Walking into the woodland this morning I was greeted by the melodic tunes of a Robin and a Blue Tit. A Crow could also be heard calling out, and Gulls chatter in the distance.
Above me a bright blue sky is exposed through bare tree whose buds are yet to burst into life. Sunshine pours through casting long shadows between the mature tree trunks.
A carpet of Celandine scatters bright yellow flowers across the forest floor, between fresh leaves of Herb Robert, Nettle, and Wild Arum. A gentle breeze blows through from the cliffs, picking up wafts of Garlic on it’s way.
I meander around the stream and past the swathes of Creeping Comfrey and Three-cornered Leek. Have you ever noticed how all the Daffodils here are white? Not a yellow one in sight!
Towards the coast path the chill of the easterly blows through my jacket. It’s whipped upward by the cliffs, bringing with it the salty scent on Seaweed festering on the beach below.
The path takes an upward bend where great Monterey Cypress trees dominate the canopy and Mediterranean Black Pines frame the seascape. You could easily place the view at Californian coast or atop a mountain overlooking the Aegean sea.
Bounded by dry stone walls, dry Holm Oak leaves tumble along the ground. One of these appears to take an upward flight, before resting on a coping stone. The outline of a Speckled Wood butterfly becomes clear, given away by the sunny yellow spots on it’s brown wings.
A charm of Goldfinches indecisively swoop back and forth across the path in front of me. Their little red faces wait patiently amongst the undergrowth as I walk past.