Day 30 of the End to End was the beginning of week 5 and as I was passing the Slimbridge WWT I went in. this is one of the places I had always hoped to visit and, having missed out on it in 2012 when we came past with Hannah, this time I was determined to have a look. It did not disappoint.
Although there had been so much to see since leaving Land’s End the advantage of Slimbridge was it was signposted, so you knew what you were looking at. My own natural history knowledge is like a series of islands in a vast see called Attenborough Ocean or something similar. There’s a reasonable sized island of butterflies and another of moths with a few small crags of other insects. There’s quite a large island for native wild flowers and another of trees with some crags for other plants and even a few for fungi. There’s one or two small islands for birds but I’m not so good at putting names to birds. There are also some small islands for mammals and amphibians. Even worms, sea anemones and other creatures get the odd rock pool in my natural history archipelago but some others have not yet emerged and wait to be named and remembered. I try to add a few new names each year and if I can commit them to memory.
At Slimbridge there were also birds I’ve not often seen in the wild, like the Kingfishers. I have seen them before, but not from a hide which meant I could sit and watch them doing their thing for a while. I also heard a cuckoo. Again, I’ve heard them before, but this was peak bird day for me and I loved it. My prayer from Day 30 in 2019 is still appropriate one year later:
As the birds call to each other at the end of the day, flocking to a safe roost.
So we gather close to you, our God.
Like a mother bird you shelter us.
May we mirror your care in the way we care for others,
Particularly our care for vulnerable people.
Fast forward to 1st May 2020 and we decided to walk to Swallows Wood together, which is a beautiful place in Longdendale and although not yet at peak bluebell is just delightful right now. Things may not be signposted as at Slimbridge but there are plenty of things to spot. Choosing a damp morning proved sensible and we saw no one else in the woods.
I love to spot things. It was a huge part of the End to End for me to see the myriad species; plants and creatures in all their diversity the length of Britain. Whatever day it is, where ever you are, try to spot something, whether above or below you, in front our behind, or beside you. It may be something you see everyday, something you’ve seen before or something new. Examine it as carefully as you can with whatever senses you have. It will be marvellous, I’ve no doubt.
Remembering Psalm 104
The birds nest beside the wetlands and sing among the branches of the trees.
Here is one of the LEJOG prayers from 2019 that has been popular with other pray-ers.
Blessing for a Walk
From the hills,
may the Creator watch you;
By still waters,
may the Shepherd guide you;
On the streets,
may Wisdom call you;
And may the Holy Three
watch, guide and call you,
Today and every day.
JAL 01.05.2020 in Longdendale.