- 08/07/2025
Ep 4: April. While on a train journey with a passenger, Edith reminisces about when she went to art school in Scotland, where she boarded with her father's friends Mr and Mrs Donevan Adams. She catches up with school pal Belle Trathen, who she senses has something on her mind. But during her stay Edith discovers that a mutual love of art and nature brings her closer than expected to her married friend Mr Donevan Adam...
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00:00Gowan Bank, Olten, Warwickshire.
00:17Nature Notes for 1906.
00:23By Edith E.
00:30Holden.
00:46To sit on rocks, to muse or flood and fell,
00:50to slowly trace the forest's shady sea,
00:53where things that own not man's dominion dwell,
00:56and mortal foot hath ne'er or rarely been,
00:59to climb the trackless mountain all unseen,
01:02with the wild flock that never need a fold,
01:05alone on steeps and foaming falls to me.
01:09This is not solitude.
01:11It is but to hold converse with nature's charms
01:14and view her stores unrolled.
01:17This is not solitude.
01:19The End
01:22The End
01:51April 1st, very still grey day.
02:10I went to a little spinny to see a large bush of the great round-leaved willow, which
02:15is a perfect picture just now, covered all over with great golden catkins that light
02:20up the copse like hundreds of little fairy lamps.
02:27The birds were humming all round it, busy gathering the pollen.
02:34I'm sorry I'm late, Miss Holden.
02:46I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find a water lily.
02:51In April?
02:52Well, who would expect to find a water lily in April?
02:58But they told me.
02:59They said you particularly wanted one for this morning.
03:01I got up specially early.
03:03A message from these two miscreants, I suppose.
03:06April Fool!
03:07April Fool!
03:08April Fool!
03:09All right, sit down.
03:12I'm afraid you've fallen victim to one of our sillier customs ever now.
03:16Still, no harm done in this case, hmm?
03:19The 1st of April has for long been appropriated to a facetious custom.
03:24To send an ignorant or unsuspecting person on a bootless errand is the great endeavour of
03:29the day.
03:30Miss Holden, someone's put the gudgeon in the tank and he's eating all the tadpoles up.
03:35.
03:52A cruel trick.
03:54Isn't nature cruel anyway, Miss Holden?
03:57No.
03:58Gudgeon has to eat.
04:00Which reminds me.
04:02The holidays begin next week.
04:04Who would be willing to take the gudgeon for me?
04:07Good. Eleanor, will you take him, please?
04:10Now, remember, take your notebooks with you wherever you go
04:13and draw what you find.
04:15Are you going away this morning? Yes, to Dartmoor.
04:32April 9th. Travel down to Stoke Bishop, near Bristol.
04:39The low-lying, fertile lands around the Avon in Worcestershire
04:43were golden with marsh marigolds.
04:46And I saw a good many cowslips.
04:53The plum and damson trees were all in blossom.
04:59Isn't it lovely to be going home?
05:02Well, I'm not exactly.
05:04A pretty young lady like you, let me guess.
05:06You're going to meet your young man, then?
05:08No, I'm sorry.
05:10Don't you leave it too late.
05:12That's my advice.
05:14You'd be surprised
05:16how quickly the years go by.
05:32Oh, as art schools go, your training was good enough.
05:39But if you really want to learn to draw beasts,
05:42and you're prepared to work hard and no nonsense,
05:45you could make no better choice than Craig Mill.
05:47Don't be so gruff, Joseph.
05:49You'll terrify the girl.
05:51Jennifer, pass Miss Holden another biscuit.
05:53There'll be 25 students at the school this year, my dear.
05:55All about your own age.
05:57So I'm sure you'll find good friends among them.
05:59We thought you'd rather stay here with us than lodge in the town,
06:01seeing you so far from home.
06:02You're very kind.
06:03Oh, cheer up.
06:04A year's no time at all,
06:05and we'll send you back to your father and mother and artists.
06:21And Mr Bond, you came first...
06:28Please show up and do something Yolke.
