With visibility at only a few metres today my walk was going to be a micro-adventure. The bird song added a beautiful air of calm to the quiet morning, hearing Chiffchaff, Robin, Blackbird, Magpie, Stone Chat and Chaffinch. Purple Common Comfrey was highlighted rising up from the grasses and flat pale green circles of Elderflowers are coming more prominent within the hedgerows. Small copse felt damp with a fresh smell and drips of water dropped through the Corsican Pine, there was a slimy texture as I put my hand on the gate, then realising it was covered in small black slugs.
Through the meadows you may notice a few mowed patches, but don’t worry I’m not purposely killing off the Orchids, nor am I going to sew wild flowers and no I am not making crop circles either as some inquisitive people asked me yesterday. The purpose is to control the Tor grass an aggressive, coarse grass that spreads readily. It has increased in size and has formed dense clumps across the meadows. It out competes species of greater nature conservation interest and therefore needs to be controlled.
A spider web was spread between the grasses covered in droplets of morning dew. Our Hereford cattle are doing a fine job grazing in Saxon field. The calves are becoming more confident and playful now but still small enough to hide amongst the grass. Above a Skylark sings on the wing while one moves swiftly through the grass and takes off a few feet away. As I stepped through a gate I heard the heart breaking sound of crunched snail, as I held my breath and looked down luckily it was only the shells left by a Thrush. Ox-eye field is now a-wash of Ox-eye daisies with yellow rattle, Birds Foot-trefoil and spots of Clover at its base. As well as Pale Flax an interesting flower that use to be used for making linen, by soaking the flax stems in water and then beating, cleaning and combing out the fibres.
Out at sea the Razorbills and Guillemots and sporadically spread across the surprisingly calm water. As I gazed out into the mist 3 Gannets flew past their wings sharp, with jet black tips and bright white body’s a very exciting end to my walk.