The hedges have been trimmed in many places recently leaving a carpet of thorns and splinters to ride over so make sure you have the means to repair a puncture with you and that you know how to use it, and that you have all of the tools you need to remove the wheel and tyre, as well as a way of re-inflating the tyre afterward. I pulled this blackthorn out of my front tyre today when I got home. It is well over an inch long and I will have to patch the tube before the next ride.