Plants take nitrates from the earth and water from the rain
Then the airs carbon
And fire from the sun
Knit the elements together in a chain (of cellulose)
The recent rain has worked wonders in the park, with plant life experiencing a spectacular burst of growth. From amidst the lush vegetation around the Learning Centre there emanated the sounds of Chaffinches, Chiffchaffs and Blackbirds. Inside Large Copse, the Nettles around the path had experienced a particularly strong growth spurt. A Grey Squirrel bounded across the forest floor between Jack-In-The-Pulpit plants, beginning to come into flower. Far away, the distant drumming of a Greater Spotted Woodpecker could be heard.
The margins of the path along Taskers Meadow was peppered with flowering Ground Ivy, and as I entered Saxon Field I caught the strains of Skylarks up ahead, as well as another unfamiliar song. A short game of hot and cold brought me to the performer, a Blackcap.
I noticed several Herb Robert in flower as I approached Centenary Meadow, interspersed with Common Vetch. Brian Johnson Meadow had a healthy covering of Cowslips, as well as a few Red Clover flowers adding a splash of purple into the mix. Skylarks rose and fell overhead, their song radiating out in all directions like a glorious fanfare. Cow Parsley inhabited the margins, and as I walked a Wall Brown butterfly fluttered past, evidently enjoying the morning sun.
My walk to the lighthouse took me past oceans of Common and Chalk Milkwort, as well as Early Purple Orchids. Yellowhammers were present on the downs, perched atop patches of scrub. Yet again they were silent.
Rounding the bottom of the meadow I headed up Lighthouse Road past the Quarr, and a patch of dead Teasel stems. My eyes caught a flash of colour as a Red Admiral fluttered right past my face. I took a moment to observe it as it alighted, a truly regal creature.
Spotted Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtails, Common and Sandwich Turns and Small Blue butterflies were also sighted within the park this morning.