Fennel Hudson

Fennel Hudson is an author, artist and countryman, known for his Fennel’s Journal magazine and Fennel’s Priory website. He’s a traditionalist who believes that modern life is moving too fast and who consequently seeks a slow-paced and peaceful rural life. His motto is ‘Stop, Unplug, Escape, Enjoy’. Much of his writing centres on what he calls ‘The Quiet Fields’ – those quiet corners of the landscape where time moves slowly and nature exists undisturbed. Fennel writes a monthly countryside diary for William Powell Country. Fennels Priory: www.fennelspriory.com
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Firelight
It is 11 o’clock on a cold, windswept and rainy February night. Mrs H and Little Lady are upstairs, sleeping peacefully beneath quilted blankets, and I am downstairs in the living room, penning letters to my friends and doing my Read the Rest…
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Gardener for Hire
“The best way to garden is to put on a wide-brimmed straw hat and some old clothes. And with a hoe in one hand and a cold drink in the other, tell somebody else where to dig.† Tex Bix Bender Read the Rest…
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Charlie’s Web
“Do you understand how there could be any writing in a spider’s web? …when the words appeared, everyone said they were a miracle. But nobody pointed out that the web itself is a miracle.” E.B. White (Charlotte’s Web) There are Read the Rest…
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Night Sense
“What happened to Fennel’s countryside diary in August?†I hear you ask. “Isn’t he rather late in publishing it?†It’s true. I’m four weeks late in submitting the current installment. I could blame the Game Fair, or summer holidays, or Read the Rest…
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The Air We Breathe
“Houses have but three functions: to keep us warm, dry and secure. Anything regarding character or location is incidental.†So said a friend of mine as he and I viewed Number 12, Turnpike Avenue. It was to become the eighth Read the Rest…
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Spring into Summer
This morning, at first light, I walked my daily route eastward, towards the rising sun. My path followed the River Windrush, then across a meadow, and finally up into Priory Wood. In winter this journey culminates with me exiting the Read the Rest…
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Storm Force in May
Jeez. What a year to start a countryside diary! Within a week of writing May’s First Flight article, I found myself driving through sleet and hail on my way to Stow-on-the-Wold. A northerly wind was blasting the trees into submission Read the Rest…
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First Flight
“Watcha lookin’ at, Fennel, there up in them trees?†“Nothing much,†I replied. But as soon as I’d spoken the words, I knew that I’d lied. I was attempting to act cool, you see, because my friend, who had asked Read the Rest…