Freya's Field

Now then, I'd like to introduce you to a very special place. This is Freya's field, but it's really called Torrisholme Barrow. You can read about it in the link – it's very interesting, but the gist of it is that this is a Bronze Age earthwork, probably used as a meeting hill. Wikipedia says it's a drumlin, but that's a natural geological feature, whereas this seems to be man made. 

Anyway, this place is a series of interconnected fields, divided up roughly by more earthworks and stands of trees. (I have trouble remembering trees when they've got leaves, so we've got no chance when they're bare! Stick with me, and we'll find out what they are later in the year.) It was difficult to tell how big this area was at first, and there seemed to be field after field after field, stretching on for miles. Now that we've been a few times, I can see that it's not quite as big as it seemed, but still big enough that we can easily spend half an hour here, tiring out Miss Freya, and getting covered in mud. It's a wellies place – you can't come here in your trainers. For one thing, you have to squelch through a great patch of mud just to get through the gate.

I'm going to take a stab at this one and guess that it's an oak tree, just because it's huge and wide and probably quite old. This one's my favourite tree in the field because it's the biggest. Not that there's anything wrong with little trees, but when it comes to trees, I'm easily impressed by size. Make of that what you will.

Now then, there's a bit of elevation to this field, which makes it extra special. It's another one of the places that allows you to see three counties. We couldn't see much on this day because it was quite cloudy, but here we're just looking at Clougha Pike. I'll show you the other counties another day. Also, what we will see in the months to come is the corn field in all its glory – hurray! The cycle of life beginning again. Brilliant.

I say we'll see that, but I believe the farmer actually puts a bull in this field, along with his cows. I think I can cope with the cows now that I'm used to them, but I'm really not sure about the bull – and especially not with Freya who's going to still be quite giddy for many months to come. Look, here she is, being an utter lunatic. 

But wait! What's that?? Where's Freya's lead? 

It's in my pocket, that's where! Yes, indeed, that's right. I let her off the lead and she didn't leg it and make a bid for freedom! It was completely amazing, actually. I wasn't sure if I was going to be brave enough to let her off, but we ran into a very nice gentleman who was out walking his lovely dogs Lily and ... I've forgotten the name of the other one because this was a couple of weeks ago and we've met an awful lot of dogs since then. The gentleman was very encouraging when I told him that I'd never let Freya off the lead before, and he said that she would stay with us because she'd want to play with his dogs. So I did it, and it was the best thing ever. She was so happy! The nice gentleman and I talked about our dogs while they played and hared up and down the field, and then he kept his dogs in check when he was ready to leave so that I could catch Freya again. It would've been a lot to ask for her to come when I called in this brand new situation!

So we walked a little more after the gentleman and his dogs were out of sight, and Freya stayed quite close to me, but she kept coming back to me when I called – she knows very well by now that I've got treats, and she always gets one when she's close enough. 

Half an hour is all that's required in this field – she runs and runs and runs, fetches the ball a hundred times, eats lots of ham because that's the treat we take for maximum returning-to-mum rewards, plays with other dogs and sniffs other people. Marvellous. Just the socialisation she's been needing. And just the exercise I need, too. 

Sorry for the radio silence again over the past few weeks. We've just been very busy in this field, doing all of this training. There's no time for photos, and also there's no energy left for blogs! Also homeschool – I can't do everything. But I'd like to try to do more posts because I miss writing them. So I can't promise, but I'll do my best.

 Until tomorrow, welly wearers,

WQ+F