Hawkbit

I extended my lunchtime walk a little as the clouds parted and the sun came out. 

Down into the valley at the north end of the woods, through Low Springs pastures, the walls alongside the path are good for Wall butterflies, and I was rewarded with two more today (extra). 

The pastures immediately on the other side of the woods are not as improved, and so are better for flora and fauna. This nice patch of Mouse-ear Hawkweed stretched partly along what seems to be a relict boundary through the field. 

In the woods I spied something that might be Yellow Pimpernel (extra) but I think I need to do a bit more checking on that. If so it would be a new wildflower for me on my patch.

Later, it was fingernail biting time as I listened to Everton come from two down at half-time to win 3-2 and to secure safety from relegation. We’ve had a few scrapes over the years, but my team have still not been relegated in my lifetime. They have had an appalling season though, and I can just hope that this marks some sort of bottoming out and turning point after a poor five or six seasons. And so despair turns to hope so quickly in the life of a football supporter.