On Saturday we attended a fundraiser organised by The Mud Kitchen at Skipwith Common. It was a very relaxed morning of cycling, walking and exploring. Winston shouts his orders from the trailer – he doesn’t like me standing up when I cycle, he doesn’t like me going to fast, he likes to be strapped in (even if I’m not even riding), he likes me to bring him blackberries and he also likes going over lots of bumps. All incredibly rational and well meaning, but incredibly bossy. Apparently I was like this as a child, would you believe?
Jared got his bike wheels stolen a few months ago, and we’re trying to sort out another set without spending a hideous amount of money – which is actually far harder than you may think! The lovely people had organised den building, a cake stall, bug hunting, bug house making, mud painting and lots of other fun activities.
Skipwith Common is becoming one of regular hand outs, and is England’s newest Nature Reserve. It was used as an airfield during World War II, but in 1957 it was declared as a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ and since then it has been gently guided into a wilder existence. There are areas of swamp and mire, an ancient breed of longhorn cattle, Hebridean sheep, deer and Exmoor ponies roaming freely.
The landscape is wildly beautiful, and one that you don’t get to see often.
E xx
