White Blackthorn blossom lines the entrance road up to the park; scattered along the top of the hedgerows, it appears like a dusting of fresh snow. Bird song can be heard all around, with noisy Chaffinches, Blue Tits, and Robins all sounding from the tops of the trees.
Florets of tiny flowers appear ready to pop upon the Wayfaring trees, whilst the alike Viburnum flowers have started to go over. On the Bay trees, subtle green flowers grow close to the leaf axils. Amongst the ground flora you can enjoy the delights of Bluebell and Forget-Me-Not, and overhead the charming tunes from passing Goldfinch.
I head into the meadow which is dappled with sunny yellow Cowslips and Buttercups. On the northern boundary I investigate a dry stone wall recently reported to have collapsed. It’s muddy as I step under a thick canopy of Sycamore, and I find myself following a set of deer tracks to find a Roe buck watching me from the other side; his mature three-pronged on show.
Ascending the path through Taskers, I find a beautiful display of Early Purple Orchids growing in an area recently cleared of scrub. These orchids can be differentiated from the similar Green-veined Orchid (also out at Durlston at this time) by its basal leaves blotched with dark spots.
As I approach the Lighthouse I become exposed to the South-easterly winds which rustle through the Holm Oaks and rattle the metal Mile Marker posts. Chiffchaff sing nearby.
Below the flailing feet of Fulmar and Herring Gull, the Guillemots and Razorbills raft upon the sea and crowd the cliff ledges. A Raven circles ominously above.
Whilst admiring the Sea Thrift and Campion blossoming along the cliff edge, I notice a flowering Apple tree I had never spotted before, growing just behind the wall amongst the Honeysuckle.