06:30an artist you've been miles away seem to be enjoying yourself I was remembering a
06:47trip I made by train to Scotland many years ago to painting school no young
06:51man up there nor down here just a family I've known for many years the eldest
06:58daughter Belle is a particular friend of mine traveled on to Dowsland on Dartmoor from
07:06roses thick all along the line
07:19morning
07:28Bella
07:36Edith I've got so much news I can't wait to tell you
07:48come on let's get in the trap certainly but not without my bags of course not could I be of
07:59assistance ladies yes thank you very much as you
08:06Edith Jess has just foaled wait and see what a picture they make together
08:11April 11th glorious day wild strawberry early vetch and greater stitch words will blossom here
08:26there was a young lady called Belle who looked so uncommonly well all the maidens in vain tried to
08:35dress just the same but they never could rival fair bell
08:42there they are
08:45Jess hello Jess
08:54oh you clever lady
08:58hello
08:58in the afternoon I went up onto the moor to bring home a pony and foe both are delightfully
09:10picturesque in their shaggy winter coats and I hope to begin their portraits tomorrow morning
09:20up on the moor the world seemed to be made up of sky and gorse such acres of fragrant golden blossom
09:28torerness
09:36april 12th painted the pony and colt all morning in the field very hot sun and cool breeze
09:43oh when was that last so happy
09:47Time for a wee dram, as Mr. Edwin would say.
10:12Edith, lunch?
10:14Oh, no, thank you, Michael. I think I'll stay here and finish this.
10:17Yes, you're quite right. You could do better with your eyes shut.
10:47You'll do well, you know. Trust me.
10:56Come on, we can go and have some lunch and talk about it, eh?
11:01Oh, no.
11:02Oh, no.
11:10April 13th, Good Friday.
11:29Went to Barataw and down into Meavy Glen.
11:35The wood sorrel and primroses were very plentiful,
11:38growing among the boulders and roots of the trees.
11:47The ash trees are all in flower.
11:53And some of the young sycamore trees are in full flower and leaf.
11:58There you are!
12:00I'm sorry I'm so late.
12:04You must leave me awfully rude.
12:06Well, you couldn't be anything but kind and good-hearted, Belle.
12:11But you do look quite different somehow.
12:14Well, you always did say you could read minds.
12:17Ah.
12:19There's a secret.
12:22Well, I expect you'll tell me when you're ready.
12:24I think you're in love.
12:29Is that it?
12:31Edith!
12:32I can't imagine you even thinking such a thing.
12:36I don't mean to pry.
12:39Just tell me when you want.
12:42What you want.
12:43Oh, look.
12:50While we were resting on the bank of a river,
12:53we saw a heron rise through the trees on the opposite slope
12:56and sail away over the wood.
12:59The pink and grey tints of his legs and plumage
13:01showing up very distinctly against the brown background of bare trees.
13:07Oh, I envy your carl, Edith.
13:09Do you?
13:11Do you?
13:16Oh, I envy your carl.
13:30I envy you.
13:32Oh, I envy you.
13:35Oh, I envy you.
13:36Oh, that's a problem.
13:38I envy you.
13:38Cowslips, of all spring joys, the dearest is to drink thy breath again, freshest of flowers.
13:53The bluebell lights the copse, the primrose paves the glen, but thy frank beauty overtops
14:02in open fields the new-born grass, to meet the kiss of sun and wind and showers, and
14:09yields spring's essence from those fire-red drops that dyed the breast of Imogen.
14:25Sun-freckled art thou as the child who kneeleth down to snap thy sturdy stem, and
14:32fill with thy pure gold her snowy-aproned lap, white treasury of wealth untold.
14:39Deftly she makes, in bountiful profusion piled, a regal ball of them, and takes for sceptre
14:45one that high doth hold his head in pride of April's sap.
15:02Well, has he asked you yet?
15:09Well, has he asked you yet?
15:26I'm trying to give him the courage.
15:29Then you know your answer.
15:31Oh, Edith, how can you bear it?
15:35Don't be cross.
15:37It doesn't seem fair when you're so lovely not to be happily in love, too.
15:42Well, don't give me up.
15:46Dear Edith, I'm so glad my secret's out.
15:49April 17th.
16:04Walking through the fields came upon quite a grove of young cherry trees in Blossom,
16:08growing all along the top of one of the banks.
16:10The wall banks that divide the fields here and run along the lanes are beginning to be
16:19enameled with little flowers and ferns, and on the broad tops, crowned with low hedges,
16:24the bluebells are very thick.
