A breezy morning but bright and sunny after last nights rain. Heading through Skipworth field, the droning noise of Bush Crickets emanates from the grass either side of me. Brambles are adorned with pale pink flowers, waiting to be pollinated and become blackberries.
In Taskers meadow the grass leans to the west as the wind pushes it over. The white flower heads of Wild Carrot stick out amongst the tall grass also straining against the wind. The dark purple flowers of Red Clover pepper the edges of the path. Agrimony sways in the breeze the tall flowering stems just starting to go to seed, the sticky little round seeds waiting to latch on to an unsuspecting furry animal.
In south field Red Bartsia and Birds-foot Trefoil weave in and out of the shorter turf near the edges of the path. The Yellow seed heads of Wild Parsnip stand out about the green landscape. The Purple flowers of Self Heal catch the eye when passing them.
A patchwork of colour awaits as I enter Oxeye meadow. A small number of Oxeye Daises are still in the flower adding white and orange to the pallet, greater Knap Weed towers over everything adding a splash of Purple to the pallet. Large swaths of Restharrow now in flower add a pale pink the pallet. Yellow Rattle now in seed provides a gentle rattling sounds to the symphony of rustling grass and bushes in the wind.
Heading out of oxeye a Raven races up out of the gully, struggling against the wind, with something in its beak. In to 6 to see the cows, I spot a Common Spotted Orchid which has gone over and in to seeds and losing something its former beauty, further along I spot a Pyramidal Orchid in full bloom looking glorious. The cows are grazing the downs this morning, some lie down chewing the cud and other happily graze on the grass surrounding them.