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| Abandoned Moat Farm in Edgmanton |
Laxton is a village in Nottinghamshire. Its main claim to fame is that it is the only village in England that still operates the medieval "open field system" of agriculture.
I was there yesterday, still making a fashion statement, but this time my top was an authentic New York City Fire Department (NYFD) grey T-shirt, By the way, thinking about the good 'ol USA, it is generally believed that places there called Lexington can thank Laxton for their name.
What a joy it was to be out there in the May sunshine, plodding along rarely trodden public footpaths that took me to three more villages: Edgmanton, Weston and Moorhouse. I saw many things and creatures too: cattle and sheep, a badger and two hares that did not hang around long enough for me to get my camera out, a peacock, partridges, a fox, white geese with goslings and a barking brown dog that came out to "greet" me at Ladywood Farm.
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| Laxton Church (Grade I listed) and dedicated to St Michael the Archangel |
Encountering unleashed dogs is one of the main perils of country walking. You approach farms with trepidation - aware that at any moment a dog may appear to drive you from its territory. Usually, they are chained up or in cages but once in a while there are scary meetings with dogs that are allowed to run free - even though the landowner is well aware that a public right of way passes through their property. As in urban areas, there are irresponsible dog owners out in the countryside too. Fortunately, I have never been bitten but I have had to say "Good boy!" on many occasions when I really meant "Back off Satan!"
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| Not dandelion but hawkweed in West Field, Laxton |
I moved over the landscape like a beetle. In twelve miles I didn't see another rambler. Several sections of path were untrodden or badly signed. So different from The Peak District in that regard.
In lovely Edgmanton, anxious mothers called their children indoors as the stranger in the NYFD T-shirt plodded by. But soon he was gone - beetling along past the remains of ancient fish ponds and hedgerows with history. No stone wall field boundaries out there.
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| Approaching the village of Weston and the spire of All Saints Church |
When I got back to Clint it was after five o'clock.
"Come on! Get your shoes on!" he snapped. "I'm sick of waiting here. One of those mucky tractors was eyeing me up earlier on. Let's get back to Sheffield tout suite!"
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| Key worker scarecrow competition in Laxton. That's what COVID does to your head. |
A walk I truly envy you for, YP!
ReplyDeleteMeeting a badger in the wild is one thing I have not yet managed, and sightings of foxes have happened very rarely in my life in spite of there being a substantial population even around town.
Poor farm dogs. Life can not be much fun when you are chained or forced to live in a cage, and the only interesting thing to happen is when a rambler comes your way.
You have a very forgiving attitude towards barking dogs with bared teeth who just want a mouthful of rambler meat!
DeleteWhen you get down into Nottinghamshire, especially on a warm day, I think the countryside begins to feel more like the south of England, and, as your pictures show, there are some lovely peaceful walks, but you know, there is a Laxton in Yorkshire, too.
ReplyDeleteYes. I do know that Tasker. Yorkshire's Laxton is in the best "riding" and I have been there but not "riding" a horse!
DeleteWildlife seems to be drawn to you on your many and varied walks YP.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos again; I especially like the scarecrows. Good to see that people still retain their sense of fun.
Ever heard of St Francis of Assisi JayCee?...That's me.
DeleteIt must be his animal magnetism.
DeleteOr his body odour.
DeleteYour photos would be great subjects for paintings YP.
ReplyDeleteOkay, how much do you want to borrow this time Northsider?
DeleteBeautiful photographs, beautiful countryside, clever poem. Luckily many people are taking the pandemic with a bit of fun, as in the scarecrows appearance.
ReplyDeleteWhere would be if we couldn't even laugh in the middle of tragic circumstances? I might post another scarecrow picture or two tomorrow.
DeleteThe dog problem is much worse in rural France where dogs are mostly kept on chains or in compounds, so often not walked or socialised. It makes rambling in France very risky.
ReplyDeleteAnother difference is how unusual it is to see abandoned properties in poor repair in the UK whereas they're commonplace in rural France. (Our bit anyway.) Properties there are cheap and the inheritance laws make them difficult or not worth selling so they just fall down. In the UK the value of the land alone makes them worth restoring or rebuilding.
Yes. Seeing Moat Farm in that condition was surprising as it is in the heart of a very lovely village.
DeleteSo what is the "open field system" of agriculture?
ReplyDeleteWe have dogs here too. I've been bitten over my years of first walking, now running. The only dog who chases me now weighs about three pounds although he thinks he weighs three hundred. "Go home," I tell him, and he does but not until he's made sure that I know he owns that part of the sidewalk.
See Wikipedia to answer your first question Mary:-
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-field_system
I am never quite sure what to do with my eyes when I encounter a barking dog - stare at them or look away.
Haha, love the scarecrows. Do you ever get lost on your rambles?
ReplyDeleteYes - occasionally if the paths are not well trodden or badly signposted.
DeleteThe scarecrows made me chuckle too.
ReplyDeleteChuckles are good but not as good as giggles.
DeleteI never knew that about "Laxton" and "Lexington." Interesting! Funny how parents called their kids in as you passed. I sometimes get that kind of reaction when I'm out walking too, and I think, "Do I really look THAT scary?"
ReplyDeleteI was just telling another blogger that our hawkweed is usually orange rather than yellow, and now you've posted a yellow one!
At least I believe it is hawkweed Steve. I'm no botanist. I have also seen that flower in orange. Slightly smaller variety.
DeleteAnother lovely walk! I too am wondering about the "open field system"?
ReplyDeletePlease go here Bonnie:-
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-field_system
Love the final photo
ReplyDeleteI saw at least a dozen other keyworker scarecrows. There was even a sweaty one in a COVID face visor and nurse's outfit. His head was a turnip.
DeleteI haven't been out on long walks since the virus. I don't have an excuse either.
ReplyDeleteGo on! Treat yourself Red! Get your boots on and grab your binoculars and moose spray.
DeleteI was thinking, I wish we had footpaths. We do have trails in parks, but public footpaths, for the sole excuse of having a walk...
ReplyDeleteBut you did need to drive to your intersection with the path, and we have to drive to our trails, so same difference, I guess.
Except that the entire English countryside is criss-crossed with ancient paths. Where ever you go there are paths.
DeleteThis entire continent is criss-crossed with ancient paths. Before the Native Peoples, the native worms made paths.
DeleteYour picture of the hawkweed has sent me down a Google trail. According to a botanist here in Nova Scotia, the dandelion, hawkweed and coltsfoot are all related - all from the aster family - and people do tend to confuse them. I've often wondered what the latter two were called, and thanks to you, now I'm educated :)
ReplyDeletePoor Clint, to have to worry about mucky farm machinery! The scarecrows are a fun idea.
As a former teacher, education is my business. Please make sure you hand your homework in by the end of the day.
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