This morning I made my way into the park along one of the lesser known entrances; a footpath which connects South Cliff Road to Tasker’s Meadow. It follows a narrow straight path surrounded by towering Hawthorn hedges. At this time of year these hedges are underlit by bright English Bluebells below.
I reach the Meadow and continue my walk up the hill. Young green Blackthorns poke up through a recently cleared patch of scrub, looking much fresher than the flowering mature Blackthorn behind. A scattering of Cowslips and Early Purple Orchids add to the beautiful display of colour. Nearby, a cheery Linnet calls out. I manage to spot him, partially hidden by the drooping fresh leaves of a Horse Chestnut Tree.
I head along the side of Saxon Field. Suddenly a pair of Skylarks dart up into the air, alerted by my presence: A stark reminder that these birds will soon be raising their young on the ground here, and why everyone (and their dogs) needs to keep to the footpaths! I should add that I was indeed walking along the footpath, so hopefully this pair settle on a safer spot further into the meadow.
I reach the old farm machinery and begin to count the Early Spider Orchids erupting from the short grassy turf. One…….... Two……. Three.. Four, Five, Six Seven Eight. My eyes quickly become attune to spotting the little green and brown flowers camouflaged against the ground. A single Chaffinch sits proudly on the very top talk of a nearby Ash Tree. What a view he must have – from Old Harry Rocks across the bays and round to the English Channel.
The final part of my walk took me along the top of Lighthouse Field where I stumbled upon a curious stone half buried in the ground. It was an oblong with a perfectly carved letter B facing upwards. This left me with many unanswered questions… What does the B stand for? Where has come from? How did it end up here? Another mystery found through exploring this fascinating landscape….