At the onset of autumn, the pinks and purples of bell heather and ling, with the bright yellow of gorse, continue to colour rough land on Kit Hill. Below and all around this vantage point, cattle and sheep are scattered across the patchwork of pastures, interspersed with pale brown stubble of valuable grain and straw, taken back to barns for winter keep; enclaves of fodder beet and maize have still to be harvested and carted away by specialist contractors.
Just visible, among the dark network of leafy hedgebanks and steep woodland, are the tall church towers of St Dominic, South Hill, Linkinhorne, Stoke Climsland and Sydenham Damerel. Granite used in their construction was most likely excavated from shallow workings on this prominent outcrop – the nearest source of durable stone. We marvel at the determination involved in transporting the stone miles downhill, centuries ago.
Below this heathery summit, the seeding vegetation along narrow lanes appears drab. The ferns here, including bracken, withered in the summer heat, hazel dropped yellowing leaves early, and bushy growth was subject to powdery mould. Undersides of fading oak leaves are studded with spangle galls (like miniature flying saucers), awaiting leaf-drop and the next stage of development into tiny wasps. Before the first deluge of proper rain, a few showers plumped and sweetened blackberries, still ripe for picking from strands of thorny brambles among the tangled bryony and berried honeysuckle.
Meanwhile, in the orchard of my brother-in-law, James, and sister, Mary, clusters of yellow, red and green apples have swollen and matured. So heavy is this year’s crop that branches have split and broken from Improved Keswick, the russeted Belle de Boskoop, and Hambling’s Seedling with extra large green fruits. Bent towards the ground are the Sack-and-Sugar, Zennor Beauty, and Ben’s Red and Rattler (two different old varieties grafted on to the same tree).
Heavy rain and strong winds blow off apples. Soon we will help gather up bags of those varieties with distinctive bitter/sweet, bitter/sharp and sweet flavours, to be taken to the cider-making company at Lostwithiel, to be expertly blended and made into traditional cider.
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