Wild Moment: Mandy Ducksbury
Mandy shares a piece of writing inspired by a walk along the shore path from Wray Castle to Claife Viewing Station in the Lake District.
A Special Place
The sight of a lone buzzard lifting its wings into the sky, circling round so freely to the cacophony of bird song, lifted even the most troubled spirit.
In the distance, with the evocative sounds of the waves caressing the shingle beach with rocks encased with lichen, Wray Castle stands cold and unyielding and contrasting with blue sky, white cloud and an orb of luminous sunshine. The spectacular views of the distant mountains across the cold waters of the lake completely took my breath away.
The pungent smell of wild garlic carpeting the woodland floor nearby, filling the air with an aroma of the ancient woods' spring scents. An old stone wall snakes its way along the path, covered in abundant green mosses, damp and spongy to touch and teaming with endless life.
Honking from wild geese flying in a perfect V formation to paradise elsewhere among the jewels of the countryside, their slow beating wings in perpetual motion. Watching them, holding my breath, they continue to fly in perfect formation each and everyone of them having a place and a purpose in time and motion.
An explosion of bluebells nodding their heads in the gentle breeze, their sweet scent attracting the attention of a solitary bumble bee, its buzzing distracted my attention as it flew around collecting nectar and pollen.
Thick, gnarled tree roots protruding from the ground among the rotting wood and surrounding decay, I could almost taste the earthy air around me.
The re- emergence of the thick foliage, its varied shades of green as a gentle breeze tickles the trees and make the leaves shake with laughter.
Caressing the lichen encrusted bark of a nearby tree trunk, I notice the huge amount of devastated trees around me, now lying bereft of life, as the raging wind flipped them over like matchsticks and their huge root systems now visible from the relentless winter storms.
Sunlight filtering down through the trees in endless seams of gold and the symphony of birdsong proved to be an elixir to the soul. Composting, earthy organic smells once again rose up in waves, from the woodland floor. A lone jackdaw with silvery plumage on the back of his head and jet black sheen on its feathers, was inquisitively staring, its eyes following my every move, making me wonder if it was friend or foe.
A spectrum of radiant colour from magnificent rhododendrons spread throughout the scene, their flowers hanging in bells of assorted colours accompanying delicate fragrances carried on the breeze and enriching the surrounding area.
Nature's fallen tears glistened on the delicate petals, catching sunlight as it refracted, perfectly formed.
Decaying, rotten tree stumps covered in dense green moss, like a pillow, so soft and inviting, a real temptation to stop and rest. Pale cream fungi growing to the side of a stump, providing mother nature with the essential recycling components to the woodland food chain. A truly special place.
- Read more of Mandy's Lakeland inspired words here and here.
- Inspired to submit your own Wild Moment? Find out how.
