The first week of the school “summer” holidays so of course its raining. A constant drizzly accompanied by a dense fog with only 10m of visibility. Heading through to Skipworth meadow, Field Vetch sags under the weight of the rainwater. The branches of a Sycamore sag overhead, with drips popping to the ground repeatedly. Field Bindweed, flowers can be seen tightly furled waiting for the sun to come out to open (they may wait sometime.)
Out of the gloom a familiar silhouette emerges, as I get closer the Roe Deer comes in to focus. The Doe stares at me for a while keeping very still, just in case I haven’t spotted it yet, as I head off it bounds away into the gloom once more.
Walking through the large copse on the newly cut path by myself and volunteer Teagan I see some Mustard Garlic gone to seed. The long thin seed pods sticking up where once what flowers. Stinking Iris can also be seen gone to seed, large rugby ball style seed pods adorning the tops of flower stems.
At the far end of Taskers meadow is awash with yellow from flowering Agrimony, the tall flowering stems towers over the lower lying plants. Slows can be seen starting to form on Blackthorn, green berries currently but will shortly turn a dark purple. Contrasting above the berries of a Hawthorn can also be seen, the smaller but also green berries waiting to turn bright red.
Through into south field where I’m met by a carpet of Eye Bright, only a few in flower with others looking like they won’t be too far behind. Below Red Clover and Self-Heal can be seen in flower with the similar fluffy purple flower. Red Bartsia line the path as I pass through the scrub walled path. Wild Parsnip and Bulbus Thistle tower over the surrounding plants, including the Wild Carrot that is flowering in abundance.
In oxeye a small patch of the field name’s sake Oxeye Daies still flowers though their tall stems have crumbled under the wait of the rain. Restharrow flowers in large patches off to the side of the path, the delicate pink flowers catching the eye as I pass.