Tuesday 16th June 2020

Day two of the week off, and I am full of great ideas.

In fact, I received a message on Twitter regarding an unusual Bee orchid, or two, in north Kent, and with directions to the house all programmed in, we were all set.

The Bee Orchids had sprung up in a couple's back garden, but their unusual colouring meant they found the orchids hard to ID. They turned to me, much fool them, and anyway, I dropped not very subtle hints about wanting to see them, so I was invited.

And as Ranscombe Farm was on the way, we could go there too. Ranscombe is a huge nature reserve, part of a much larger project in the Medway area, ensuring lots of natual green space for people to exercise in and enjoy. It is also a haven for wildlife, and has some very unusual flowers, including wild liquorice.

Which is a pea. Obviously.

So, at seven in the morning, we left home, cruising up the A2 to Canterbury then up the motorway. It was still rush hour, but not very busy, more concerning for me was the unforecasted cloud cover which meant my shots wouldn't be so good. Due to the added weight, I had left the ring flash behind. I might just regret that.

We cross the Medway on the motorway, turn off and are soon reversing into the last empty parking space at the reserve.

I knew where the plants were, just had to work out how the map corresponded to what we could see.

First thing we saw up the hill was a field full of Viper's Bugloss, a natve wildflower, beloved by bees, but usually seen in small groups, this was a field a quarter mile long, and full of nothing but bugloss. 99% were the usual blue, but there were two lilac spikes, and three pure white ones mixed in. And everywhere squadrons of bees were busy making honey.

We walk on, then along what the map called "the valley", which was indeed a valley, though really a huge wildflower field. All along there were poppies, common groundsel, bugloss, daisies and many, many other species, my mind's gone a blank in trying to remember.

There were a few dog walkers about, then there always are. But we make space for them, and they make space for us, and we bid each other good day, and all seems fine because we were all out enjoying the day and not working.

Which was nice.

Through a short stretch of woodland, and out onto "kitchen field", which was covered in poppies. I mean poppies almost as far as the eye could see. The sun wasn't quite out yet, but seemed to be brightening up, so maybe on the way back I could get shots.

We walk through the field, and on the far side there was an area of grass, and in the middle a grey/white pea-like plant was spreading over the ground.

This was liquorice.

I take shots.

And then we walk back, as the clouds parted and the fields of poppies turned red.

I take many more shots.

It takes half an hour to get back to the car, then drive ten minutes along the valley, turn off, and at a house on the edge of a village was our target.

We were taken round the back, where in the shadow on the wood just outside the garden, were several Bee Orchid spikes. Most were of a rare yellow lip colouration, a few being more normal.

I snap them good.

I thank the couple over and over again, but die to distancing, we could not stay and have a cuppa, so we leave and drive back east to home.

Stopping off at Medway services for brunch of a wrap, a pastie and a chocolate bar.

All the food groups.

And then to cruise home.

Job done for the day.

Once home I put the kettle on and make a brew, and we consider what to do with the rest of the day. Not much seems to be the plan.

I write, listen to music and make regular brews. Jools does stuff in the garden and reads a book, but for me, outside it is too hot.

So the afternoon passes with not much happening.

Dinner was the last dregs in the fridge: fish cakes, stir fry vegetables, asparagus and cous cous. And it was fabulous.

Sadly, this was the last day before the football season, so we listen to the radio and play uckers. I was triumphant once again.