Heading out to the meadows I pass Bramble bushes taller them me smothered in blackberries yet to ripen. Hawthorn trees are covered in bright red berries, waiting to be eaten up by a passing bird. Bright yellow Fleabane and Ragwort lines the edges of the path. The softer yellow of the Fleabane with its one lone flower on each plant make it easy to tell apart from its neighbour, the taller brighter yellow of Ragwort with its mass of tiny flowers atop a tall stem.
Heading through into south field, the field appears to have a purple undertone in the dull yellow, brown and green of the dry grass. Red Bartsia seems to be the plant giving the field a purple tinge with its low profile and ability to take over the edges of the path. Wild Carrots dot the landscape, with most of them just starting to curl in on themselves and go over, the drying flower heads also having a purple tinge to them.
A lone Goldfinch pecks at the flower head of a Bulbous Thistle, before spooking and flying away. Not far behind the Goldfinch is a White Throat flying from one patch of scrub to the next. A speck of red pulls my attention to a gone over Wild Carrot, a little Lady Bird sits on the underside of the curled-up flower head, its bright red wing casing shining.
Through into Centenary where I spot a lone Roe Deer grazing in the field. Its chestnut fur almost blending into the dry grass, he’s also wearing an impressive set of antlers. As its notices me it stands up straight and watches me not moving a muscle only slightly turning it head to keep me in sight, as I make my way round the edge of the field.
Heading along the top of the light house field, I pass a Crab Apple Tree with branches sagging under the weight of the apples growing on its branches. Surrounding the tree is Blackthorn also smothered in its own fruit, dark purple slows.
Back to the learning centre where I duck into the bird hide quickly to see a flock of Goldfinch come down to the pond to have a drink.