Small is beautiful

Another bird walk today with the team from Sunderland Uni Art Dept. We walked from Stanhope to Middleton in Teasdale.

Some of you may remember that last week I met this young man. I was amazed to see him again today when he was waiting for the bus with his mates just as we started our walk.

Today's walk was tough because most of it was through high heather. There were frequent holes and loads of boggy bits. Hardly anyone escaped falling over in the course of the walk!

In between the heather were small patches of bare ground on which grow wonderful tiny lichen gardens. This image is typical and I think this is Cladonia diversa. There was a lot of the reindeer lichen too.

Now trying to dry out boots, gaiters, backpack and waterproofs ready for tomorrow.