Honey Lane Deer

This morning we paid a visit to Ferndene Farm Shop, purchased three bags of compost, eggs, and salad items, then continued on a forest drive.

We turned off Pound Lane on the approach to Burley, where

Jackie parked beside the entrance to Honey Lane in order for me to test my knees on uncompromising terrain.

The height of the banks on the sides of this ancient path is indicative of its age.

The hooves of these work horses in an adjacent field were at my eye level.

As I set off down the lane I glimpsed what looked like a herd of deer dashing across in the distance. Realising that if I could reach the level of the fields I might be able to get a bead on them from a rusting five barred gate, I had a choice to make.

I could walk back to the Modus, situated where the smooth slope led to the gate, or I could climb up the root entangled rough incline. Regular readers will know which option I took. Surprisingly, I made it.

I was rewarded with a sight of the milling herd.

Now, if I made my way further along might I discover a different angle? How was I to do this?

Fortunately ponies had forged an albeit precarious track down the knobbly bank. Striving to avoid brambles and holly, I stumbled along it.

This gave me my different viewpoint. Until a snorting clopping from behind alerted both me and the now scarpering cervine crew to the approach of

two friendly equestriennes with whom I enjoyed a pleasant conversation gleaning the information that the deer were regular daily visitors who were quite problematic when they returned in darkness.

This afternoon Jackie continued planting and weeding the garden. My minimal contribution was trimming the lawn edges and carting some refuse to the compost bins, until I was relieved by a most welcome visit from Shelly and Ron enabling us to catch up for Covid time.

This evening we dined on succulent roast duck with crispy skin, boiled potatoes, crisp Yorkshire pudding, crunchy carrots, tender cabbage and runner beans, with tasty gravy. Jackie drank Hoegaarden, and I drank more of the Malbec.

64 comments

  1. I would have been thrilled to see so many deer together! Lovely photographs of them, the forest, now deep roads, and the ponies.

  2. I love the wood there, so pretty. I see a few young bucks among the doe in the field, very attractive deer. 😎🇬🇧❤️

  3. What a beautiful herd of deer – they are such majestic animals… well worth a bit of adventuring to get such a good view of them! They are, indeed, troublesome though – our early morning visitors have been picking daffodils in recent weeks, leaving them lying like poor, fatally wounded soldiers. And a huge Euphorbia is the latest breakfast snack 🙁
    Your photos of reflections, whether on water or hard surfaces, are always magical.

  4. What a wonderful find — I don’t think I’ve ever seen more than a half dozen deer in a field — your herd is magnificent!

  5. Paths winding around mossy banks, deer herds, and sturdy horses – these are a few of my favorite things. I’ve found that I can manage most paths if I take my time and step with care. Glad you enjoyed yourself and made it through safely.

  6. I love the deer photos! We don’t see them in herds around here. Your description of them as a “scarpering cervine crew” is a great turn of phrase.

  7. That is a watchful Modus perched with a certain confidence in the abilities of the knees of its regular companion. The flock of deer has been comprehensively captured, as has been the pair of equestrians.

  8. What a great walker you were today! Hope your knees did well!
    The deer are not only dear, they are darlings! Such a beautiful sight to see!
    We can have elk and deer here on the sides of the highways and roads certain times of the year. It can be scary if they are out at night. I worry about them.
    Have a Happy Whee-kend!
    (((HUGS))) 🙂

  9. how delightful to encounter a herd of deer! never seen that many at one time! beautiful photographs as always! thank you 🙂

  10. That is a lot of deer! According to someone I spoke to from the Woodland Trust, there is now a bigger deer population in the UK than there ever has been and they are a real hazard to trees. As they also taste good, I don’t see a problem.

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