Spring Dawn and Drovers' Roads

I am lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country and when I awoke early to misty sunshine, for once I lept out of bed intent on catching the best of the day.

I used to live in Bishopstone when I first moved to Wiltshire and I still remember the excitement I felt on discovering the countryside so near to our little cottage. Today, I returned there to explore the Cranborne Drovers' Road which took me up along the top of the hills above the village.

It is a perfect early spring morning and I wander along listening to the birdsong and taking my time to look around me. I have always been an ambler rather than a seeker. I like to take the time to become a part of my surroundings and will often sit with my eyes closed so that I can listen properly. Every flower is smelt and many trees are hugged. 

Winter ends early in this part of the world and already the Blackthorne is in bloom and butterflies are basking in the sunshine. When I start my walk, the heavy dew is still on the grass and the spiders' webs. I saw Wrens, Chaffinches, and a pair of Yellowhammers, and the Larks were splitting the skies with their song. As I descended back into the valley I came upon a pair of Munjack deer and most exciting for me- a Hare.

I think the best part of the walk was discovering a wonderful line of mature Beech trees. They are my favourite tree and I can see myself returning here again and again, so as to see them in every season.

I sat in the sunshine and ate my breakfast sandwich and felt that this was truly a 'moment of being'. I felt completely happy and so glad that I had taken this chance to capture this elusive time of year- everything seems to be just on the cusp, the buds are just about to burst open and the tide of spring is unstoppable now.