What a contrast to yesterday today is, bright sunny morning with a light breeze perfect walking condition. Donning wellies to trapse through the aftermath of yesterday’s seemingly endless rain. I squelch my way through the meadows. Birds seem to be emerging for the first time since yesterday’s storm, the gentle twittering of Goldfinch fills the air as they bob across the skyline.
The alarm call of a Wren and Blackbird can be heard as I pass by a large patch of scrub in Saxon field. Great Tits flit amongst the branches of Hawthorn clinging on to its last few bright red haw berries.
Stood on a stile between Holcombe and Herren Ground admiring the view from the top, that has been greatly improved by the Wednesday work party clearing a patch of scrub in the corner of the field. A lone Roe Deer quietly grazes in the meadow unaware of me watching.
In two fields one and two to check the wall line in preparation for the cows to spend Christmas in the two fields. Finding a couple of walls collapses that I’m sure the Thursday Wallers will have some fun repairing. The dense Ivy clambering up it and deer’s jumping the wall seeming the likely cause of the wall collapse.
Continuing round the wall I put up a couple of hen Pheasants who are sitting tight in the long grass, before I almost step on the birds.
Heading back, I bump into a dog walked who informs me someone has left the gate open at the top of the light house field and a few cows have made their way down the road towards the car park. I rush back along the top of light house road trying not to slip in the mud. Finding the cows happily munching on some Ivy along the road, I try to shoo them back into the field myself before they split off in different directions. I rush back to try and find someone to help me, but no one is in yet. I knock on the flat and recruit the help of resident volunteers Eddie and Inga. Jake also joins us, and we head back to persuade the 7 escapes back to their field.
Please remember if you are out in the park to close the gates behind you, as much as I love cows it isn’t my favourite way to start a Friday!