Remnants of the cold snap

Under normal circumstances, they tend to run away. But today, they were going nowhere. As I neared the mixed herd of deer, the cluster of fallow deer did seek sanctuary of the thin woodland, but the red deer stood their ground.

Their ground was brown with silage, the sweet sickly smell of which filled the cold air. No fresh food today to be grazed. And they stayed together. My passing caused only a glance.
The snow was frozen, solid and hard work to walk through. As I had almost sledged the car on black ice in getting here, I wondered why I was here. But the place was mine. There was no radio response, the shop was shut and displaying a notice to the effect that all was closed.

So I set off. I walked around the house and up to South Avenue. Then down to the Duke of Argyll, of which later (or visit the Wentworth Castle website - a link to which is at the top of the blog). There was a deal of shooting activity in the grounds nearby. Pheasants, who had survived to another day, were disturbed by my crunchy steps and took to a weary flight.
There was a bit of snow damage to slender trees, causing branches to hang down over the path, but no other evidence of snowfall damage. Enough now to return, uphill from the Rotunda and back to the house. Tiring steps, an excuse to stop, listen and look for any animal movement, of which there was none.


I suppose this was perhaps the most hidden and dead of days in the parkland. Evidence in the snow of wild mammal movement, but of them, not a thing was seen. The weather, apparently, was only partially the reason. Visiting the website, I read that the Parkland and Gardens were closed to visitors and volunteers on Thursday and Friday after my patrol. This was probably the case on Wednesday, when I was out.
But I showed willing and patrolled uninformed, and, as yet, un-uniformed. Almost a walking anagram. Next time the snow may be gone.