Welcome

Wednesday 24th March 2010

Welcome to Wight Wanders new style website and my first blog.
I will write each month about Island life; the countryside and observations I feel may be of interest to walkers, cyclists and anyone visiting the Island.

My granddad used to say ?you have to have the Winter to appreciate the Spring? ? Well we certainly experienced a rare old fashioned Winter this year with proper deep snow and snowdrifts closing roads on higher ground. We have not experienced a Winter like it for at least twenty years.
Grocery stores became barren as customers panicked and emptied the shops. Everyone started to walk out of necessity as the majority of roads were impossible by car unless you had a four by four and people noticed how quiet it had become without the usual noise of traffic.
The advantages were many however as the deep carpet of snow appealed to the child in us and all the schools were closed. Fields became full of families sledging on home made sledges and having snow ball fights.

Whole armies of snowmen appeared overnight standing as guardians in front gardens. Our local paper the isle of Wight County Press showed pictures of the winter wonderland on the front pages with islanders skiing and even managing to build an igloo.

Wight Wanders office became busy with walkers booking holidays in the Summer giving them a goal to get fit and a holiday in the sunshine to look forward to Spring has well and truly arrived, a couple of weeks late but very welcome.

Snowdrops have been splendid this year as they really were in their element. Hedgerows are bursting in to new life with catkins and pussy willow and a carpet of primroses. Daffodils are blazing in gardens, roadsides and woodlands.

Farmers have over the last week started to put ewes and their spring lambs out to pasture. People are walking around with smiles as they feel the sun on their face and feel the Spring in the air.

The warmer weather has dried out the paths and the Easter weekend is nearly here so what are you waiting for dust off those walking boots and get out there the great outdoors is waiting for you to explore.