New Forest - Paws, Wings and Wildflowers

A few weeks ago, after getting back from a cruise and before setting off on the long journey home, I helped take my friend's dog for a walk. I was looking forward to stretching my legs and getting back out into nature. One of the first places we headed was the beautiful New Forest in Hampshire, UK. Of course, before we could get very far, the dog had to stop for a good chew on a few sticks!

The weather was still quite hot as we wandered along the paths of the open heathland. After a good chew on the sticks, the dog was happily running ahead of us, sniffing every interesting scent.

There was a lovely yellow carpet of dandelions in the field running beside the footpath.

It wasn't long before we started spotting wildlife. Tiny ladybirds seemed to be everywhere, resting on leaves and wildflowers, adding bright spots of red to the greenery.

We also noticed both gatekeeper and peacock butterflies fluttering from flower to flower. A drone wasp, or whatever it was, seemed to be tormenting the peacock butterfly, chasing it around.

The bees were busy too, buzzing between the wildflowers, collecting nectar from the thistles and doing their important work. It's always good to see so many pollinators thriving.

The flower heads of hemp-agrimony added a touch of soft pink to our walk, along with the lovely smell of the honeysuckle.

The New Forest has a nice way of helping you slow down and appreciate the little things. After the excitement of the cruise, this walk was a nice change of pace. There was fresh air, beautiful scenery, a happy dog, and plenty of wildlife.