16:27The blackthorn bushes are a wonderful sight just now, their masses of snowy blossom making
16:32a striking contrast with the deep gold of the gorse.
16:36Saw the yellow brimstone butterfly, and the first swallow.
16:55Huckworthy Bridge.
16:57This is where Robert and I first went walking together.
17:00Then I shall paint it for you as a wedding present.
17:03I begin right away.
17:06You to go on.
17:36The trick is not to be afraid.
17:44What?
17:45I'll show you.
17:45You can settle down there.
18:12On you go.
18:14They won't bother about you.
18:20Remember, the trick is not to be afraid.
18:23They won't.
18:32So, you can feel about it.
18:32축rar.
18:33I can feel like you are not monsters.
18:34Let's try toen.
18:34Let's try toen.
18:35Let's try it.
18:36Let's try toen.
18:37Please be smart.
18:38Let's try toen.
18:38Let's try toen.
18:38Let's try toen.
18:39Toen.
18:47A 40 Alsace.
18:48it's a beautiful book I love everything that you do we're attracted by the same
19:13things remember the Cedars nature is your subject give yourself up to her and you'll never regret it
19:26you must wake and call me early call me early mother dear tomorrow will be the happiest time
19:45of all the glad new year of all the glad new year mother the maddest merriest day for I'm to be
19:53queen of the May mother I'm to be queen of the May
19:57the honeysuckle around the porch has woven its wavy bowers
20:10and by the meadow trenches blow the faint sweet cuckoo flowers
20:16and the wild marsh marigold shines like fire in swamps and hollows gray and I'm to be queen of the May
20:29all the valley mother will be fresh and green and still and the cowslip and the crowfoot are over all
20:44the hill and the rivulet in the flowery dale will merrily glance and play I'm to be queen of the May
20:52April 22nd went to Bickley Vale a deep narrow coon running down out of the moor with steep wooded slopes on either side and deep down at the bottom the river Plym winding its way
21:07the ground was carpeted with anemones and bluebells and here and there primroses
21:14the tall handsome plants of the wood spurge were very conspicuous with their red stalks and pale green flowers
21:21the tall handsome plants of the wood spurge were very conspicuous with their red stalks and pale green flowers
21:29it was the first time I had ever seen this plant
21:36in one little open glade we came upon a bush of golden broom flower
21:41we found the shining cranesbill
21:44in one little open glade we came upon a bush of golden broom flower
21:48we found the shining cranesbill
21:51and the green flower
21:54we found the shining cranesbill
21:58herb robert
22:00and ivy-leaved toad flax in flower
22:06we walked four miles through the woods to Plymbridge at the far end of the vale
22:10a water oozel skinned across the river and in under the archway of the old grey stone bridge
22:17every cranny of which was green with tiny ferns
22:21April 23rd bright and cold
22:31very ferocious at the time
22:34he's quite magnificent
22:36those markers
22:37don't
22:38they're poisonous
22:40just be a little careful that's all
22:42yeah
22:43saw two live vipers which had been brought in from the moor
22:47one of them was more than two feet long
22:50the gentleman who had captured them handled them quite fearlessly
22:54he held one up by the back of the neck
22:56and forcing its mouth open with a stick
22:58he showed me the two little pink fangs in the upper jaw
23:01when on the ground they reared themselves up and hissed and struck repeatedly at a walking stick
23:07watch the sun set behind the hills from the top of Yanadin down
23:19gorgeous gold and purple clouds near the horizon and up above clear golden sky
23:24while we were watching it a hawk suddenly sailed into the sea of gold above the setting sun
23:34and remained stationary poised on quivering wings for quite a long time
23:39then it suddenly dived down into the purple shadows of the plantation just below
23:46it
23:53tomorrow i must give you back to your family
24:08don't forget it
24:11i know
24:18come back if ever you can
24:24april 29th heavy snow shower in the night
24:32when i looked out this morning the landscape was all white
24:36oh how this spring of love resembleth the uncertain glory of an april day
24:46which now shows all the beauty of the sun
24:49and by and by a cloud takes all away
25:00april 30th
25:02cold northeast wind with frequent showers
25:05but bright intervals
25:07the latter part of april has been very cold
25:11and stormy
25:12so
25:22that the
25:24your
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