Wilfhound
@wilfhound.bsky.social
Interested in all manner of things.
Bagpiper.
Bipolar.
Bagpiper.
Bipolar.
Our darling Stanley crossed the bridge this afternoon. He has been becoming frail and we had the hole dug a couple of months ago. We walked all the dogs up to Pikefield and the vet put Stanley to sleep next to the hole. All very peaceful.
The village pub is now closed, as is the pub terrier.
The village pub is now closed, as is the pub terrier.
November 4, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Our darling Stanley crossed the bridge this afternoon. He has been becoming frail and we had the hole dug a couple of months ago. We walked all the dogs up to Pikefield and the vet put Stanley to sleep next to the hole. All very peaceful.
The village pub is now closed, as is the pub terrier.
The village pub is now closed, as is the pub terrier.
The archaeologists are going to be really puzzled by the tumulus we had built 12 years ago.
"Ritual significance" and all that.
"Ritual significance" and all that.
October 27, 2025 at 10:35 AM
The archaeologists are going to be really puzzled by the tumulus we had built 12 years ago.
"Ritual significance" and all that.
"Ritual significance" and all that.
A typical day with us, here in the Forest of Bowland on the Lancashire / Yorkshire border.
God's sluice.
God's sluice.
October 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
A typical day with us, here in the Forest of Bowland on the Lancashire / Yorkshire border.
God's sluice.
God's sluice.
but such fungus seems fairly widespread in areas of low fertility, such as no mow lawns, verges or grassland managed without fertilisers.
We have had orchids flowering 3 years after sowing.
We have had orchids flowering 3 years after sowing.
September 30, 2025 at 11:26 AM
but such fungus seems fairly widespread in areas of low fertility, such as no mow lawns, verges or grassland managed without fertilisers.
We have had orchids flowering 3 years after sowing.
We have had orchids flowering 3 years after sowing.
The last flush of flowers for the year is nearly over around the ponds. Greater Birds-foot Trefoil is a thug that will compete with anything and along with the Purple Loosestrife, is absolutely loved by the bees. The Reedmace has arrived in the pond this year and is already taking over.
September 6, 2025 at 1:42 AM
The last flush of flowers for the year is nearly over around the ponds. Greater Birds-foot Trefoil is a thug that will compete with anything and along with the Purple Loosestrife, is absolutely loved by the bees. The Reedmace has arrived in the pond this year and is already taking over.
My current gymnasium.
Spiral mowing the aftermath in the meadow to replicate autumn grazing. Great cardio exercise and a real opportunity to work on my scythe technique without the weight of a full crop of grass.
I intend to mow in this manner next summer to help prevent wildlife getting mown.
Spiral mowing the aftermath in the meadow to replicate autumn grazing. Great cardio exercise and a real opportunity to work on my scythe technique without the weight of a full crop of grass.
I intend to mow in this manner next summer to help prevent wildlife getting mown.
September 5, 2025 at 11:26 PM
My current gymnasium.
Spiral mowing the aftermath in the meadow to replicate autumn grazing. Great cardio exercise and a real opportunity to work on my scythe technique without the weight of a full crop of grass.
I intend to mow in this manner next summer to help prevent wildlife getting mown.
Spiral mowing the aftermath in the meadow to replicate autumn grazing. Great cardio exercise and a real opportunity to work on my scythe technique without the weight of a full crop of grass.
I intend to mow in this manner next summer to help prevent wildlife getting mown.
"Get yoursel' up to Myttons. I've never seen t' meadow like it. That Great Burnet, t' meadow's brown wi' it. "
So I did.
So I did.
July 16, 2025 at 12:04 PM
"Get yoursel' up to Myttons. I've never seen t' meadow like it. That Great Burnet, t' meadow's brown wi' it. "
So I did.
So I did.
An exciting find in the local verge I mow and maintain. Two examples of a new orchid species, possibly Fragrant Orchid, amongst the senescent Common Spotted Orchids. They smelt like Sweet Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) last evening.
Any ID help welcome.
#orchids
Any ID help welcome.
#orchids
July 7, 2025 at 3:42 PM
An exciting find in the local verge I mow and maintain. Two examples of a new orchid species, possibly Fragrant Orchid, amongst the senescent Common Spotted Orchids. They smelt like Sweet Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) last evening.
Any ID help welcome.
#orchids
Any ID help welcome.
#orchids
Devil's Bit Scabious in the meadow.
It seems very early to be flowering.
It seems very early to be flowering.
