Sun down by judithg

Sun down

I don't know why we go on the Hardwick walk any more - every time we do the farmer is out wreaking mass destruction on wildlife habitats. Today he was scraping all of the plant growth up from the side of the ditch leaving it barren. All those butterfly eggs gone and nowhere for the small birds, rabbits or badgers to call home. And he's sown the crops much closer to the edge of the field so the path is narrow and currently very muddy indeed. This is a bit he hasn't got to yet - I think Monty must be down in the ditch at the top of the photo judging by the way Nigel is standing.
Still - it's at times like this you need 3GT:
1. We were wearing wellies.
2. Multiple sessions of Bananagrams with the offspring.
3. A trip to Prague with my sister booked for Spring.
Stunning
December 29th, 2014  
This is cool. Looks almost summery! Dont you go on that walk to give the farmer a piece of your mind?
December 29th, 2014  
@fueast We both glowered at him though he probably didn't realise. Needless to say it's the government's fault - no more set aside money but money for 'hedge management' and 'ditch management' (presumably the latter as he only seems to do things for gov money. Hedge management involved digging it up.
December 29th, 2014  
@fueast To be fair I doubt that's what the gov intended.
December 29th, 2014  
Love the light but sad about the rather destructive farmer. Short sighted!
December 29th, 2014  
lovely light and I agree = it is a shame that farmers only want to do things for money instead of protecting the wildlife
December 29th, 2014  
An intriguing image to go with your well chosen words, Judith . . . but that's what human beings have evolved to do, isn't it - to show nature who's boss, sad to say?
December 29th, 2014  
I can't see the point of clearing the sides of a ditch other than to stop the spread of weeds but it sounds as if this farmer has got too much time on his hands. A letter to the paper?
December 29th, 2014  
a beautiful photograph nonetheless

December 29th, 2014  
Not sure about the hedge & ditch management as we are out of touch with new grant system but to get the singke farm payment you had to leave a margin of two metres from the hedge......you always get so e greedy devil who flouts the rules of nature giving all a bad name. We have one like that on our old land here. It makes Harry furious!
He must be arable, dairy farmers wouldn't have time to grub about in ditches like that!
December 29th, 2014  
@happypat yes arable - he's got peas or beans in one field and winter wheat in another. He's ruined his windbreak. You'd think he'd want to support insect habitats wouldn't you? I think arable farmers are a bit blasé with hedges and things - then they wonder why their topsoil blows away. No doubt some are doing a good job and we have some lovely mixed farms.
December 29th, 2014  
Yes I noticed the same here today, not a grass head or dandelion in sight. Makes me mad!!! Beautiful golden hues and bokeh. Lovely light today.
December 29th, 2014  
@judithg you talk like a farmer Judith......you are completely right of course...arable farmers do not generally look after their boundaries. We have some great hedges & fences in Lancashire as of course you would know!
The one thing that shocked me when I went down to Worcestershire to the Royal Show all those years ago was how rough & non existent were their hedges.
December 29th, 2014  
Lovely closeup, textures
December 29th, 2014  
top shot despite the farmer Judith
December 29th, 2014  
Lovely focus and blur.
December 29th, 2014  
Beautiful golden capture, what a pity about that farmer :(
December 29th, 2014  
Beautiful light and tones.
December 29th, 2014  
Lovely lighting. Those farmers make me angry too!
December 29th, 2014  
Very pretty, what a villainous farmer. Bananagrams, we're so rubbish at that.
December 30th, 2014  
so soft and lovely, Judith.
December 30th, 2014  
lovely lighting on the foreground grasses.
December 30th, 2014  
Very nice, great light too
December 30th, 2014  
Lovely image! I agree it's such a shame that some farm practices are less than environmentally friendly. Conflict of interests!
December 30th, 2014  
love it
December 31st, 2014  
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.