South Bank of the Wear

Chris and I walked east along the south bank of the Wear to Bradley Cottages and back.  Forestry work has reduced what was a large wooded area near the river to an open clearing. It will be interesting to see how it regenerates.  The squirrels are active foraging among the fallen branches.
A cold day with a fresh westerley wind.  No birds in evidence apart from Curlews calling over the fields and some noisy Rooks.
On the way back we spotted several clumps of Stonecrop growing near the roots of the low shrubs.  We last saw this near White Kirkley in a very similar microhabitat.  Same soil, same bedrock, same aspect, just a few miles further west.
The blackthorn blossom is fully out providing a welcome splash of pink and white in the mainly black and green hedges.