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Early blooms along the quiet, rain-washed roads Early blooms along the quiet, rain-washed roads
(7 months later)
Tall jonquils protrude through flailed woody growth on the top of hedgebanks near Dairy Mill. These fragrant narcissi, like the Double Lents or Van Sions, were valued as an early crop by the valley’s market gardeners but only a few throw-outs survive. Mild weather has also expedited flowering of trumpeted daffodils but, around Burraton and Bohetherick, the blooms have been battered (and spoiled) by gales and heavy rain. Buds of later narcissi are opening in one of the few remaining bulb fields but these are too early for the traditional Mother’s Day and Easter markets. The main outdoor crop is now eucalyptus (cut throughout the year for its foliage) with fruit and flowers grown in polytunnels.Tall jonquils protrude through flailed woody growth on the top of hedgebanks near Dairy Mill. These fragrant narcissi, like the Double Lents or Van Sions, were valued as an early crop by the valley’s market gardeners but only a few throw-outs survive. Mild weather has also expedited flowering of trumpeted daffodils but, around Burraton and Bohetherick, the blooms have been battered (and spoiled) by gales and heavy rain. Buds of later narcissi are opening in one of the few remaining bulb fields but these are too early for the traditional Mother’s Day and Easter markets. The main outdoor crop is now eucalyptus (cut throughout the year for its foliage) with fruit and flowers grown in polytunnels.
Related: Signs of the industrious
Across the parish, minor roads converge on the river – once the destination of horse-drawn wagons loaded with ores, granite and farm produce to be transferred on to barges and steamers for shipment downstream towards Plymouth and Devonport. Today, along these quiet ways, between high banks, the first primroses are splashed and muddy; pennywort and moss drip in the slate cuttings; hedge footings are scoured by run-off and asphalt is strewn with washed-out stones.Across the parish, minor roads converge on the river – once the destination of horse-drawn wagons loaded with ores, granite and farm produce to be transferred on to barges and steamers for shipment downstream towards Plymouth and Devonport. Today, along these quiet ways, between high banks, the first primroses are splashed and muddy; pennywort and moss drip in the slate cuttings; hedge footings are scoured by run-off and asphalt is strewn with washed-out stones.
In adjoining fields, ewes and lambs have been turned out from the lambing shed, spread out in small groups to stop them poaching the wet pastures and damaging the turf. Their bleating sounds above the wind as they seek shelter from another squall. Nearby, a wide entrance and new track provide access for lorries to another farmstead diversifying into haulage and concrete production.In adjoining fields, ewes and lambs have been turned out from the lambing shed, spread out in small groups to stop them poaching the wet pastures and damaging the turf. Their bleating sounds above the wind as they seek shelter from another squall. Nearby, a wide entrance and new track provide access for lorries to another farmstead diversifying into haulage and concrete production.
Below Braunder, the tidal river comes into view fringed by drab reed beds and grey mudbanks. Sun glints on the Pentillie meander and the ebbing tide is brown with earth eroded from the waterlogged land, swilled down the tributaries that form the parish boundaries. Here, on Halton Quay, near renovated cottages, the old lime kilns are shrouded in ivy tangled with the bare strands of clematis. The last of the lime produced in the Tamar Valley was burned here 100 years ago and carted uphill for spreading on the newly reclaimed Viverdon Down.Below Braunder, the tidal river comes into view fringed by drab reed beds and grey mudbanks. Sun glints on the Pentillie meander and the ebbing tide is brown with earth eroded from the waterlogged land, swilled down the tributaries that form the parish boundaries. Here, on Halton Quay, near renovated cottages, the old lime kilns are shrouded in ivy tangled with the bare strands of clematis. The last of the lime produced in the Tamar Valley was burned here 100 years ago and carted uphill for spreading on the newly reclaimed Viverdon Down.