It’s a cooler grey start to this Summer’s day though Gatekeepers still flutter in abundance along the Long Meadow hedge. Fresh soft Bramble stems reach out into path from the thicket of Blackthorn and ripening sloes. Willowherb and Fleabane have flowered and provide a cheery splash of colour – pink and yellow below.
Crickets whirr from the meadow where tall grasses dominate. Yorkshire Fog found amongst the dominating Tall Fescue: It’s seeding stems standing three to four foot height on average. Below, a mosaics of colour purple Knapweed, yellow Agrimony, and Red Clover.
Above the sound of insects, a Robin chirps and a Wren calls. Three Ravens cronk as they follow each other along the top of the woodland canopy. All the while I can hear the gentle coos of a Woodpigeons and the flutter of their heavy wings.
A buzz is carried to ears where a Common Carder Bee investigates the more inconspicuous Bartsia. A closer inspection reveals a few 7-Spot Ladybirds across the Wild Carrot and Parsnip. Whilst a Speckled Bush-Cricket leaps into cover.
I cross the road into Smithfield, to see a couple Roe Deer moving through the meadow. Their dark reddish brown fur standing out atop the lighter hues of dry grasses. I enjoy them undisturbed for quite a while as they don’t spot me by the gate: A buck with his three-pronged antlers and a more wary doe.
Not wanting to disturb them, I turn back into the woodland where the glades are filled with the soft fluffy flowered Hemp Agrimony, and yet more Willowherb, and Fleabane. Great tits chirp from the Holm Oaks and I catch a quick glimpse of a male Bullfinch.
A couple of Wall Brown butterflies soak up the sunshine on the easterly wall of the stone bridge. Then more butterflies towards the top: Meadow Brown, Small White, Speckled Wood, and Common Blue – both the brown females and blue males.