It’s a wet, cool and windy morning! Getting out the car the sound of rain hitting the ground and the wind going through the trees overtakes any bird songs that may be heard, but plenty of Pyramidal Orchids. Heading into the small woodland by the car park, I spot a Dunnock, hear a Great Tit, Firecrest and Blackcap, notice the purple flower from Stinking Iris, pass Wild Privet, Hearts-tongue Fern, Enchanters Nightshade, Ground Ivy and a Willow. All under the canopy of predominantly Holm Oak, Ash and Sycamore.
I walk past the castle and towards the timeline, a Wren sings away, a Wood Pigeon flies out and a Crow calls in the distance. Into the Pleasure Ground Woodlands, two Robins are spotted, one looking rather young as though it has fledged recently. While Great Willowherb is widely spotted as I walk through.
Taking the Play Trail, another Wren sings away, Greater Horsetail dominates areas off the path, Durlston Bay and Peveril Point is seen past Black Pine, one Stinking Iris plant still has its orange/red seeds on display, and a Blackbird is seen between Bracken as I leave the Play Trail.
Passing Chimes, a couple more Wrens can be heard singing away loudly, as well as few Long-tailed Tits above joining in. As the rain becomes heavier, Horse-chestnut, Bamboo, Monterey Cypress, and Japanese Spindle, Holly, and Hazel are spotted. While a Cormorant is seen flying south through Durlston Bay.
I stop at the Egyptian seat, admiring the sound of the rain hitting the trees, the understory and ground vegetation, as well as on path. Meditative!
Walking onwards and into Long Meadow, a biodiverse ecotone is visible where woodland edge, grassland and hedgerow habitats mix. In the meadow: Common-spotted Orchids, Birds-foot Trefoil, Red Clover, Meadow Buttercups, Pale Flax, Ox-eye Daisies, Yellow-rattle, and Agrimony. In the Hedgerow: Dogwood, Brambles, Hawthorn, Dogrose, Pedunculate Oak, Blackthorn, Horse-Chestnut, and Field Maple.