Signs of Autumn

Charlie's afternoon walk was about 2.5 miles on the Stopham Estate, starting at the little church and walking by Walter's Plantation, up though Church Wood and back through fields of barley and oats.
I was a bit saddened to see signs of autumn all around. The 'season of mists and mellow fruitfullness'. I do not look forward to those cold, dark, miserable days from after Christmas to mid March. Mud, cold winds and gloves become the order of the day. The autumn months are a joy but you just know what is going to be around the corner.
Sweet Chestnuts are developing on the branches

The green hazel nuts and all the Bay Boletus (Boletus Badius) are already under attack from squirrels.

Last years barley crop was literally washed out of the friable sandy soil but this year (no doubt with the addition of lots of super phosphates) the barley is looking extrodinary good with heavy 4 row ears. The straw is the longest I have seen for a long time.