My morning walk began along a narrow path, with trees crowding in on either side and branches hanging low overhead. 
Rain had left the ground wet, and fallen leaves lay scattered across the path, sticking to the mud underfoot. It was one of those mornings when the place felt quiet and sheltered.
There was just one small interruption to the peace. Every so often, a head would appear around the bushes in front, checking if I was walking a dog. I soon got into the habit of calling out “No dog!” before anyone had to ask, as people were just making sure there wouldn't be any dog fights!
I do like the look of silver birch trees as they really stand out.
An old tree trunk caught my eye, with a birch polypore fungus growing out of it. It was covered in green algae.
Nearby, a raindrop balanced on the tip of a fern leaf, catching the light. These are small things that are easy to miss if you are in a hurry.
The path eventually widened, leading out through more open land. After the woodland, it felt good to have more space around me. Trees stood further apart, with open clearings between them. Grass grew along the centre, which made for easier walking.
There was more sky to see here, and I could look further ahead rather than watching my step around roots and overhanging branches. The woods can be a bit of a trip hazard at times.
I like that the same paths never seem quite the same from one week to the next. There is always something different to notice, even if some mornings you end up reassuring the local dog walking community that you are, in fact, dog free!
