The Walk
   The walk kicked off with the air sitting at a comfortable 19°C, though a brisk southwesterly breeze chopped the ‘feels like’ temperature down to a crisper 15°C. Down at the recreation ground, a sparrow made a swift dart into the hawthorn shrubs, which were absolutely jumping with birdlife. Tucked away beneath a choking blanket of dock leaves, nettles, and alexanders, a lone pink dwarf mallow flower peeked out. Just as I turned to leave, another nearly invisible pink bloom caught my eye between the brambles—a quick snap and a Google Lens check later confirmed it as valerian.

Two small white butterflies were fluttering around the weeds searching for nectar or a spot to land and spread their wings.
   Trudging along the outskirts, a grand total of two corvids were busy working the grass. I pushed past the thwack of the cricket nets and headed for the cemetery road, greeted by the muffled, familiar barking of my friend the Pitbull Terrier from behind his fence.
The sun had encouraged a carpet of red campion alongside the road and I took another photograph.
A lone sparrow held court on the hawthorns by the care home, whilst a solitary feral pigeon kept watch from the leisure centre roof to round off the trek.
The Stats
Distance: 2.31 miles
Time: 51 minutes
Heart Points: 27

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