Stuck in a Traffic Jam

We went for our usual 'once every 6 weeks or so' shopping trip to Gloucester Quays the other day. It was a lovely sunny day and we, my husband and I, enjoyed driving through the south Herefordshire/north Gloucestershire countryside with the wonderful autumn colours glowing in the glorious sunshine. Trouble was, we got stuck in a long, slow, traffic jam on the new by-pass north west of Gloucester heading for Gloucester Quays. Not realising that there was a real drama ahead of us I sat and counted all the many edible fruits and nut bushes in the new hedgerows, kindly planted no doubt by the local council following the upheaval of driving this new road through. Blackthorn bushes, laden with fruit still - the Sloes so easy to spot between the thinning leaves as they start to fall. Likewise the Hawthorn leaves are also turning yellow and falling quickly thus letting the lovely red of the berries show through alongside a few Rose Hips intermingled along the hedgerow.  

I could not see whether or not there were many nuts on the Hazel bushes, still quite young and maybe not quite fruiting as yet, but they will in the not too distant future no doubt.  All good native hedgerow shrubs and all providing a wealth of wild food, for all the creatures who live out there but also maybe a few for us to enjoy too!

We found out why the journey had been so slow when shortly after what looked like the Fire Officer sped through with lights flashing, we arrived at Sainsbury's to find a major incident being played out with the full compliment of fire engines, police, ambulance etc, oh plus press photographer of course, all coping with a major vehicle fire in the car park.