David

Young fern unfurling, taking on a shape resembling the top of an ecclesiastical staff of office.

Delicate blue flowers of the water mint which covers some of the surface of the pool in Compton Park.

Bluebells, one of them white, growing up the slope by the Railway Walk.

Peacock butterfly systematically working its way around all the flowers on one of the crab apples in Compton Rough.

On a warm morning recently, a nettle patch in the corner of Compton Rough was playing host to lots of tortoiseshell butterflies.

I counted ten in the air at one time, but there were probably many more: the insects were spending most of their time resting on nettle leaves, warming themselves in the sun.

A footpath leading up a slope out of the Worfe valley, possibly ancient because it formed at least a slight holloway. A tree brought down by the winter’s storms and lying directly over the path. I only just managed to stoop enough to pass through without banging my head.