arrangements of early flowering plants. They complement the new wooden benches that have been constructed around the pitch. Its looking good for the new season at the Cricket Club just a few yards from Greenwood House.
Horse Chestnut leaves
Posted on April 6, 2021
This year, the overwintering sticky buds on the many horse chestnut trees in the grounds around Greenwood House and the village seem to have burst open all of a sudden. I really like to watch new leaves unfurl from the buds: the way the leaves are folded up and pleated inside the bud and then gradually extend and fan out – like hands unclenching and fingers stretching in glorious bright, almost lime, green.
Greenwood House
Posted on April 5, 2021
It is surprisingly difficult to get a good shot of Greenwood House in its entirety because of the way it sits on a rise and is surrounded by trees. This time of year is probably the best for a photograph that shows most of the building because the wonderful specimen trees that adorn the grounds to the south are not yet in leaf. I thought the building looked warm and grand in this sunny early spring image.
Blackthorn blossoms
Posted on April 4, 2021
The numerous small blossoms of the blackthorn shrubs are flowering in profusion – clouds of soft, hazy white adorn many of the hedgerows around Charlton Down. They belie the spikiness of the twigs which bear them, and, come the autumn, will have produced the dusty dark blue fruits known as sloes that people sometimes flavour gin with.
Bluebell time
Posted on April 3, 2021
It’s that time of year again. The weather is warming up and spring flowers are evident in the grounds around Greenwood House and the wilder parts of the village. The first isolated clumps of bluebells have flowered. I think most of these are hybrids with the Spanish garden variety. There are quite a few pink or white ones among the pale blue. The native truly wild ones are forming layers of glossy leaves among the clumps of trees in various places but the flower buds are not yet visible.
Introduction
Posted on April 2, 2021
Greenwood House in Charlton Down, Dorset, is unique. I have lived a quiet and inauspicious life here for 20 years and I love being here. I enjoy learning about the natural world and I am often out and about with my camera to record what I see and the way everything changes. I am curious about the history of the building, the village, and the surrounding areas. I like to know what’s going on. So I thought I would write this GREENWOOD blog – a sort of diary – to share my enthusiasm for living here by posting lots of photographs – together with snippets of information about all sorts of things that might interest other residents.
So a big “WELCOME” to GREENWOOD. If you are a fellow resident, and you would like to contribute something to this light-hearted newsletter, please just get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.
GREENWOOD 