Nicola Robertz lives in Portsmouth and enjoys trips to the National Park with her family. Here she writes about the wonderful joys of spring and her family’s discovery of a new favourite walk.
Everybody, literally everybody, I’ve spoken to recently has mentioned how this has felt like the longest toughest winter they can remember.
Non-stop rain soaking through jeans, blustery winds whipping hair in our faces, low grey light before dark never-ending evenings and wellies permanently caked in thick mud.
No surprise then that as soon as there is the first hint of sunshine, my family and I search for a walk in the South Downs National Park. The area is so vast that we never get bored of exploring. We decide this time to avoid all our tried and tested favourites (Kingley Vale, Old Winchester Hill and Catherington) and instead choose a new area; Dundridge and Upper Swanmore Circular.
Even just stepping out of the car, the signs of Spring are immediately apparent. I relish the soft warmth on my back and the joyful sound of birdsong filling the air around us. THIS. This is what I’ve been waiting for and I feel my shoulders drop as I take a deep, calm breath. Spring has always has that effect on me, an instant mood lift and renewed energy.
And I’m not the only one. The science shows that most of us benefit hugely from the increased sunlight exposure, which boosts serotonin and helps regulate our circadian rhythms. The extra time spent in nature and the extra vitamin D also help by balancing our immune systems. Plus there’s that lovely association with new beginnings to inspire hopeful optimism. Throw in the pretty blossom and some cute lambs and what’s not to like?!
The walk itself is lovely. We make our way through woodland, then alongside paddocks and crop fields, gently climbing (and sometimes not so gently climbing!) to a stunning view across lush green fields.
Colourful butterflies dance around our heads – too quickly for an amateur photographer like me to capture – while tiny robins sing for our attention. Not everywhere is green yet. Spring is only just waking up after the long stretch of winter! But the little signs are there in the tiny buds peeking through the undergrowth, the sun casting shadows across the fields, and the abundance of daffodils. The changes in the landscape are clear to see. That optimism shines through.
As the afternoon winds on, I fully appreciate the soft dappled light through the trees, grateful that it’s 5pm and we are still able to be out walking, dry and warm, with time and nature ahead of us.
We pass charming cottages and more horses. We spot bumblebees sipping on pollen. Four buzzards circle overhead. We hear the distinctive sound of a woodpecker. We even happen upon an alpaca being given its dinner!
Meanwhile, the gravel lane leads us back to our starting point where the sky has grown orange but the scent of spring still hangs in the cool air.
And then finally, with a fulfilled kind of tiredness, we end our day at a sweet little pub in the nearby village of Droxford – The delicious food and ale making us even more grateful to have the South Downs Park on our doorstep!
Our walk can be found here if you fancy trying it 😊
WHY NOT WRITE AN ARTICLE FOR US? If you love the South Downs and would like to write about a place in the National Park that you love please get in touch at newsletter@southdowns.gov.uk