It’s spitting with rain as I enter the park at Zigzag and under the canopy of the colossal Monterey Cypress. It appears to almost prop up the hillside, with the surrounding crag tumbling with blocks of limestone.
This specimen, is one of countless Victorian relics from the planting of George Burt’s gardens around 1890. The species is endemic to the coast of California, and only first imported the UK, earlier in the 1800s. The impressive trunk size gives the impression of much older tree, though apparently few Macrocarpa live beyond a couple of hundred years.
It's dark here under the evergreen canopy, shaded mostly by the Mediterranean Holm Oaks. Apart from the recognising the clumsily footed Woodpigeons, my eyes fail me as smaller birds flash by as silhouettes before disappearing into the shadows. Fortunately I recognise the gentle ‘tsee tsee tsee’ from a calling Firecrest, and loud buzzing from a Wren.
We are now past the shortest day, receiving just 7 hours and 49 minutes of light yesterday – good news for those who feel seasonal affective disorder!
A view of the sunrise opens above the landslip. It alights the fluffy Pampass Grass plumes, and golden Gorse flowers with are scattered down over the slope. Some satisfying swells roll into the shore with a Shag dipping between each wave. Herring Gulls calling above, and a Greater Black-backed Gull patrolling past.
Ascending the slippery steps, I arrive at Sunnydale, the woodland legacy of yet more ornamental plantings. Curiosities from around the world, such as Mediterranean Tamarisk, Japanese Spindle and Portuguese Laurel. From the Austrian Pines, to the London Plane, and the stalls of Bamboo.