A Favourite Walk

My favourite short walk from our house, of a mile or so, takes us along a track between farmers' fields where there have been unusually large numbers of rabbits this summer, including some which have a white patch on their fronts - which one would have thought a disadvantage as the white makes them much more visible to predators.

Where the track leaves the fields it runs between dense masses of gorse bushes, home to yellowhammers which, despite the season being well advanced, are singing as if it was spring.

A path branches off the track and plunges into thicker pine woodland where, in the darker shadows under the trees, fungi are beginning to appear. I think this is milky bonnet.

In the clearings where sunlight reaches the ground speckled woods wait on the leaves of grass and bracken for any passing rival or potential mate, which is immediately confronted in a rapid, energetic dance.

This isn't a good walk for orchids. The only ones to be found are about fifteen northern marsh and, in just one confined spot, five creeping lady's tresses - sadly, now, beyond their best.

The walk returns to the house along squirrel alley, which runs along the back gardens of houses, some of whose occupants feed the local red squirrels, so there's a good chance of seeing one of these endearing characters.