These chill, sunless, days at the start of the year encourage reflection and introspection. What will this new year bring to the world? I can’t help feeling anxious about the chaos humans are creating everywhere and the apparent lack of political will to do something about it. Recently I’ve been avoiding the news and those apocalyptic images of wildfires and war across the globe. And now it seems that bats and newts are planning obstacles stopping UK economic recovery and environmental activists must be punished for caring about the sort of world our children will inherit….
Stepping out into the hushed, grey morning all seems quiet, but then the air ripples with the liquid music of a song thrush from the high hedgerow. The thrush clearly thinks that Spring can be seen ahead from his high vantage point, and his lyrical melody is a herald of different days to come after the winter storms and darkness. Then I catch sight of something bright glowing at the base of the hedge and look closer to see a cluster of winter aconites (Eranthus hyemalis) nestled amongst the russet rug of dead leaves and twigs. So small but so full of golden hope. Spring is not far away now.
