It’s a damp grey morning. Durlston sits under a thick layer of cloud with the headland jutting out into a wall of mist. Herring Gulls and Greater Black-backed Gulls pass above the moody lower turret. Just a few hundred metres of the sea is visible below, before disappearing into sky.
It’s even darker through the woodland, with an extra layer of shade below the leafy Holm Oaks. Raindrops begin to drip through the canopy and fall to the damp undergrowth of Privet and Bramble. I can only just make out the movement of a little Goldcrest or Firecrest, moving silently through it. It’s too dark to see its colour, and so identified by it’s distinctive wing flutters; continuous short movements and changes of direction, tumbling upside down and back again, as it quickly explores each branch.
Bird song grows towards Sunnydale, along with the height of Sycamore, Ash, and Horse Chestnut. I can hear Great Tits, Blue Tits and Coals Tits all versing through various calls and tunes to one another. Some from the treetops, and others from the increasing density of Bay, Holly, and Hazel. The latter now drooping with male catkins.
Interestingly I hear a Kestrel call out close by, not usually found here in the woodland.
Clusters of Viburnum flowers can be found all along the pleasure grounds, along with the pink berries which have fruited upon Japanese Spindle. Alongside the stream, red berries adorn the Cherry Laurels, and Mahonia crowns are ready to pop. It won’t be long until the Daffodils flower, with shoots appearing all around, and yellowing at the tips.
Over the past couple of weeks we have planted around 120 tree saplings through the woodland. Native species were selected for their value to wildlife; Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Hazel, Dogwood, English Oak, Elder, and Dogrose.