As I write todays diary on my last day as a residential volunteer at Durlston. Living on site I have the glorious pleasure of stepping out of my front door to the sound of natures chorus. The blue sky and beating sun has deceived me – I quickly throw on my fleece over my bare arms to protect me from the icy morning breeze.
As I enter the first field on my walk a dunnock flits and dips in front of me before landing on a blackthorn tree a few metres in front. He looks at me, as if he’s signalling for me to follow. It would be rude not to, right? As I turn the corner I come across a lonely patch of gorse in the field. Despite not being particularly fond of the coconutty scent, I have always been fond of gorse, and this patch is particularly beautiful as it glows in the morning sun.
I continue forward and notice the ground is solid beneath my feet. It always amazes me how just a few days of sun can make such a difference following a drenching winter. I haven’t walked this path in weeks, and now the ground is cracked and split, creating giant ravines for tiny ants to cross.
As I move further into the meadows I start to hear the trilling of a skylark. I look up to the vast blue sky but see nothing. It must be up in the gods of natures theatre. Luckily I hang around long enough to see it plummet to the ground before making a controlled landing.
A few minutes later I look up towards the upcoming gate and glimpse a roe deer flying across the path. Had I blinked just a second earlier, it would have snuck by unheard and unseen. It’s funny how despite their abundance across the country, they are so elusive in the daytime that its always a bit special when you do manage to catch a fleeting glimpse.
With a smile on my face I emerge onto the downland, bracing myself in the wind. Whilst the blackthorn scrub is sturdy and motionless three teasels bob their heads up and down. Now on the home stretch back to the office I am ready to start my day. A tiny flock of pied wagtails welcome me, one perches on the roof and peer down at me whilst scouting out where it might find its next meal.