Those views...
Starting off 2025 with some photos of the spectacular weather phenomena we were treated to at the end of December.
Our wardens captured these amazing images high up on top of Worcestershire Beacon, which is the highest point along the Malvern Hills, and it peaks above the low lying fog which clung to the valley below.
These dramatic scenes are referred to as a cloud inversion. Usually, the valley is warm and the tops of the hills are cooler. Cloud inversions happen when the normal temperature distribution flips, and a cold layer of air gets trapped under warm air, keeping it in the valley floor, where it condenses and forms misty clouds.
On one particular photo below, you can see a ghostly shadow in the clouds, this is known as a Brocken spectre! It is caused by a person's shadow being projected onto the clouds when the sun is behind them (this is also the only way you can see a rainbow!), and it is now thought to be the phenomena behind folklore and stories of ghosts or mysterious entities following people in the mountains!
We are incredibly lucky to have our Hills as vantage points for this spectacle, where you can climb the paths to the top and get above the clouds! Our team noticed how popular certain areas of the Hills became in response to this, but thank you to everyone who used the designated car parks and parking areas despite the busyness!
This time of year, when the weather can be so unpredictable (but stunning!), the soil is under a lot of pressure. When the ground is wet, it is easily trampled and turned into mud (often referred to as poaching)- what we then see happening is people diverting off official paths to avoid the puddles/deeper mud and eroding other parts of the Hills. We kindly ask at this time of year to come prepared with Wellies or walking boots and stick to the paths to help reduce erosion.
After a frost, the ground freezes and is more resistant to footfall, and indeed some grazing methods recommend selectively moving livestock to graze more sensitive areas in frosty/icy weather, to prevent damage to the soil. Frost occurs when the temperatures drop on a clear night, to freeze moisture on the soil. If you're planning a visit to the Hills and Commons, check the weather in advance, as frosty, colder days make for much better conditions underfoot, and often, you can get better views too!
