Cherry Blossom Blooms

Spring is now thoroughly engaged, the air is warmer and the cherry blossom is showing through in many places. The bees are buzzing and the butterflies fluttering.

The initial bloom of Plum and Blackthorn is now fading and the young fruit is already developing nicely.

I recently visited Transylvania in Romania (to coach Wing Chun) and was delighted to note that most gardens both in the city and the more rustic countryside were positively stuffed with fruit trees. Of course it was Springtime, so it was easy to spot all the beautiful fresh blossom on the trees.

It will not belong before we can organise our yearly Blossom Walk at the Mansbridge Community Orchard, so keep your eyes peeled for further announcements.

Don't Touch That Dial!

Orchard Blossom Walk (Short Notice!)

We are organising an impromptu Blossom Walk in the Mansbridge Community Orchard this Saturday, May 18^th. Apologies for the short notice but the late Spring and erratic weather has not helped. Also, as the next two suitable weekends fall in half-term, many will not be able to make these dates.

Everyone is welcome (including children) but we will be walking over rough and potentially muddy ground and possibly through some woods.  We will meet on the old (A27) stone bridge over the River Itchen, between the White Swan Pub (where parking is available) and the Pitch and Putt course at 2:00 pm (whatever the weather).

Wear sensible clothing and footwear, and please remember that this is an informal event and everyone is responsible for their own (and their children’s safety).

If the weather is good, we will have a lovely walk through the fruit trees, which are far easier to spot when they are in blossom. Feel free to bring a picnic blanket, cucumber sandwiches and lashings of lemonade.

During the walk we will collect contact details of anyone willing and interested in volunteering any time or skills to help the orchard as we continue progressing with this lovely project.

Purple Plums

Many people have commented on the rainbow of colours, shapes and sizes of the different plums that we have been picking this year.

So we thought it would be nice to show that it is also possible to collect some nice fat purple plums; just like the type that you might expect to buy in your local green-grocer or supermarket.

Unfortunately, when we located these ones, we were not fully prepared. Although improvisation can be less effective, it is often much more fun.

Regardless of any equipment deficit, we came away with enough juicy, ripe, bloomy plums to keep us going for a couple of days.

Mansbridge Community Orchard Walk #1

Brent and Barnacle Geese

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU, to everyone who came along and supported the Mansbridge Community Orchard Walk, everyone had a great time and I even managed to organise some fabulous weather to boot.


It's Always a Shame to See Rubish in the River



My family started off by walking up the river admiring the Brent and Barnacle geese and a stunning Mandarin duck, everyone seemed to be out enjoying the parks and the river.

A Suspicious Glance From The Mallard

In the end, around 35 people gathered on the old bridge, soaking up the warm spring sunshine. It was a very good turn out that included many local people, family and friends, as well as people from the Transition Network and Woodcraft folk.

Setting Off From The Bridge

Luckily, local naturalist and photographer Bob Painton was on hand to guide us carefully through the various regions. Bob was happy to take the reins and is more knowledgeable than I about the area.


Bob Holds Court in the Meadow

Bob lead us through the three main areas of trees, all the way explaining all about the various wildlife and wilderness habitat projects that are being carried out around the green space.

Life Through a Lense

Eventually, we ended up at the playground, so here the kids could have some more fun...

Some More Local Wildlife

This break meant that we could also attack the delicious apple cake that my wife had made; we washed this down with some of my mulled cider and neither lasted very long.


Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree With Anybody Extraordinary...

 The cake and cider were made using apples picked last autumn and stored in my shed; I can’t be sure they were all from Mansbridge but it would be nice to think that this was the case.


Bob in His Element

In a month (sooner if the warm weather keeps up) the orchard will be an even more splendid place for a wander because the apple and pear tree blossom will be bursting through, so keep following the Urbane Forager blog…

Deer  Tracks, Large and Small (and some human ones)



A Rare Wild Creature, Spotted Scurrying About In The Undergrowth...