1st July from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth

Despite the torrential overnight rain, the paths are soon drying out. A guy in a white hoodie sitting out on one of the benches shows up brightly against the dark green on the pines. He is staring at his phone. Further along a young woman leans on a rail staring at the sea. The sky is a lumpy mass of grey and white clouds. Occasionally the sun is able to make a series of silver puddles on the sea corrugated with choppy waves. Thistle heads are bright purple and the Bears’ Paws are massive and stand out against the sea and the sky. Pigeons coo.

From 1st July 2022

During the morning there has been a transparent turquoise sea with just a smear of chartreuse to show where the sandbars lie out beyond the surf line. A brisk wind whips whitecaps off the top of the waves here and there. By afternoon, the clouds have gathered and the wind strengthened to a real bluster. A juvenile magpie flying across the green is suddenly whisked backwards and over and over by a sudden gust until it can find refuge on a convenient branch from where it displays its embarrassment and annoyance by a series of squawks and grumbles. In the dark places of the wood the first spears of enchanters nightshade prod upwards through the low sprawling brambles. As I pass the wood sage plant there is a real scent of lemony sage carried up on the warm air. #bournemouth #westcliffgreen #Summer #July

From 1st July 2016

The sea is ragged and that pewter colour beloved by writers. A steady drizzle falls from a leaden sky. Even the gulls are subdued today. But the clifftop is awash with vivid greens of every tone a mass of bushes and swathes of grass enjoying the past month of rain. 

From 1st July 2011

Beautiful deep blue sea out my window. A lone water skier makes a pencil straight white line across the little waves. Bright green trees on the cliff top and the gulls calling "What on earth are you doing inside on a day like this?"