12th June from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth

A smokey, hazy horizon but the sky is blue and the sun is hot. A little breeze keeps the air fresh. Although this is still the middle of June it feels like high summer already. The blackberries are a mass of purple, pink and white flowers. They are attended by thousands of bumble bees, honey bees and hover flies. A constant buzz fills the air. Honey suckle has straggled through the brambles and has opened its strange long trumpet shaped flowers. Nettles reach up to above head height and catch the afternoon sun in the clearings beneath the trees. A young man stands in the shade of the trees reading and further along another young man sits on a bench reading. Books are obviously a Thing this summer.

From 12th June 2022

After a day in which the day seemed to prefer to wear the grey coat of June, the evening sky is picture perfect. The syrupy sun is so strong that it projects shadows black and hard as if they were snipped round with scissors. The sea is ruffled slate blue and the wind is almost kindly. Blackbirds fill the evening air with song. The carol a song that can last all day. It is made up of short phrases which never repeat. An extraordinary feat of creativity. The many greens of the bushes and trees in the evening light are sharp and vibrant. Someone has pitched a tent and lit a barbecue. This way they are eligible for the full force of the council as both are expressly forbidden and there are notices giving the tariff. #bournemouth #westcliffgreen #summer #June

From 12th June 2021

A deer on the West Cliff. Clearly unsure of where to go.

From 12th June 2012

A rain blurred horizon smearing grey with grey. On the West Cliff the bright green bushes bob and weave like pensioners gossiping over a game of cards.