Lynn Woollacott . . . . . . .Poet

April 2012  Extract from my journal.

April 21st
Hay Stacks (Cumbria, Lake District). 4.5 miles. Height to summit, 1,900ft.
Time – all day as I’m a bit slow!! (3-4 hours normally)

From the car park at Gatesgarth Farm, under grey cloud cover, a winding path
stretches into a meandering valley, on out left, Fleetwith Pike, on the ground
– wild dog violets and the sound of a splashing river. We cross a bridge to the
right side for Hay Stacks mountain and take step after boulder step up past
wate...

Nature Notes.

March 3, 2012.

Dew sparkles on the Leylandii hedge, a blackbird hops along its ridge, a length of dried grass in his beak.

March 14.

When I was in nine, (many years ago!) our headmaster brought in a road kill;  in assembly he asked
if anyone had ever seen a real badger, one child raised their hand. Later, each class in turn, had to walk past
the dead badger so we could see what one looked like. One side of the badger’s face was smashed in; his legs were
set in a running position...

Nature Notes, February 2012

26 January. East Runton to West Runton Beach (and back) – around 2 hours.

There’s a thin line of mist on the sea’s horizon as I pass the eerie moon-like landscape of chalk rocks on my left. On the strand line there’s washed up new-growth of bright green sea lettuce. Sea lettuce is packed with healthy vitamins and is grazed on by geese further up the coast in the marshes, and in the sea it’s a good food source for marine animals. I’m not tempted by it â€...

Nature Notes, January 2012

New Year's Eve.

Walking on the beach between East Runton and Cromer, I lean up against the pillbox which has been tilted by the tides, I've seen it covered in sand and fully exposed to the elements at different times of the year. In front of me is approximately 250 yards of golden sand, then 500 yards of flint rock and pools. Gulls move and stand in circles of ebbing, gentle slush. The fog freezes the ends of my fingertips.  A few dog walkers pass by without noticin...