A bright sunny morning spreads across the park after last night heavy rain. Heading down through the woodlands to the dell evidence of the rain last night can be seen along the edges of the path, where the running water has formed a gully in the gravel leading to the drainage hole in the wall.
Great Tits flit around the sagging branches of a Sycamore, branches heavy with last night’s rain. The loud call of a Wren cuts through all other noise. The little bird sits atop a Bramble branch covered in plump blackberries.
Heading down towards Durlston head admiring the work myself and the Tuesday work party have done over the last couple of weeks clearing the verges and the walls. More gravel has been washed out the path causing small channels. Near the top of the path where some Oldman’s Beard has been cut down to ground level, I’m amazed to see and annoyed to see its started to re grow already, it’s only been 2 weeks!
A Carrion Crow calls from the top of bottom castle turret, another joins it, and they take off in dramatic fashion all wings and squawking. Tamarisk fronds sag with the wait of the water on them while below some weathered looking Sea Aster clinging on below.
Dodging snails as they make their way across the path I continue up the diagonal path. Some Great Tits and Blue Tits slit in all directions, a White Throat sits on its own atop a patch of scrub.