I spent countless hours in my childhood playing in this gully. We kids usually had it to ourselves as it is often very wet in summer, icy in winter and almost impassable at any time due to many fallen trees. What more could a kid ask?

Right in the middle of it all, as if knowing that the acoustics are prefect (the best concert halls are shaped like little gullys), a Carolina Wren sang its piercing call for about 5 minutes. These lovely wrens do not migrate and have been know to sing in all months of the year.

Some years ago, I had one singing in my yard:

Some botany:

Chine Drive has some very interesting homes:

MAILBAG

From a former member of our walks who lives in England:

We are just saying farewell to our over-wintering variety of Redwings! It’s been a great winter for spotting them ground-feeding along with fieldfares.

NATURE POETRY

Deep down within the frozen brook
I hear a murmur faint and sweet, And lo!
The ice breaks as I look,
And living waters touch my feet.               – Jane Goodwin Austin (1831–94)

Miles Hearn