Long Meadow is a lovely accessible meadow within easy reach of the car park and castle, strolling down the tarmac footpath I admired the newly flowering Agrimony, Tufted Vetch, Common Spotted Orchids, Pyramidal Orchids, Birds-foot Trefoil and Meadow Vetchling. As well as many more wonderful wildflowers and grasses, butterflies, bees and crickets all enjoy the sweet nectars, benches line the route making this meadow a lovely place of calm and tranquillity.
The welcome rain makes everything look fresh and lush, the woodlands are dark and glistening and the sounds of Great Tit, Robin and Blackbird flow through the air. It reminds me of a poem by Clairel Estevez, called Heavenly Chants.
The day wore the colour that some define as saddening
I glorified the whispers of transient lights, in the cloudburst.
Serenity invaded me, my knees cleansed in puddles;
I sought for nature’s blessing – the wild is my church.
The Earth birthed saplings and implored for sustenance,
Her longing was answered – and descends with no flaws.
Bewitching was this moment, of ravishing glory;
When the rain fell upon me,
Like an angels’ heavenly song.
Following the tree skywards the Holm Oak trunks look so dark and menacing, black and bobbly until the thick leaves of the canopy come into view. An Apple Tree has shed all its blossom now forming small fruits ready for the Autumn. Above a Chiffchaff sings its tuneful song and the waft of sweet Honeysuckle fills the air. The UK has over 120 varieties of snail, today I found a small proportion enjoying the wet ground including Garden, Rotund, and a few colour varieties of Grove Snails.