Drips and drops of rain fell across the park this morning as I made my way along the coast path to receive another stone delivery in the woods. The stone will be used in the ongoing reconstruction of many hundred metres of dry stone walls being rebuilt across Durlston’s Victorian ‘Pleasure Grounds’.
Cut fresh from the local quarries, the new stone is almost bright-white and sticks out like a sore-thumb in the new walls. It will however soon age, dull down, and blend in with the old walls. In time, they will become a habitat in themselves – covered in pioneering species such as Lichen, Moss, and Ivy. As these grow they will attract detritivores such as Woodlice. They will break down any decaying organic matter and begin to form thin soils for a secondary succession of plants to colonise – Herb Robert, Harts Tongue Fern, and Maidenhair Spleenwort. At this point, a secure covering of foliage and abundance of food may welcome small mammals, rodents, and birds to take up residence too!
For now, its nice to see the banks beyond the walls are beginning to ‘green up’ with an abundance of grasses and plants. Enchanters Nightshade dominates one section and appears almost frosted, with a covering of tiny white flowers across the top. Seeds blown across from the adjacent meadow have produced a sunny array of yellow-topped flowers; Ragwort, Agrimony, and Fleabane. Many patches of Buddleia have sprouted and bloomed, attracting a variety of butterflies; Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, and Large White to name a few!
All of the Guillemots have now fledged from the sea cliffs, leaving the ledges empty except for a smelly covering of guano. Peering over the ledge I couldn’t even see any on the water, just a few Bumblebees buzzing between the Teasel heads. A few juvenile Herring Gulls stretch their wings as they circle and soar on a fresh breeze from the south. It whips up waves and whistles past my ears, as I listen to the swathes of grass rustling around me.