Birken

The forest is radiant this morning, as a rider put it 'the best morning of the year so far' and you can't argue with that; the light is clean and the air fresh, the juxtaposition between the warm spring sun and the light chill hanging amongst the trunks and along the stream all combined to create an atmosphere of serene beauty. It feels like spring proper. The forest wildlife know it too; the tree tops ring with myriad bird calls, whilst nearby large herds of Fallow Deer graze in numerous sunlit glades. Winter has been drier than usual and the streams reflect this; Highland Water burbles over exposed gravel banks, a more common sight in late spring / early summer. Still, the gentle sound of water winding its way through woodland is therapeutic in itself and never fails to move one.