A blustery start to the day with the wind roaring among the trees in the woodland and sending white-capped breakers rolling across a steel-grey sea.
In the relative shelter of the woodland, flurries of Holm Oak leaves tumble along the paths and a constant rattle of twigs fills the canopy above. Grey Squirrels squabble and chase among the branches with increasing ferocity as spring approaches and a Woodpigeon wrenches twigs from the top of an Elm.
On the woodland floor, swathes of the lush green leaves of Ramsons form a dense carpet – their strong garlic scent released when crushed underfoot, with the leaves of Herb Robert, Cow Parsley, Dog Violet and Cleavers also looking fresh and green.
Horse Chestnut is covered with sticky brown buds (the tiny ‘horseshoes’ next to each bud always delighted me as a child – they give this tree both it’s English and Latin names), with catkins dancing on Hazel and Willow.
Outside the Learning Centre, even on a cool and windy morning, the catkins of a sheltered branch of Sallow have attracted a queen Buff-tailed Bumble Bee, in search of nectar
Down below the cliffs, 10 Razorbills and 40+ Guillemots bounce around on the waves, billing and growling as couples renew their bonds, with more crammed onto the ledges. Fulmars cut effortlessly through the gusts, with a Gannet passing by out in the distance. On the banks above the Coast Path, the leaves of Bristly Ox-tongue, Madder and Greater Periwinkle can be seen.
Spring flowers are starting to emerge – the newly cleared scrub on Caravan Terrace has provided space for a lovely display of Primroses, while in the Car Parks, a dense patch of blue Grape Hyacinth can be seen, along with a scattering of the yellow flowers of Lesser Celandine, blue and white Field Speedwell and a selection of white flowered crucifers.9.2
Above the Learning Centre as I return, a gang of 15 Jackdaws revel in the wind, tumbling, rolling and stalling high in the air – a wonderful bird to watch in flight.