Daily Nature Log: 2 April 2026

The Conditions

  The temperature was 7°C, but it felt like 5°C due to a 7 mph northerly wind. Conditions were mostly sunny, with wind speeds causing it to feel closer to 3–4°C.

The Narrative

  My walk today was an unusual urban return home from the hairdressers. I started out in the town centre, where I passed quite a few dog owners walking a variety of breeds. I noticed a Schnauzer, a Spaniel, a couple of Cockapoo-type dogs, and a small dog that resembled a Pug.

  I walked across the central car park to Wey Road, where I photographed a shrub with buds on the point of bursting open into flower. Google Lens later identified this as a Cotoneaster. I also photographed some wild primroses growing through a moss-covered bank.

  As I continued towards the leisure centre, a couple of gulls flew overhead toward the golf course. 

  A young couple passed me walking a lively, dark brown spaniel with typical long, soft ears. I noticed a lot of blue Greater Periwinkle plants growing along the borders; one was quite a large plant, almost a shrub.

   An interesting event for me was seeing an elderly lady in walking shoes leave the golf course gates and cross the road in front of me. When she reached the veterinary surgery, she bent down to admire a wallflower plant full of yellow blooms, pausing to sniff the perfume. The next time I saw her, she was removing a large, empty plastic sack that had obviously blown from somewhere. I guess she is a kindred spirit—a fellow nature lover looking after the environment.

   I noticed a flock of feral pigeons flying speedily over the abandoned factory rooftop they use as a colony. A pair of gulls were perched on the leisure centre rooftop as I passed. Finally, I photographed some tiny blue Speedwell flowers growing alongside a large patch of dead-nettles on a grassy bank next to the recreation ground.

Today, I walked 2.29 miles in 51 minutes. Google Fit awarded me 21 heart points.

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.