The charming sound of Goldfinch song echoes around the Climbers car park, with the flock visible across the top of the Hawthorn. Amongst the little red faces, the slightly larger and duller plumage of a Chaffinch, who emits a single chirp. A Blue Tit can also be heard in the distance.
I step through one of narrow Bramble lined corridors towards Lighthouse Road where a Song Thrush verses through it’s distinct purposive calls. The bird sings three or four renditions of each call, before moving onto the next one, completely different to the last.
Leaf buds are beginning to swell in size upon the Elder, Cherry and Blackthorn, and have already emerged on the Old Man’s Beard, perhaps prompted by the milder temperatures this week. A change of tune, some loud flapping from a pair of Woodpigeon indicate some hanky panky goings-on in the canopy…
I head into the main section of Woodland, pausing to appreciate the Sun rising over the Castle from the Dell. It’s light beams from a misty haze upon the sea, shining through the Belvedere windows and across the Dell, silhouetting the Black Pine.
A first few signs of spring can be enjoyed along the woodland trail: Clusters of Viburnum flowers which have began to pop, the now yellow-tinged tips of the upright Daffodil shoots, the orange-pink fruits adorning the Japanese Spindle, and the pair of Great Tits which dance between the branches.
Hazel catkins droop around the Aviary Glade, excepting the section coppiced by our volunteer work group this week. Look closely you might be able to just spot the tiny pink female flowers which hug tight to the buds just a millimetre or two in length. As a monoecious species, both the male catkins and female flowers can be found on the same plant.
Below my feet the Three-cornered Leek has sprouted high above the groundcover, where a mix of fresh Celandine, Germander Speedwell, Herb Robert, and Ivy compete for space.