Berries start to fall
And the insects are no more
Wolf knocks at the door
Mid-november – that’s as far as I made it without shorts this year. The prospect of kneeling in the cold mud whilst rebuilding the stream bridge yesterday was a bitter thought! Fortunately I didn’t need to de-ice my windscreen this morning like I did yesterday, but a brisk chilly wind still blows through from the North.
I noticed it as I walked down long meadow, and it blew the last leaves off of the taller Ash and Sycamore trees. The lower trees still clutch onto theirs, in a beautiful array of autumn colours. Red Dogwood leaves, yellow Field Maple leaves, and brown Oak leaves; all providing shelter to the Wrens and Chaffinches which hop curiously between the hedge and the path.
In the woodland the old derelict concrete posts have now been removed, helping the whole landscape feel that little bit more loved. More tree thinning has revealed views of large mature Pines breaking through the canopy of the undercliff, and the seascapes beyond. As I admire the view, a Jay screeches far out of sight, alerting a Magpie above me who began to climb up through the branches to the top.
On my approach the timeline I am in awe of another great view – more works around the ‘dell’ have revealed the castle peeking through the trees above the old stone bridge. A small group of Long-tailed Tits chatter as dive across the glade and into the scrub on the other side.
I round the headland and shelter in its lee. I can still hear the waves rumbling in the distance, which feels eerie as I look down and see the water gently lapping at the cliffs. I make my way along the cliff-top and back to the office, following the tracks of a Roe Deer in the mud.