A damp and cool afternoon at Felbrigg Hall provided a wonderful backdrop for a 2.73-mile trek. While Margaret rested in the Butler’s Pantry, the woodland revealed its seasonal transitions—from the squabbling rooks in the canopy to the jackdaws foraging through last year’s leaves on the forest floor. Highlights included a sighting of a massive Newfoundland dog and a specimen of chicken-of-the-woods fungus on an old oak. Despite the muddy paths and the 10°C chill, it was a productive outing resulting in 28 heart points.

  ‘The imposing facade of Felbrigg Hall stood as a backdrop to a scene of quiet industry. In the foreground, healthy-looking sheep grazed peacefully. I captured this group framed by a traditional five-bar gate—a classic vignette of the Norfolk farming landscape.’

  ‘The air was filled with the noisy squabbling of rooks in the high canopy of their rookery. Despite the cool, damp 10°C air, the grounds were alive with activity. I met a particularly impressive, large black Newfoundland along the way; its owner and I shared a brief chat about the breed’s gentle nature.‘

‘Deep in the woodland, the cycle of life was on full display. I found delicate, seasonal spring flowers pushing through the earth, contrasting sharply with the ‘arboreal giants’—fallen trees slowly decaying into the soil. The scent of rain-sodden earth and damp leaves was powerful here.’

‘Approximately 20 jackdaws were busy beneath the trees, their powerful beaks tossing aside the brown autumnal leaves in search of food. Nearby, on the thick bark of a grand oak, I spotted a vibrant ‘chicken-of-the-woods’ fungus. While famously edible, I chose to admire its texture through the lens rather than take a risk on a taste.’

‘After a brisk 2.73-mile loop that earned 28 heart points, I returned to the warmth of the Butler’s Pantry to rejoin Margaret. A wonderful, wild variation of my daily walk.‘

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