May 23rd

Either side of where we live are two 'Moat Farms'; one in Happisburgh, the other just into Lessingham. The former is a proper working farm, being surrounded by small fields full of market garden produce and several meadows of swaying grass, soon be mown into swaths then baled and poly-wrapped in which it will ferment into a rich, sweet scented cattle fodder. The other Moat Farm is now a sympathetically converted group of farm buildings and as their names suggest, small areas of water can be found at each. I pass both when I choose to walk the regular circuit with Ossie and this morning we headed round anti-clockwise, passing through Lessingham first. The grounds around Moat Farm, Lessingham are home to some tall, mature Oaks where commoner birds often gather and this morning a Spotted Flycatcher sailed into the treetops, their summer arrival well under way.