It was a damp and somewhat subdued morning. Nevertheless, a breezed moved Ivy cloaked branches beside otherwise bare neighbours. Of course, the evergreens Holm Oaks moved with their permanent leaf cover. The suction of the wet clay was felt underfoot. Passing healthy Ash buds the calls of Magpie and Jackdaw were heard. Relatively fresh Nettle and Garlic Mustard leaves welcome me to the Large Copse. An exploration onto the carpet of Winter Heliotrope failed to reveal said flowers. Above the canopy moved even the slender needles of Black Pine moved by the breeze. I took a moment to feel the firm rough bark of a Holm Oak. Meanwhile, leaf holding Box stayed still sheltered below.
Entering Taskers Meadow, ducking under Sycamore buds, I met a carpet of lush hat cut regrowth grass. One white Yarrow flower broke up the relative monoculture. Meanwhile, the uncut paddock contained a tussocky sward including dry flower stems. This was one of several places left to provide Small Mammal and insect cover, although the latter would perhaps be mainly grubs and chrysalis now. Remnant of Fleabane flowers were noted before going through the damp gateway into Saxon.
The electric fence stood firm whilst silent, hopefully content, Hereford cattle grazed beyond. Also upright were some Woolly Thistle stems sheltered by Blackthorn. Red Fescue suggested of the anthills had more recently been active. I considered how the fresh Cowpats would be unlikely be visited by Flies and Beetles at this time of year.
I admired the artisan stone seat that had completed in Ox Eye Meadow. However, it was the neighbouring Upper and actual Gully which was to contain Ox Eye Daisy flowers. I noted the yellow flowers of Charlock beside a stone pile in a quarry hollow where they regular are found.
Splashes of yellow Gorse flowers added some colour to gully slopes. Above the mile markers Holm Oak saplings had invaded the grassland. Acorn must have been transported by Jays and Squirrels from the goat plot. Meanwhile, Lichen which had colonised the sides of the concrete mile Marker base, had began to colonise the upper surface also.
Today’s diary written by Paul Jones