Fen: A walk on the Wild Side

Warning: Non Cambridge 23 Content - its totally off-topic and its all about the Fen...

A reminder last night that the fen has a dark side...
Ahead of me on the path I could see a gathering of people. Something about their stance told me it was bad news. On coming closer I discovered two men one hauling on a rope, the other waist-deep in water heaving with all his might. The object of their attention; one of the beautiful red poll cows that had somehow become trapped in the ditch. I regret to report it was bloodied about the nose and peculiarly quiet, as if resigned to its fate.

This morning another red animal in the far east ditch. For a split second I thought it was a deer but as it dashed up the far bank and sped out across Fen Causeway, with no regard for the cars, all be came clear: a gleaming, athletic fox!

The cow, I am pleased to report, was gone - I hope returned to grazing.

Fen: On cows and the effects of rain

Warning: Non Cambridge 23 Content - its all about the Fen...

Here is a curious thing; cows will eat ivy. I am not certain why it surprises me so but it does. I saw a cow this morning with nothing short of a voracious appetite for it. Nothing was going to come between it and its breakfast!

Noticed also a beautiful juxtaposition of plants caused by the weight of rain water lightly crushing together stands of black sedge and white comfrey. The interspersed spikes of the sedge and bells of the comfrey were quite a sight covered in tiny globes of water.

Fen: Misty Morning

Observed crossing the fen this morning:

- a grey heron in flight languorously making its way down the water course

- green wood pecker also making its way down the fen, first noticed as a flashing dash of red

- the cows companionably lying round the base of a poplar tree chewing the cud

- the soft look of the fen created by a haze of new grass heads and tall buttercups, accentuated by the misty start to the day