The valley is full of texture. Dark green patches over the far side where the nettles are still flourishing. Brown tufts of dead willowherb and loosestrife are standing strong after the storm. And knitting it all together are brighter green strokes of fresh reed canary grass lying low across the valley. Whereas the shoots that emerged in the spring shot up and flowered, those that emerge in the autumn will overwinter and have a growth spurt in the spring.
There are three parallel streams running down towards the sea, sometimes in the winter the low-lying sun lights them up and they glint like mercury, but not today. Only our stream is visible – but more of that tomorrow…