July 3, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Devil's Bit Scabious in the meadow.
It seems very early to be flowering.
It seems very early to be flowering.
It's the little things...
Putting the bins out I noticed that we have Bat droppings beneath the bat box we were given 3 months ago.
We had a maternity roost of 99 bats in 2022 living under the roof slates and appearing each night at dusk just to the left of the bat box. Perhaps they're back.
Putting the bins out I noticed that we have Bat droppings beneath the bat box we were given 3 months ago.
We had a maternity roost of 99 bats in 2022 living under the roof slates and appearing each night at dusk just to the left of the bat box. Perhaps they're back.
June 30, 2025 at 9:22 AM
It's the little things...
Putting the bins out I noticed that we have Bat droppings beneath the bat box we were given 3 months ago.
We had a maternity roost of 99 bats in 2022 living under the roof slates and appearing each night at dusk just to the left of the bat box. Perhaps they're back.
Putting the bins out I noticed that we have Bat droppings beneath the bat box we were given 3 months ago.
We had a maternity roost of 99 bats in 2022 living under the roof slates and appearing each night at dusk just to the left of the bat box. Perhaps they're back.
I started opening the meadows this week, mowing paths and delineating where I want to leave orchids to seed. Most of it won't be mowed until late August.
A stone carving from BITD.
A stone carving from BITD.
June 29, 2025 at 8:09 PM
I started opening the meadows this week, mowing paths and delineating where I want to leave orchids to seed. Most of it won't be mowed until late August.
A stone carving from BITD.
A stone carving from BITD.
35 years ago to get hay in June was unusual. Young, sappy growth used to take "a lot of killing".
The next door fields to our meadow were mowed and taken for haylage in 24 hours. Mechanisation and climate change.
Our meadow will not be cut until late August when the orchids have seeded.
The next door fields to our meadow were mowed and taken for haylage in 24 hours. Mechanisation and climate change.
Our meadow will not be cut until late August when the orchids have seeded.
June 21, 2025 at 4:32 PM
35 years ago to get hay in June was unusual. Young, sappy growth used to take "a lot of killing".
The next door fields to our meadow were mowed and taken for haylage in 24 hours. Mechanisation and climate change.
Our meadow will not be cut until late August when the orchids have seeded.
The next door fields to our meadow were mowed and taken for haylage in 24 hours. Mechanisation and climate change.
Our meadow will not be cut until late August when the orchids have seeded.
Freshly bitumen painted shepherd's hut graveyard.
June 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Freshly bitumen painted shepherd's hut graveyard.
The ponds are looking healthier for some rain. A great show of Ragged Robin in the meadow this year.
June 3, 2025 at 3:29 PM
The ponds are looking healthier for some rain. A great show of Ragged Robin in the meadow this year.
The Hodder valley, with the farmsteads of Foulscales, Farrowfield and Gibbs. Pikefield plantation in the distance.
May 20, 2025 at 8:07 AM
The Hodder valley, with the farmsteads of Foulscales, Farrowfield and Gibbs. Pikefield plantation in the distance.
May 19, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Townhead.
Built in the late 17thC.
Former home of the Wigglesworth family.
Built in the late 17thC.
Former home of the Wigglesworth family.
May 19, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Townhead.
Built in the late 17thC.
Former home of the Wigglesworth family.
Built in the late 17thC.
Former home of the Wigglesworth family.
Butterbur by the Old Bridge.
May 19, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Butterbur by the Old Bridge.
May 17, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Pikefield from Dunnow.
May 17, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Pikefield from Dunnow.
Bell Sykes Meadow.
Stripes in the Buttercups caused by different moisture levels in historic rig and furrow ploughing. The Buttercups grow in the damper furrows whilst the grass grows on the ridge.
Stripes in the Buttercups caused by different moisture levels in historic rig and furrow ploughing. The Buttercups grow in the damper furrows whilst the grass grows on the ridge.
May 12, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Bell Sykes Meadow.
Stripes in the Buttercups caused by different moisture levels in historic rig and furrow ploughing. The Buttercups grow in the damper furrows whilst the grass grows on the ridge.
Stripes in the Buttercups caused by different moisture levels in historic rig and furrow ploughing. The Buttercups grow in the damper furrows whilst the grass grows on the ridge.
A solution to my hut roof painting problems, thanks to Dr. Tim Meek.
May 12, 2025 at 10:08 PM
A solution to my hut roof painting problems, thanks to Dr. Tim Meek.
