Where land meets river

What a beautiful day to walk the river.

I sat for a while in the garden of the Moot, watching the bees and the butterflies feed and pollinate the wildflowers on the amphitheatre. Birds sang from the trees and grasses swayed in the breeze.

A lesser spotted woodpecker drummed high in the tree and caught my attention and my delight! And a green woodpecker 'yaffled' across the pond.

I made my way out of the Moot after soaking up the energy, sights, and sounds of this ancient site and headed along the riverbank. The water and I were flowing in the same direction. Swans gracefully and effortlessly swam upriver, and a flash of electric blue from a kingfisher flew along the riverbank. Tadpoles wriggled in the shallows, and fish passed by like shadows. Before leaving the riverbank, I took a seat on the bench to absorb the sunshine, the breeze, the sounds of nature, and the flow of water.

While I was encapsulated in the moment, I caught a glimpse of a water vole as it left the river and disappeared into the reeds. The peace was broken by two happy dogs heading for the river, which pushed me on with my walk, where reed warblers warbled from the reeds!

Away from the river, I walked footpaths arched in blackthorn blooms and carpeted in lesser celandines before meeting the village lane, filled with wild hedges and stitchwort and bluebell verges.

The bees were buzzing amongst the blossom and butterflies floated along the verges. Turning onto the footpath that cuts between farmland, the rape is starting to flower and throws out its sweet scent into the warm air. Kestrels hovered and a red kite swooped where I took a moment to catch my breath and take in the stunning views to Salisbury and beyond.

This view and my joy of welcoming spring accompanied me back to the Moot, where I took one last moment to soak up the abundance of nature and ancient land.

The Moot, signifying a meeting point, and the Avon, meaning river, create a magical atmosphere in this liminal space. I believe people have sensed this enchantment for thousands of years and have continually utilised this magical area where the river meets the land.