Sunday 22nd March 2020

After a fine night's sleep, I was well rested and all ready for a day in the Kentish orchid fields.

The day dawned clear and fresh, and screaming for me to go out and photograph it.

When you decide you want to go out, you want to go out five minutes ago, but we had to have coffee first. Then Jools did some phys and we had breakfast.

So it was eight by the time we climbed into the Corsa to drive the six foot sixers to find some orchids in bloom. I hoped.

We drove along the A2 to Barham and Roundhill Tunnels on the A20 were closed.

From Barham down Gravel Castle Road (!) over the down into the Elham Valley, down to Elham then past Park Gate to Stelling and Stone Street. Off the old Roman road and down a narrow lane, and on the right is the small parking area. I reverse the car into the space, and here we are, ten months after we were last here, back again for a new season!

We just hope that we will be able to come here again and again this season. We shall see.

So, I grab my camera with the macro lens and we walk along the lower path, on the level for a while, until it begins to climb. Cimb up until the path opens out, and there is a carpet of green underneath the trees where bluebells will soon show, and among them, and between the roots of trees on the path, spotted rosettes of Early Purple Orchids.

So near to be out, and yet not quite.

Along the path further to the lower glade. It is still cold, so cold there is a trace of frost on the primrose leaves. I search but see no orchids or butterflies. Behind the bench there are three Fly Orchid spikes showing well.

Back down the path leading to the road there are dozens of more Fly spikes, some huge and already putting up spikes. It will soon be time, if there is anyone to see them, as travel other than for emergencies might be banned. Do orchids count as emergencies?

Asking for a, er, friend....

Over the road and up the path leading up the down. At first there are just bluebells and Dog's Mercury, but then the orchid spikes appear; EPO and Twayblade, but more and more Lady rosettes and a few Greater Butterfly. Also further up the first of the Herb Paris is untwirling.

Lovely.

At the top of the slop the path opens out into the top meadow, which will soon be larger as the scrub has been cut back. Just more rosettes here, and no butterflies of Bee Flies, but small solitary bees are busy in the cool air.

From there we walk, climbing over fallen tree trunks, into the bluebell wood, along there for ten minutes before scrambling down to the lower path, where more Fly and Lady are showing well in the glade cut two winter's ago.

Much growth has been cut back along the lower path, I walk slowly, hoping to spot a Brimstone or Orange Tip roosting or warming its wings, but see nothing.

We cross back over the road, climb back to the meadow and down back to the car. Nothing new seen, but it is warming up quickly, though still chilly.

With no spikes flowering, I decide not to go to Barham or anywhere else. But as we were near to Rhodes Minnis and the cat sanctuary, we thought we would swing by to see if they had any kittens.

Well, it took some finding, but we did get there, parked up and went through two sets of gates. I mean I have seen less secure prisons. And we rang the bell. We were wondering if you had any kittens?

No. None at all.

All spoken from a gap in the door and without a smile.

How rude.

We left and will not go back.

So, from there, back up Stone Street to Stelling Minis, through the woods to Park Down and then to Barham and finally onto the A2 to get home.

All back by eleven.

I make lunch, another ham roll and half pork pie combo, filling the hole that our lighter than light breakfast left.

And that was that. Really sunny afternoon but very chilly. We listen to the radio, talk and the day passes.

I wish we could say we did something constructive. I mean Jools did a little more gardening and put up a washing line.

Does that count?

Dinner was steak and ale pie, roast tatties and steamed veg and a pack of instant gravy.

And a bottle of plum and apple wine from 2011, made with our own fair hands.

And, once again, this was the weekend. Quiet, no football, and lots of rest and reading time.

The new normal.