The Salmon Run.

                                                                   
                                                                                    Salmon.

I spent a couple of hours on Saturday morning earlier this month at a weir on the river Dove hoping that the recent rains would have raised the river level enough to spur the Salmon waiting in the deep pool beneath the weir into action. Although one or two fish were seen trying to get over the weir, there is not enough water for them at the moment. It is around this time of the year that the Salmon run on the river begins in earnest but without a heavy rain fall, the fish can not get over the many obstacles that this river system has in place.

Salmon Leaping.

The Salmon have been making there way up the river system for several weeks now and they will be waiting for heavy rain falls to raise the river level to enable them to complete their journey from the North Sea to the upper reaches of the river Dove to the spawning grounds or the Redd's as they are referred to, an area of fine gravel beds where they can spawn. The Salmon having travelled through the North Sea to the Humber estuary near Goole, will make their way up the river as far as they can travel and then they will lay their eggs in a depression made in the gravel on the river bed with their tales. The hen fish will lay her eggs into the depression first and then cock fish will then try to cover the eggs with his Milt ( sperm ) in an attempt to fertilise as many eggs as he can. They will then cover the eggs over with more gravel, where they will remain until they hatch around 5 to 7 months later. When the eggs hatch they are known as Alvin's. As they grow and develop, the markings on their sides become more prominent and they are then referred to as Parr. During this growth stage many of the thousands of eggs laid will have already been lost to predation by birds, other fish and larvae of dragon flies and other predators. The young salmon will remain in the river system until the time comes for them to make there way out to the open sea, on there way they will be met with many more obstacles that will reduce even more the number of young salmon on this long and treacherous journey. Over the next year or two they will live in the sea and put on weight and grow into adult Salmon when they will then start their perilous journey to return to their birthplace to start this cycle of life all over again. Once the cycle has been completed the Salmon normally die as a result of having lost nearly all their body weight during their spawning activities and the fact they do not feed once they return to fresh water from the sea. It is believed that of every 8,000. eggs laid only 2 fish will survive to return back to continue the breeding cycle.

The above chart refers to the Atlantic Salmon but the life cycle of the fish in our rivers and the North Sea are the same.

The recent rain over the past few days has seen an increase in movement on the weir since my last visit. Rain entering the river system from the hills in the Peak District has swollen the river water and pumped in plenty of oxygen giving the fish a chance to get over the weirs and get through the fish passes like the one at Tutbury, boosting their chances of reaching the spawning areas further up stream.

September Sunshine.

                                                

                                                                             September Sun.

What an absolutely beautiful late Summers day, this is the last Sunday of September as I set off with my dog for an afternoon stroll over the fields to some ancient woodland. The sun was at its highest, the heat felt on my head and neck. The breeze was most welcome as I walked out in the open. My little Cocker Spaniel was searching through the cover as we crossed through the pasture and the new plantation, his nose to the ground searching for the scents drifting over the ground of any passing Rabbit, Hare, Pheasant or Partridge.
Overhead a Buzzard or two circled on the thermals created from the warm air as it rises upwards from the ground. A rabbit shot out as my dog entered some ground cover, I called him, he had a smug look on his face as if to say aren't I a clever boy dad.
As I carried on along the track towards the wood through the new plantation I noticed several Fairy Rings. They were once believed to have been made by Fairies or caused by lighting or where an animal, such as a horse, was tethered to a stake in the ground but the explanation, although more scientific and less superstitious or romantic is caused by the additional nitrogen that is released by the fungal underground mycelium of the network of fine threads that the fungi produce. According to country lore it is taboo to interfere with a fairy ring in any way, for fear of being struck dead and any young boys wishing to avoid being enticed into the ring to dance with the fairies, must wear their hats back to front as they walked by them.



A Fairy Ring.

With no further ado we entered the ancient woodland reckoned to be over 300 years old. A Tawny Owl called out from a nearby tree and a Jay flew into the trees disturbed by my dog, as it was collecting acorns. As I walk along I wonder if I am perhaps walking in the footsteps of Robin Hood or where Kings and other nobles once hunted the deer and wild boar that once lived here.
Many years ago it was thought that these woods once had herds of wild cattle in them that were hunted for their meat. It is said that Earl De Ferrers a Norman Knight who came over with William the Conquer herded up some of these cattle and put them in the Great Park he created at Chartley Castle, where you can see the remains from the road as you travel to Stafford from Uttoxeter through Loxley, where Robin Hood is said to have come from. Walking on through the fallen acorns and the newly fallen leaves, signs that Autumn is now with us, as I walked on through the wood I looked at the different trees that are there. The Old Ancient Oaks that still survive after hundreds of years, the Beech Trees and Ash that make up this truly amazing beauty spot. I walked through the wood and out into the old pasture, an open area where even now cattle graze and feed on the fallen Crab Apples from the trees that have been there forever. The cattle that once grazed here were the Aurocs and the descendants of these cattle that were herded up and driven to Chartley can be seen grazing around the old castle ruins. These cattle became to be known as the White Park.

 A Chartley Bull.

A Herd of White Park.

Wild Boar.

I sat down on the seat that looks out across the little Brook and over the valley, I took in all the sights the view presented me loving every breath I took as several Dragonflies dashed backwards and forwards around me. I had seen a few days earlier here a Red Tailed Kite circling overhead but it was not to be seen today.
Having rested for a while I set off along the footpath beside the wood for a short distance before taking the path back into the wood again and out on to the fields that took me back to the car park. My walk over, we got back into my vehicle to take the scenic route home. It was an enjoyable afternoons outing.

Oak Wood.

Oak Wood.





Coming Soon, Cooking With Jeff.

                                                                             Cooking With Jeff.

Today I spent this morning with an old friend of mine Jeff Thomas at the New Farm Cookery School, situated in the lovely countryside at Hanbury in the Needwood Forest. I have known Jeff for quite a while and I love his passion for cooking and trying his latest dish or creation. Jeff is a Masterchef and has won the title of Master Chef of Great Britain in 2011, something that he's very proud of as only 200 other chefs have been recognised at this level in the UK. Jeff is also a member of the Craft Guild of Chefs.

A Countryside Setting.

Jeff's latest venture is helping in the creation of the New Farm Cookery School working along with Chris Scarratt who is also an excellent Chef in his own right specialising in Patisserie and Chocolate artistry. Together they have set up the school of cookery at New Farm on Knightsfield Road near the village of Hanbury. They will be running various courses covering either one day, three days or a week. There are creative catering courses to suit everyone, from the amateur cook to a high calibre chef who wants to perfect their skills.  
                              
The school will also be offering Team Building and Corporate Events as well as catering for weddings and other functions.
                 

Dining Area.

In the very near future the cookery school will be making a regular visit on the Burton TV News website when each month the film crew will be there to record a cooking demonstration, giving all you would be cooks a chance to see a professional chef at work, preparing and cooking a different recipe on each visit. Jeff and Chris will be demonstrating their skills with many different recipes over the coming months giving you the chance to show off your cooking skills next time you are entertaining your own dinner guests. They will be selecting dishes from Meat, Fish, Poultry, Game and other recipes that you will be able to follow in your own home, so look out for the first program coming soon.

Master Chef Jeff Thomas.

Looking Out From The
Dinning Area.

Entrance To School.

Cooking Area.