For the first time in a few weeks it felt quite a nice comfortable temperature as I set out on the early rounds of the park. A fresh breeze blows in from the Atlantic, whipping up some waves which roll into the cliffs. At Tilly Whim, the larger swells spray water up to the height of the ledge where a Greater Blacked-back Gull stands at the edge, unphased.
At the cave entrance, I enjoyed listening to the melodic sombre chimes of a Linnet from within the Tamarisk. The tunes were backed by a couple of Wrens chirping from the Gorse and a whirr of insects amongst the grass.
The grasslands have been baked dry in the heatwave, with everything turning from green to a crisp yellow. Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper butterflies dance around the remaining splashes of colour – Greater Knapweed, Ragwort, Hemp Agrimony, and Wild Carrot.
Burdock has also blossomed and is covered in an abundance of spiky pompom-like flowers which stick to your shoe-laces like Velcro. A Common Carder Bee flies between the flowers and fills it’s pollen basket. On the ground below, a large Bloody-nosed beetle plods its way across the dusty ground and disappears into the undergrowth.
A lovely display of colour can be seen at the Dell next to the Castle, with Hydrangea, Buddleia, and Fuchsia. Towards the bridge, a great swathe of red Sorrel stands above the rising Horsetails. Two Pigeons wander through, with another cooing in the distance.