A new venture to be published in 2009. A fascinating unique diary of the Moors. Brief preview extracts can be read below:
Look around from Miller's Bridge: meadows with lady's smock in spring, willow beds, hedgerows, woods and spinney; distant forest hills, river, brooks, pools; these lovely moors, close by town and village.
Imagine the sounds,cannon and gunfire,the clash of pikes,the shouts and screams,horses neighing,on that day.
No railway then,or canal,and I suppose no hedgerows. The scene was perhaps clearly a moorland setting,with just the river and distant hills and landmarks .....
..... It's not simple getting down to the river bank edge. I find a muddy gully left presumably for cattle and fishermen, which leads down to a six feet wide grassy bank along the river. The river is shallow,both at this edge and plainly in midstream also, since rushes and sedges grow. I'm pleased to see the water is clear and apparently clean.
Fallen trees were shrouded in moss, with fungi growing on top. I was delighted to find several holly trees,covered in red berries. I wonder if the berries will last till Christmas? Progress through the wood was quite difficult, with several large pools of water and dense undergrowth. Suddenly I had that feeling - I think I'm lost! ....
.... As I made my way towards the footpath to the Spinney, I came across the site of a fox's meal, the ground strewn with white feathers. The new hawthorn and mixed hedge here is fast maturing, and some of the trees in the little copse leading to the pool are now around fifteen feet high.