Throughout this year my walks have grown to become an integral and important part of my life. I don’t think I have every walked so much and I certainly have never explored the beautiful landscape around me more than I have this year. I am very lucky to live close to the South Downs. From my front door I can walk to the top of the Downs in about 30 minutes (if I keep up a good pace and get out of breath up the steep bits!).

In Spring and Summer my long, sure-footed stride, and steady rhythm as I walked, created a meditative state that sharpened my senses. I was more acutely aware of the sweet, heavy scent of elderflower and the air laced with birdsong. The sometimes grey clouds hung heavy above the top of the hills and sometimes floated and sailed across the valley below. The crumbling white chalk was exposed and uneven on the path beneath my feet, but on the hill it was blanketed with cushioned green. On warm days, no wind, there was a heavy stillness full of wild flowers and the hum of insects.