Seven down three to go

How large is this part of the farm? A hectare? A few acres? I have no idea. These are the poetically named lower terraces.

But I do know that whatever it is called, the area is almost, but not quite strimmed.

Well, mown and strimmed.

I wish it were easier to tackle. There are five main terraces on this part of the lower area; and only the first, fourth and fifth are actually possible to dreamily wander along with a mower.

You do have to skirt around some rather alarming boulders which have rolled down from above.

And until yesterday, you had to duck to avoid being pronged by the branches of the crab apple trees on terrace three.  I took the loppers down and unceremoniously gave the tree a haircut as I was tired of having to duck as I mooned along dreaming of flat land.

In my dreams (and I mean when I can’t get to sleep and don’t fancy counting sheep… who on earth thought of that as a solution to insomnia?)  I picture myself climbing into a large bulldozer and sorting out these wonky terraces.

The first terrace needs to have some of its slowly collapsing bank pushed back up.  Flood damage meant that everything slippped just a bit.  And the difference between flat long sweeps with a lawnmower, and climbing into a harness and hefting a strimmer to cut back grass and weeds on slightly sloping land is huge.

I also want to carve out some paths to make walking down to the second terrace easier.  Pushing boulders back into place; smoothing out the slopes and making my life more of a delight rather than a hissing under the breath curse.

Sorry, I am getting dreamy. You wouldn’t believe the earthworks I have planned when I can’t get to sleep.

The other five terraces are to the east of this picture: a large sloping bowl of land that houses an interesting collection of self sown wild cherries and elderflowers. Plus bracken.  And then four more little terraces that lead down to the vineyard which is an almost full stop.  One terrace below, then the road and more land after that.

Mathematics was never my strongest point (thank you Miss Hind for pointing this out) I think there are more than ten terraces here.

All I know is that the verticals have been done – brambles and broom. And I just have to finish the last three above the vineyard.  And if I’m really keen venture down ot the bracken field below the vineyard and scythe those down.

I actually climbed down there to have a look; and I almost sunk out of sight. The bracken is head high. Exceptionally interesting if you haven’t got your foot trapped in a bramble tendril and you trip and fall over. In full view of a car that actually was driving up our very quiet road at the time.

They slowed. Long enough to see me pop up as quickly as I could, wave and look stupid, and then gently pick my way further down the slope.