It is amazing what you can fit into 45 minutes, including finding autumn colours in the most surprising places. Last week as we waited for our MOT, we found ourselves with nothing to do in Ticehurst, East Sussex. We wandered around the back of the service barn and met a local couple who lived in a little cabin. After chatting for a while and discovering they had rescued some sheep, we knew we had to meet their woolly friends.
This is Chester and he loves to have his ears scruffled. His lady friend was a bit more wary of us but she came over to have a look at all the commotion, just out of arms reach under a tree.
We spent a good fifteen minutes fussing Chester and trying to avoid getting our shoelaces and scarves nibbled. He was such a sweetie and loved all the attention.
We followed a nature trail, through the local woodland to make the most of this perfect autumn day. Rustling leaves our soundtrack and a sea of golds, browns and evergreen as far as the eyes could see. Seed pods, birch leaves, alder cones and crab apples all falling to the ground ready to nourish the soil over the winter months.
Walking out into a clearing we found two beautiful oak trees and a rustic wooden swing, their leaves were glowing golden against the thunderous sky that was rolling in.
A crisp carpet of beech, oak, field maple (my newest tree discovery) and clover.
Beyond the oaks, the ground sloped away to a hidden pond. The reflection black like the clouds gathering above, with the delicate movement of fallen leaves shimmering on the surface.
Suddenly it was time to go and pick up the car, and not a moment too soon as large droplets had started to fall from the sky and the breeze was whipping up the leaves that were clinging to the trees – clattering golden leaf confetti down all over and around us.
This was 45 minutes of nature and the seasons at their most magical. I am so happy that we didn’t decide to wait on site for our car in an oily garage! xxx
