A Walk to the Beach

Today the sun shone, the lawns were mown and I walked to the beach. It only takes 7 minutes to walk down the hill to Swanpool. The sun on the water was lovely and the sea was like a mill pond. It is definitely autumn with seeds and berries everywhere and the leaves with their autumn colours. I was amazed at how many flowers were still showing their face. I found periwinkle, self sown sweet peas, vetch, Monbretia which always shrieks Cornwall to me, ragwort which the Victorians introduced to this country and is so poisonous to cattle, and also some campion still blooming. There were blackberries galore but too high up in the hedge to pick more’s the pity!

I love the ferns that grow at the side of the road in profusion. I am never able to work out the difference between a fern and bracken though the slipper ferns are obvious.

The going back was harder as it is quite a steep hill but I stopped and spoke to the ponies and caught glimpses of the pool which gives Swanpool it’s name. It is now part of a nature reserve and there are still swans as well as many other water birds.

Some of the trees had lovely red leaves and there were oak galls and acorns on the oaks plus hawthorne berries in profusion. Columbine was everywhere! The ivy was full of flowers which were attracting the wasps and the lacy cascades of Old Man’s Beard was over everything.

All in all a lovely walk, although it was longer on the way back,   and lots to look at and remind me of why I love Autumn!