Flocking Baaah Stewards

On our morning walk today we wandered into the small nature reserve at Charfield Meadows, owned and operated by Avon Wildlife Trust. It's a lovely tract of unimproved meadow that was once part of a Midland Railway line siding, and has a small orchard of apple trees, born of the apple cores cast out of the train as it approached the village station when it was open.

Meadows do need some management, and that's generally done by animals. We guessed there were sheep by the amount of droppings by the entrance, but it was only as we moved into the furthest end that the sheep were spotted, laying down under the largest apple tree and presumed source of snacks.

They clearly felt we were there with their lunch, which would be placed in the manger by the entrance well behind us. Enthusiastically they lurched to their feet and galloped in our direction. We beat a hasty retreat before we were bowled over by muddy and not entirely fruitful smelling ruminants! They expressed their dissatisfaction with us, as we vaulted the stile to safety.