Easter among the anemones

A patch of woodland near Whitfield (Kent) glistens with anemones, and the sunshine on Easter day made a visit to it a must:

At the furthest edge of the woodland a fallen tree was an ideal place to stop and appreciate spring glory of an english woodland

Next we look forward to the beautiful bluebells, now just begining to open out

To Stodmarsh

Whilst in Kent for my February break I took a trip northwards to Stodmarsh,
a little spot of wildness that I first visited many moons ago with Charlie Benson,
Jonathan Wright and others in my youth. It made a definate contribution to my
love for occasional birdwatching expeditions.


When I first visited it was alive with wintering ducks, and had recently become
a place for Cetti's warblers to inhabit in their colonisation of the UK from northern France.
Here I heard and saw snipe "drumming" for the first time, there were reed buntings,
and bearded tits, sedge and reed warblers......and marsh harriers!!!
All very exciting.



Today it was very much quieter than times I recalled, but no less wonderful as a Kentish wild place.





There were a few ducks....teal, widgeon, tufted duck, mallard, shoveler.
There was a big flurrying flock of lapwing that flew up from a field and swirled about
for a time......I wondered were the predator was but saw nothing obvious.
On the lake, as the sun set, I watched great crested grebe and a cormorant fishing.



And did I espie the lesser spotted Nature Writer of Note Simon Barnes,
he of recently read and much enjoyed "How to be Wild"??

As the daylight faded, mist began to spread up the Stour valley from seawards....and drifting

across the reed beds, in search of a roost for the night came two marsh harriers, as of yore!

But time for me to leave Stodmarsh again to the mists of time and memory....

all very refreshing!!

A Wild time I had of it.

The Pines Garden

Leaving poor flooded Gloucestershire behind for a while (and counting my blessings for living where I do, untouched by floodwater, loss of electricty or tap water supply) I enjoyed our first decent summer week down in Kent.

Herewith a few photos from our visit to the Pines Garden in St. Margaret's. (webpage link in the title) We'd always wondered what the Pines was like.
Now we know: very pleasant.

This building was particularly interesting. It is "the Pines Calyx" and very eco-friendly made from compacted chalk dug out on-site. The roof is very "green" too! Solar panel at the back. Marvellous.

The Calyx is used for meetings and conferences.

This statue of Sir Winston (not life size!) we assume graces the gardens in respect of his Lord Warden of the Cinque Port days, as well as his links with Kent via Chartwell. Perhaps if I read the website properly there maybe an explanation. Or you could look yourself....there are more photos from around the whole garden than I took anyway, so I'd recommend a look at the webpages, or go and the place itself even!!

Leaving St. Margarets once more, back onto the familiar path to Langdon.

And for those of you who ever held the slightest doubt in your mind as to whether France is really visible from Dover, here is a photo to prove it!!! A particularly clear view today, admittedly.

I'd like to call this photo "See France, sea, France, Sea France" although I cannot tell a lie, the ferry is in fact P&O.......haaaahaaaaahaaaa!!!!!!!!

p.s. Next photo, different day, in Thanet. More lovely blue sky above scenic little Joss Bay outside Broadstairs: and a rather splendid wave cut platform etc. Don't you think??