R is for Rosehips: a walk along Moricambe Bay, Solway Firth

Rosehips ready to harvest.

Our final walk on this last Sunday of our Summer in Europe.

Salt marches, looking for otters and waders.

Around the salt march and pebble beach of Moricambe Bay with Brian as our guide. This has been his backyard since a little lad growing up here in the northwest of Cumbria.

I would love to slow down time, to harvest the early autumn hedgerow produce, particularly the rosehips. This was my first experience of seeing them too. Brian recalls picking them by the bagful to get a few pennies a pound.
Too wonderful.


I found a recipe for Rosehips Syrup on the River Cottage website and as only Hugh can write so well, I quote:

Rosehips are, of course, a fruit the same family as apples in fact and this classic autumn hedgerow syrup has a unique and lovely flavour: warm, floral and fruity. Try it for breakfast trickled over porridge, pancakes, drop scones or eggy bread; use it to sweeten plain yoghurt (with some chopped apple if you like); or for a delicious pud, trickle it on to hot or cold rice pudding or good vanilla ice cream.

The pebble beach heaving with waders, the autumn migration is starting.

Being early September we were treated to a real spectacle along our Solway Firth walk - waders by their thousands, restless, landing briefly, camouflaged so well among the pebbles, swirling, turning and flashing their gleaming white underparts in the sun.
Another birding experience to treasure.
Thanks for the walk Brian.

Rafts of waders over the Solway Firth with a sunny Scotland in view.