Spring flowers, a tractor and a lot of rain

At the end of March and the beginning of April we had several days of hot, sunny weather. The spring flowers responded and primroses and violets begin to carpet the lower side of the plat.

As the hot weather continued we moved on to clear the top corner which borders on High Cross Road. 

Here the rows run at a different angle from the rest of the plat and are very tangled up with bramble, making the work difficult and uncomfortable.  Added to this the weather was so hot and dry that we had to watch the bonfire carefully to avoid the grass catching fire and spreading.

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By the middle of April the top corner had been cleared.  In many parts of the plat the rows were looking good.  Everywhere the young leaves were beginning to burst.  

Much had been achieved over the winter and early spring but a good number of rows still remained to be cleared.  If this wasn't done soon the spring growth of grass and brambles would cover the cut wands and prunings.  It was decided to bring in reinforcements in the shape of a tractor and buck rake. 

That day was grey and overcast and, for the first time in weeks, real rain threatened. But the combination of man and machinery accomplished in a morning what would have taken several days by muscle power alone.

Soon there was a  mountain of wood piled up to be burned but, as the rain came down, would the fire burn?

 From a doubtful beginning........

 ....and plenty of dry kindling......

 ......and careful and expert tending.....

....the fire at last came good!

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All the time the tractor driver was bringing loads more wood.....

And now he could dump the wood straight on the fire.

Soon we had a roaring bonfire going. The flames leaped skywards....

And the smoke billowed.

.

The piles of wood soon disappeared.

But the rain intensified.  

                                                                                                                                                         At mid day we called a halt

Sadly, the tractor had gouged deep ruts in the damp soil between the rows.

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In the middle of May, as I write, it has still not been dry enough to resume work and to repair the damage done by the tractor.  The great rains of May 2012 will doubtless come to an end some time and then the work will be resumed.  Meanwhile, thanks to the cold weather the primroses have continued to flourish.... 

....well into the middle of the month.