The West Park turtle is back. We first noticed the turtle (or terrapin) during the first lockdown, three years ago, but were later told that other people had spotted in for some years already.
It climb onto a branch near one of the islands in the lake in the mornings, and stays sunning itself for several hours. It’s homeland is the swamps of Florida, so it survives the British climate by hibernating in the mud at the bottom of the lake during the colder months.
Last year, it emerged as usual in March. But despite regular visits, we didn’t see it again after May, and began to fear the worst.
Perhaps its disappearance was because it found some more private spot to sunbathe. Right on schedule, with a week to go before the end of March, there it was back in its usual spot, with its tail dangling in the water.