I do enjoy this time of year. Hawthorns, Hazels, and Horse Chestnuts adorn their branches in lime green leaves, whilst white Blackthorn blossom blankets the hedgerows, resembling a fresh morning frost. It’s crisp, but the light of the morning sun dapples through canopy, hinting of the warmth to come. Swathes of Wild Garlic carpet the woodland, emitting a scent so rich you can almost taste it.
Across the park, the quiet has been reclaimed with melodies of bird song. Skylarks dominate the soundscape, rehearsing their tuneful notes from dawn until dusk. In the background, a low hum of insects begins to build and you almost find yourself dodging Bumblebees as you re-familiarise yourself with that loud buzz that amplifies when they fly past your head!
Everyday the ground springs in more colour, bursting with Cowlips, Dandelions, and Daisies. Bright pinks, purples, and blues can be found in scatterings of Milkwort, Violets, and Early Purple Orchids. In certain corners of the downs, tall Bracken shoots have speared their way up through the grasses and have just began to branch out to one another as they unfurl their fronds.
On last nights late patrol I saw the last cruise ship ‘Jewel of the Seas’ leaving the bay for warmer climes… Over the past year we have hosted four of some of the largest cruise ships in the world, whilst the pandemic ground business to a halt. My late patrol took me out exploring the downs following a sighting of a Short-eared Owl. No such luck for me, but this is a day-flying owl, which could have possibly stayed overnight here after migrating across the channel – so keep your eyes peeled!