A combination of two outings, both local but on different days.

On a walk to Holme Wood, I called back by the hedge that I helped lay back in Feb 2023, to see how it was growing.

A day or so later I took Dougal on a walk to Pottergill Farm, to check out the track and the footpaths that have been the subject of Planning Application route change request.

Join me on these two lovely walks in the sunshine.

Strolling across the meadows past Loweswater . . . the lake that is not the village.

The larger photo format allowed me to include both Darling Fell and Low Fell plus most of the lake in the picture.

Back at the end of Feb 2023 I attended a hedge laying course run by The Cumbrian Wildlife Trust

during which we learnt the basic of hedge laying using a section of hedge on the National Trust High Nook Farm.

It reduced the height of the hedge from twenty to five feet yet still retained a stock barrier.

Now in late February 2026 there's been three year's growth, but the original work is still viable.

Also the live branches that have been 'layered' have been able to propagate and grow new shoots . . . a proper living hedge.

This was 2023, finishing the top bindings and tidying up.

The same patch of hedge 3 years on, with the tree acting as a reference point for the two photos.

- - - o o o - - -

A couple of days later Dougal and I set off for a walk along the side of Low Fell, towards Pottergill.

The weather has proved favourable for us once this week, compared to some very wet weather elsewhere in the country.

Across the fields and up past Foulsyke House, into what's left of Whinny Ridding Woods.

Major larch clearance has decimated the woods . . . but the area beyond the fence is being re-planted.

Still a muddy patch on the old track so you have to climb the bank.

Some old cut timber was never cleared away so the diversion route climbs higher than would be preferred.

Ahead was what looked like a giant light bulb.

The new woodland boundary fence includes a new exit gate here rather than stile.

The new fence at Pottergill ruins seems to have lost its gate.

The public footpath sign has also moved now to this side of the stream.

Before the tree gang cleared the trees and vandalised the old farm ruins, the path used to climb the wall at this point.

To be fair, the nicely re-built wall includes replacement stone steps but the footpath sign has been moved elsewhere.

The top stile has been repaired, but no dog gate sadly.

The diversion unfortunately starts beyond this muddy crossing of the beck . . . where the old wooden fence posts have been re-purposed by walkers as steps across the bog.

It's Feb 17th and there's still snow on the high fells.

The boundary fence of the Buy Land / Plant Trees land includes a very substantial stile and a convenient dog gate.

We've left the 'Public right of way path' and now are contouring around the side of Low Fell on an ordinary footpath that will eventually join with the Old Mosser Track.

Ahead is the 'Lonesome Pine' that sits on the side of Low Fell and has so far defied the storms of the last few centuries.

It has a ditch around it which is all that remains of an old enclosure, but the enclosure, if not the tree, does get a mention on the O.S. 1:25 map.

One or two branches have dropped over the years and others have died back, but the tree is holding well against the elements, even in this exposed position.

A great place to pause a while and take in the fine view.

Time to be heading back, dropping down the side of the fell towards Whiney Ridding Woods once again.

To the right is the Old Vicarage with the 'new' wildlife ponds in the middle of the damp ground.

If you look closely you may even spot the snow-capped peak of Whiteless Pike reflected in the still waters of the pool . . . such subtle artistry by the photographer !