27 – 31 July 2026

Monday Walk towards two women sitting on a bench in the wood. Chatting quietly they’re looking up, contemplating the sky. This area was cut back a while ago to make a clearer route for bats. In the winter everything is ground level, although right now, ferns and rosebay willow herb (fireweed) are more than shoulder high. There’s a clear sky above us. We say hello and one of the women says, “I’m trying to remember this blue — so I can get myself through the winter. Y’know: remember this will come.” I do know. The anemones and bluebells, the blackberries and the chestnuts are another reason I started writing. Remembering what’s coming when the dark winter days feel endless. But those days feel so far away today. Today I’m here for the blackberries. She says she reckons it’ll be two weeks yet. I tell her I’ve seen a lot of ripe ones from the train so I thought it might be worth a try. I head to the secluded path on the far side of the field. The brambles reach up to the sun here and I…