Out and About Spring 2021

LOCAL VIEW JONATHAN HOPSON spent the winter months walking and cycling around the North Hampshire countryside and captured some magical moments

I n the first week of January, the low trajectory of the late afternoon sunshine and the atmospheric conditions combined to reflect images of the trees on the horizon onto the clouds in the valley below Wayfarers Walk in East Woodhay. The result was like some kind of giant slow-moving cinema show with the amorphous outlines of the trees seeming to move across the changing shape of the clouds. This is a phenomenon I have never seen before although sadly, the photograph does not really do justice to this strangely spectacular event.

During February, the very cold crisp weather created some truly stunning sights as hoar frost, (and perhaps rime ice?) deposited a crystalline white covering over plants and trees. The photograph of this ice- encased plant was taken at the top of Ladle hill early one morning and the shimmering spider’s web with bejewelled silk strands was taken in Sydmonton. Walks during this time were accompanied by a different soundtrack too, as a rise in the ambient temperature caused small ribbons of ice from the encrusted tree branches to fall and hit the frozen ground, splintering into a myriad of pieces. The hoar frost and shimmering spider’s web create a winter wonderland Far right: St Laurence’s Church, West Woodhay is undergoing renovation

On a bike ride in February, I spotted a pair of intrepid craftsmen perched on ladders renewing the roof at St. Laurence’s church in West Woodhay. Viewed from afar, the scaffolding boards made the church look like a Japanese pagoda and you may be able make out the large multi-coloured umbrella at the top of the spire in the second photograph which gave some shelter from a sudden squall to the workmen repairing the roof below. Let’s hope days of hoar frost and rime ice are now behind us as we look forward to warmer days and longer, lighter evenings.

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O&A SPRING 2021