A January lunchtime in Railway Fields

It was such a lovely day that I decided to nip out during my lunch break for a walk around Railway Fields.

As you walk up the path, you realise how quickly the drone and groan of traffic from Green Lanes gives way to birdsong and the rustle of squirrels in the undergrowth. 

The volunteers have been working hard clearing spaces, encouraging meadow plants to take root and creating new paths through previously dense undergrowth.

I followed this new path along the railway line.

Discovering some bits and bobs from Railway Fields' previous life, I appealed to Twitter to find out what these white ceramic things were.

The hivemind didn't let me down, soon multiple people informed that they are ceramic railway signal telegraph insulators. I love Twitter :)

Retracing my steps, I found myself, as ever, paying my respects to the 350 yr old field maple and admiring the fine old Victorian stench pipe.  

Finally, I arrived at the river, looking into the blue corner.

It was almost time to return to my desk but not before I'd sat in the weak but warm January sun on the bench by the pond, and then stood for five minutes watching gold and green finches flashing through the trees, rewarded at last by the sight of the tiny 'king of birds', the wren, before being sung on my way by the big bold robin.

But in every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~ John Muir, July 1877