The walk began with a distinct chill, the ‘feels like’ temperature hovering between 10°C and 18°C, though the actual air temperature sat warmer at 12°C to 23°C. A brisk easterly breeze whipped up at 15 to 16 mph, creating a walk of total contrasts—bracingly breezy in the open, but delightfully hot the moment I found sheltered sunshine.

    Skirting the edge of the recreation ground, I spotted a lone corvid foraging in the grass on the far side, whilst several small brown butterflies fluttered through the long grass and hedge-bottom weeds.

   Stepping through the cemetery gates, I followed the central path up towards the empty top field. My arrival sent a commotion of around fifty rooks and a few wood pigeons into the skies, scattering in all directions. Nearby, another small brown butterfly danced over the flowers and a hedgerow shrub. I paused by the wild natural bank, treating myself to the spectacular view of the sea twinkling in the distance beyond the golf course.

   Up in the canopy, rooks kept up a busy commotion, swirling around the treetops as they came and went from the rookery. Reaching the cemetery gates once more, my presence sent a sparrow diving headlong into cover.

   Heading down the cemetery road, I noted the Holm Oaks looking remarkably brown. A quick look online later confirmed my suspicions—perfectly normal behavior for the species at this time of year.

    With that mystery solved, I pushed on to the finish line of today’s active wild nature walk.

Daily Stats

Distance: 1.73 miles

Duration: 36 minutes

Google Fit: 23 Heart Points

Duration: 36 minutes

Google Fit: 23 Heart Points.

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