At 7am I let wedding crew in to tidy up before I set up on a 2-hour combined patrol and visitor survey. It was cloudy, overcast with a strong breeze. I passed the play trail pointing sculpture which met my approval. Today’s seed vessels were upon Dogwood, Spindle, Black Bryony, Horse Chestnut, Bittersweet, Holm Oak, Sycamore, Ash, Bramble, and Lords & Ladies. The latter had segments harvested off them in the woodland.
Long Meadow was dominated by the flowers of Corky Fruited Water-dropwort, Knapweed with hints of Tufted Vetch, Agrimony and Red Bartsia amongst the grassland. A dense strip of primitive, but successful, Mares Tail followed the hedgerow.
Woodpigeons feathers upon the woodchip path (in places hidden my Holm Oak leaves) looked to have been extracted by a Fox. Enchanters Nightshade flowers were near the glade. Here, on my second visit, I would hear the calling of a Raven which I assumed was the same one I was to see off the sea cliffs and ultimately resting upon a measured mile marker. Hydrangea flowers added welcomed large white and red blooms. Eventually the Isle of Wight appeared once the cloud lifted, slightly. Apples hung beside the coast path and some Valerian flowers still bloomed around the head. A Bloody Nosed Beetle marched inland, towards Sea Aster, leaving the cliff top dry-stone wall and Rock Samphire flowers behind.
A quartet of Shags or Cormorants occupied a ledge close to te sea although a Great Black Backed Gull had a close marine perch. Flying high overhead, it had to be a Cormorant. Wild Carrot dominated the uppermost parts of the sea cliffs. However, a petal-less Teasel head was occupied by Aphids. Between the two new set of Tilly Whim Gates a Bullfinch flew by. A few Gatekeepers flew whilst a spider hid, in wait, inside its tunnel web amongst Gorse and Woodsage.
Eight artists set up today for the “Into The Woods” Exhibition that opens tomorrow.