A lovely summer morning for a stroll, with the morning sun blazing out of a blue sky. The woodland is welcoming, cool and green as I step into it’s shade on the way up the hill.
Speckled Wood butterflies whirl and dogfight in glades and pools of dappled shade, while the paths are bordered with the pretty lilac flowers of Stinking Iris. Mock Orange is covered with sweet-scented white flowers, as Bay flowers start to turn.
In the Dell, the first flowers of a dense ‘forest’ of Hemp Agrimony are starting to appear – in a few weeks time, this south-facing hollow will be covered in butterflies.
Along the cliffs, Fulmars veer around the clifftop on stiff wings, swooping in to within inches of the clifftop as Guillemots and Razorbills bob on the water below, or tend their chicks on the bustling ledges. Shags flap steadily by, above a glittering sea, with Herring Gulls and Great Black-backed Gulls also on the wing, with the croaks of a Raven and squabbling of Jackdaws echoing off the cliffs.
Alongside the path, spikes of yellow Agrimony are pushing their way up through the surrounding grasses, with Yellow and Meadow Vetchling, Woolly Thistle, Burdock and Hogweed also in bloom.
Along the hedges and scrub, sweet-scented Honeysuckle scrambles across Blackthorn, while nearer the ground, the yellow and purple ‘lantern’ flowers of Woody Nightshade can be found.
The meadows are looking really spectacular at the moment, with Common Spotted Orchids, Pyramidal Orchids and Bee Orchids galore, among a bobbing sea of Ox-eye Daisies, the pure white flowers of Corky-fruited Water Dropwort and pink-tinged Wild Carrot. At the base of the sward, a rustling sea of Yellow Rattle is broken by islands of pink Sainfoin, tangled masses of Bush Vetch and the single dark pink flowers of Grass Vetchling, like rubies scattered among the grass.
To enjoy the meadows, why not join me for a guided walk at 11.30 today, from the Castle?