The aftermath

We have had some quite nice weather in Aberdeen this week (that's quite nice, mind you, these things are all relative and it is January, and Scotland). I had been hoping Gail would take me for one of our favourite walks, up Millstone Hill, but it seems that this particular trail is still out of bounds, as are many others in the region, due to fallen trees, the aftermath of December's Storm Arwen. 

So instead we went to Dunecht Estate and were relieved to see that most of the estate's rather splendid beech trees are still standing.

Although many other trees are not. 

Once clear of the post-storm debris we were delighted to find that the route through to Loch Skene, which is normally (and we think in contravention of  Scotland's Outdoor Access Code) blocked behind a high locked gate, was for once freely accessible to dog and human. Hooray! 

Happy Nature Friday!

 

Teaching terrier ways

Gail took me for a walk around Dunecht Estate at the weekend, and my wee poodle neighbour Ella joined us while her owner Kirsty stayed home nursing a sore toe. 

When Ella first came to live on our street she was all shy and nervous, and I've noticed she tends to stay close to Kirsty or Gail when we're out and about, even when she isn't on a lead. Which in my view is disappointing behaviour. 

Although I am not that much older than Ella (she's nine and I'm eleven) I feel she looks up to me* - both literally and metaphorically - and I think of myself as her mentor.

And so on Saturday afternoon I tried to encourage her to be less timid and more adventurous, leading by example of course. 

Initially she seemed hesitant.

But soon she gained confidence.

Poodles are of course quick learners,

And by the end of the walk, I'm proud to say Ella was displaying a positively terrier like mindset, happily striking out to investigate some new scent, without heed to whether or not Gail approved...

Way to go Ella! 

*Gail feels this is wishful thinking on Bertie's part.

Searching for November greenery at Dunecht Estate

By this time of year, the 'green' aspect of our 'green and pleasant land'* is looking a little faded, as was evident when Gail took me around the grounds of the Dunecht Estate on Wednesday afternoon this week.

The broadleaved trees have lost their foliage, and the untended roadside grasses are dull and tired. 

The grand estate house is grey and austere in the dimming afternoon light.

 

The newly sown winter crops provide splashes of green,

as does the Estate's well-groomed nine hole golf course. 

But best of all, check out the mosses and ferns, still putting on a fine show despite the avalanche of newly fallen beech leaves.

*Gail says: lest any Scottish Nationalist pedants object to Bertie's 'Jerusalem' reference, yes he does know that Blake's poem actually refers to 'England's green and pleasant land'! 

I hope you enjoyed today's Nature Friday walk. Do go and visit the other posts in the LLB Gang's weekly blog hop - maybe nature will be more colourful just now in other parts of the world!