- A spring day in late May eight years ago. The farmer stopped to tend a ewe who was giving birth in the shelter of a stone wall where blackthorn buds were bursting in a froth of white blossom. That spring, I often met him driving his quad bike up Kentmere to deliver feed for his flock of Rough Fell ewes who have a nursery pasture here, raising their lambs beside the barn. Once they're strong and independent they'll be up on the fell, on Kentmere Common.
Somewhere, in my photographic archive, I know I have images focusing on that flogron. But they're elusive, which is fitting for rowan magic. It should be a secret thing. So on this January day in 2018 I'm eager to look at the flying rowan once again, in a different season.
There's ice on the track, brightness falls from the air and low cloud hangs over Rainsborrow Crag. Then these Rough Fell ewes with their heavy fleeces and red rumps trot before me and remind me of all my other times here in this place. My fingers are numb, I slip my smartphone into what I hope is a pocket and hurry over the ice to catch up with my companions.
Creating this blog, I trawl the archive seeking the image I'd hope would impress my publisher. And I see that in 2011 I was out in Kentmere on successive days through spring in pursuit of the perfect cover image. So here's a glimpse of that flying rowan, with sheep. And a shot approaching the barn from the south, in June.