Dodging the rain showers earlier we have just returned from a quick walk around Bitts Park in Carlisle.

Wild garlic sends an onion smell across the area

What a change in the weather from a few weeks ago when mum was threatening to cut all our fur off due to the heat.

The heating and fire were even switched back on earlier in the week as temperatures dropped below zero and an overnight frost returned.

More stinky than Charlie

The warm weather does seem to have moved nature on quite a bit and just on our short walk we came upon stinky wild garlic flowers, tulips, bluebells and a whole host of flowering plants.

Bluebells are early this year

We could smell the garlic from a good way off as it spread a strong crushed onion smell across the path.

Thankfully only a few plants had flowered so the scent was not as bad as it could have been for our very sensitive noses.

Hidden under the tree canopy alongside the River Eden mum spotted a small collection of Bluebells.

Hyacinth flowers

Standing around 10cm tall the slightly purple bell shaped flowers contrasted against the rich green woodland floor.

Another strong flower we sniffed today included these hyacinths. Arranged in a small clump these half dozen or so flowers really packed a punch when it comes to a sweet perfume sniffable for quite some distance.

New noticeboards have been installed in Bitts Park

Insects, bees and birds also seemed to be making the most of the cooler daytime conditions as the buzzed and whizzed over our heads.

New notice boards

Yet more things have been installed in the park since our last visit.  You may remember that a project has been going on as part of a Roman Frontiers project.

The latest additions include new information boards clamped to carved wooded posts.

The trunk of this tree has been scratched off

Although a good idea in some ways we wondered if they could be read by someone in a wheelchair as they had quite small lettering and they seemed quite a bit off the ground.

Big rabbits – or a monster ?

Walking back over the grass back towards the Sheepmount area and the car we spotted a couple of trees that were damaged.

At least three, otherwise healthy trees, all in various locations from the river bank, had the bark scratched or eaten off and left on the surrounding grass.

There seemed to be some tooth or claw marks running horizontally around the trunk.

If we had been in a forest we could have possibly assumed this damage had been done possibly by deer but this was in the wide open area of a city.

Do you know what might have caused this damage? Let us know via the comments area below.

Until next time

Buster and Charlie

Dad has been very busy over the last 10 days and we have been unable to get our usual walks however, today we went in search of bluebells near to Buttermere.

Tek Care lambs on't road

Mum wanted a few pictures of bluebells for an article she is writing over on oldvarieties and after a quick search on the web we came across a location where a whole valley is reportedly filled with these small flowers.

Our arrival in to the Rannerdale valley started as we passed by this sign.  The rugged mountains surrounding Crummock Water provided a great backdrop for  our walk and dad was eager to take some pictures.

Although the sun was shining the air was a little cool and mum and dad both had their coats on.  

Finding a car park a little way further along this road we parked up and set off following signs to the valley.

A lakeland sheep

It didn’t take long before we came across our first local inhabitant.  

With a dark thick coat this sheep took a moment to look up as we past by, then resumed eating the lush green grass just as dad got the camera focused.  

Many sheep, found on the fellsides in Lakeland are Herdwicks.   Without our sheep recognition books we were unsure as to what breed this one was.

Charlie leads the way ...

The herdwick is well suited to the rough scrub of the Lake District fells and is key to maintaining the grass length. It is the native breed of the central and western Lake District and live on the highest of England’s mountains. 

Charlie, out in front as usual, led the way as we followed the track towards the hills.  To our right was another of the common sight in the Lake District, the drystone wall.  

Secret valley of the bluebells at Buttermere

Marking boundaries, these walls are made from stone gathered locally and do not contain any mortar.  The waller uses his skill to pick out a stone and place it into the wall so it locks with adjacent rocks forming a solid structure.

We arrive at a wooden gate with a silver sign on it after about ten minutes walk.  After a brief pause, to allow mum to read the notice, we open the gate and pass into the secret valley beyond.

Secret valley of the bluebells at Buttermere

Mum and dad stop and try to take in what they see.  Green grass, cascading from the mountains to our left and right, had a blue tinge as it arrived into the valley bottom.  

The effect was subtle, and was brought about by thousands of  small, about 10cm high, green stems with dainty blue flowers peeping above the grass.

A well earned drink

Native bluebells it would seem are a little way behind our common garden bluebells which already are into full bloom and like the daffodils starting to wither.

Maybe in the next few days the blue effect will be much more pronounced.

We were not short of drinks on this walk as the many streams provided ample cool refreshing water and excuses for paddles. 

Footprints on a wooden bridge

Charlie drinks so much when he is in the big world,   this walk was ideal for him.

As we walked along the valley bottom we crossed over this wooden bridge.  Our soggy paws evidence that we had escaped the trolls and managed to get to the otherside.

Our walk started to climb ever so slightly as we ventured further up the valley.  It was unusual but is seemed that the bluebells were only in one small part of the lower valley as now were to be seen in this area.

The path narrows as we head for the hills

Mum wondered why they were there in the first place as it is normally recorded that they prefer growing conditions with shade not in the full glare of a fellside.

Passing through a gate our path narrows to a single well worn track with the fells ahead and to our sides. 

A gate without a wall ...

Charlie is still out in front as if he knows where we are going. It would seem as this walk is a favourite with us dogs as many of us have reported their visits on the web.

Casper came here in 2007, and Harry, as a young pup, visited in 2004.  Maybe you have visited then let us know via the comments section below?

The path turns left after about 700m and after passing over a stile we start our decent back to the car.

Just look at the view ...

Our return is punctuated by two old gate uprights, complete with hinges,either side of our path but not near any wall.  

This puzzles dad as he wonders why anyone would erect them in such a location.  Maybe the wall only appears to sheep but due to planning regulations is invisible to humans. 

This is how you cross a stream ...

Crummock Water comes into view and we take a moment to look out onto the fells and mountains.  

It is 2.5 miles long, 3/4 mile wide and 140 feet deep and is a clear, rocky bottomed lake flanked by steep fellsides of slate. Crummock Water is owned by the National Trust.

We are almost finished our walk which has taken about two hours at a leisurely pace and allowing for dad to take loads of photographs.

Picnic lunch

Mum says that you should take walking boots or strong wellies to do this walk as it is a bit soggy in places.  

It is ideal for humans who don’t fancy going high on the fells but just fancy a simple walk not too far away from the car and of low risk.

As with all good walks we ended with a picnic. In the basket on this occasion was  large french sticks stuffed full of cheese, ham and salad.

We all shared the goodies before returning home via Buttermere and Keswick.