Wyck Beacon at 6.45am

by Mike Boyes

It is worth emphasising just how wonderful it is to get up early on a lovely morning in May, and to combine a daily walk with litter picking. I started my walk at Wyck Beacon at 6.45am. Skylarks were singing and the countryside was alive with bird song. And the low angle of the sun on a mass of wildflowers along the grass verges, with frost still on the ground, was simply magical. What a joy just to be alive, to breathe in fresh air, and to soak up all the sounds and sights of nature! My incentive to go out early was to complete my weekly pick of Wyck Beacon and my daily walk, and be home for breakfast with most of the day still ahead of me.

It is hard to convey the joy of being out early on a beautiful morning, so I am including some photos taken while enjoying the world around me. Litter picking was incidental, and although I collected quite a lot for a small area, that in no way marred my enjoyment of my morning’s walk. I wish more people could appreciate how it is possible to exercise, enjoy nature, and pick up litter at the same time. And as a bonus, several early birds thanked me for helping to clean up the environment. A passing Ubico van stopped to thank me and gave me a bundle of bags for future use.