Helena swinging from the tree in Happy Valley

Helena took Kate and Jezzy to the swing under the big old tree in Happy Valley, the one that runs into the bigger valley behind our house. The weather was still very warm and they were rather tired from the exertions at the Wickham Festival. I tagged along for fun and really enjoyed being there once again. I must admit that it is rather rarer than I would like these days.

Perhaps I should have blipped Kate and Jezzy but I like this picture of Helena, who loves to get involved and on the swing she was the most adventurous. I was rather glad that no-one got hurt.

In the background you can see the course of the small stream which is cutting down through the valley bottom. Its source is a spout at the top of the hill in The Heavens where the spring water comes shooting out of the hillside. Then it tumbles rapidly down the steep slope cutting through the clay strata before it hits the harder limestone layers which force the water to flattens out to spread out and form the valley's shape. Just below this tree the stream meets the clay outcropping again and starts the cutting down or eroding process once again before it joins the River Frome about four hundred yards further downhill.