Nature Ramblings

The countryside in my part of England is farmland gently rolling around the meandering valley of the river Great Ouse. It's dotted with small villages and criss-crossed by a web of ancient footpaths and bridleways. There are views which have probably remained the same for hundreds of years.

However, industry has played its part in shaping the landscape too. One of my favourite nearby places to walk is Harrold-Odell country park. This reserve regenerated naturally in the pits left behind when nearly 40 years of gravel extraction ceased in the 1980's. There are areas of woodland and open water, home to many species of wildfowl and other birds, and natural habitats which are rare in the rest of the county.

This nature ramble of mine is really a poorly disguised excuse to mention that the reserve also has a wonderful little restaurant and tea-room called Teazels where you can have a ginormous slice of chocolate cake and a steaming hot cup of tea on a cold day like today. In fact, if you'll excuse me, I have a table booked ....!