On my arrival at the park, my eyes are drawn to the masses of Pyramidal Orchids which abound through the verges, amongst a colourful mosaic of Lady’s Bedstraw, Agrimony and Knapweed. The orchid’s flowers are neatly arranged into a conical formation, ranging from pale-pink to magenta in colour. High above the sward, the plasticky bulbils of Crow Garlic flourish across the emergent layer.
I head into the woods and along the play trail where we have finally finished re-construction of the rear dry stone wall. There are just a few piles of stone left to remove which will then allow the ground flora to heal and regrow. Other previously barren banks have already rejuvenated, with fresh Wood Dock, Willowherb, and Meadow Grass. A Common Carder Bee bumbles around the flowering Woodsage, and a Chiffchaff can be heard above.
Clusters of heavy apples weigh down the Crab-apple Tree so that it leans into the path. Sadly, I had to prune a few bits yesterday as the low branches were completely blocking the path. On the opposite side, the Damson Tree is also beginning to fruit; above a thick undergrowth of Dogrose, Hemp Nettle, and Nightshade. A Robin sways upon a tall Buddleia stem, before disappearing into the jungle below.
I make my down to the Dell, passing a family of Blue Tits; each of the fledging’s chirping noisily as they follow their parents and await being fed. Beautiful clusters of white Hydrangeas take centre stage in the Dell, and are visited by a passing Red Admiral. A closer inspection of the plantings will also reveal the showy pendulous flowers of Fuchsia and racemes of snow-white Deutzia.
Walking next to the Castle, its not hard to miss the sweet scent of Mock Orange and aromatic Honeysuckle; its twirling tendrils having climbed high into the Blackthorn and Poplar, and now drooping back down to the ground with their delicate sunny flowers.