COUNTRYSIDE CROSSWORD

ACROSS

9 Such hens are not permanently kept in a battery or barn (4-5)

10 Sharp mountain ridge – in Kenmare terrain (5)

11 Irritable Wind in the Willows character? (5)

12/27 Small lake in Cumbria, loved by Wordsworth – Ray trawled around (5,5)

13 Pouch under the chin of 14 down that amplifies its mating call (3)

14 Pine tree leaves, say, sticking up in the Solent! (7)

16 E.g. a named plant subspecies (7)

18 A classic ascent of Bowfell – for definitive pop group? (3,4)

20 E.g. a dandelion’s circular cluster of leaves – changing to trees! (7)

22 Set aside for a purpose... it could help identify livestock (7)

24 Daisy-like wildflower aka ‘False chamomile’ – made yew distorted (7)

25 Fossilized black gemstone famously found around Whitby (3)

26 See 3 down

27 See 12 across

29 Colchester’s river – once moved round left (5)

30 The sweet briar rose – oddly inelegant (9)

DOWN

1 A long way off (4)

2 Cumbrian valley with horseshoe ring of hills – men trek around east (8)

3/26 across/6 Scottish waterfall near Moffat, one of UK’s highest (4,5,4)

4 Exhales noisily like a courting hedgehog (6)

5 Bucks. town on the Ridgeway – ever down, sadly (8)

6 See 3 down

7 Little-spotted inhabitant of Loch Ness! (6)

8 Britain’s highest chalk seacliff (6,4)

14 Rare, protected toad of coastal locations (10)

15 Cud-chewing pack animal used in UK trekking (5)

17 Overrun with water grasses (5)

19 Nottinghamshire area of parkland, forest and stately homes – skier due for a change (8)

21 Fierce, narrow stretch of River Wharfe... in furthest ridge (3,5)

23 Yellow wildflower – shaken noisily by baby! (6)

24 ___ thrush, named after one of its favourite berries (6)

26 Encounter a hunting gettogether (4)

27 It helps disperse flower seeds – blast! (4)

28 Remove top of fisherman’s basket for angling item (4)