Winter -Canterbury - Bridge Circular

Well planned, easy walk and an unexpected crossing.

Toby takes us along the North Downs way and clear pathways, that is until we get to the ones that have clearly not been used for quite a while and therefore not maintained by the farmers. One path takes us down a very overgrown hill and across the dual carriageway, where the lorries are swooshing to and fro, and there is no official crossing at all. Such an adrenaline rush as we have to run across the road and climb a prickly hill up to a stile, and we're safe! Toby goes as far as reporting that path to the Ramblers association, complaining all along that he doesn't really want to be 'one of those people' but does it nonetheless. The walk is relaxing as I am allowed to take as much time as I want to photograph, we are not rushing anywhere and we feel like we know where we are going. Very chilled out but maybe almost bordering on boring?! I clearly enjoy getting lost!

Leaves sinking in mud, slowly decomposing in water. A reminder that they will once return to the soil and become invisible to the eye, incorporated into the Flow of things.

I love the way that decomposition and decay is spoken about on the Trees for Life website: "Decomposition and decay are the yin to the yang of growth, and together they form two halves of the whole that is the closed-loop cycle of natural ecosystems. Everything dies, and without the processes of decomposition and decay the world would quickly become not only overflowing with the remains of dead plants and animals, but also would experience a decline in new growth, due to a shortage of nutrients, that would be locked up and unavailable in the dead forms."

Spider web like trees and a stream flowing behind their branches. The sight of this abode is very comforting and the abundance of hiding places feels magical.

Colourful tree fungus is eye catching. Apparently the organism of fungi resembles more that of an animal than a plant, so it's a little pet come to live on a tree! Only I am not sure how good it is for a tree....

A blooming shrub beautifully framing the entrance on to the field.

I think there is also beauty in nature arranged by Man. The perfect controlled geometry of planted trees can be restful for the eye. It provides a strangely clear perspective on an overcast day.

Cracks on rotten apples in the orchards. More decay.