Walking along one of the boardwalks at Rainham with the sun washing your face and nothing demanding your attention is, in my book, one of the greatest luxuries in the world.
If you ever get the chance to experience this level of bliss, then treasure it. There's something primal about the wide open space, the untamed grass and reeds and the quiet busy-ness of nature going on around you. It seems far removed from the conflicts raging round the world or the anger and frustration clouding our economic future.
Even the buildings conspire to give a feeling of tranquility, like the Purfleet hide, which seemingly floats on the serene mirror-surfaced pool at its side. A visit to Rainham helps me put the muddle of life in to perspective. Its hides are actually temples of contemplation and renewal. Nothing about them fits the label 'hide'. Car manufacturers convinced us that clumpy cars are exciting MPV's, so I'm asking you to join me in a campaign to change the tag 'hides' with DP's; short for Discovery Pods. Share the love with #RSPBLondon
It's been a while since I was last in Rainham's Purfleet DP. Walking in is like stepping on to a stage as the large window and countoured landscape suggest you are the centre of attention rather than the wildlife.
That day, there were swifts sweeping over the water, hoovering up flying insects attracted to the water surface. It was one of those moments where you just stand and gawp. Any dragonfly, water vole or frog looking through the glass must have thought what a rather stupid and vacant race mankind is .. and probably wondered when I'd start performing.
Have you ever wondered where our swifts go when they leave the UK? A Belgian study tagged some swifts and the birds journey reads like a tourist itinerary.
One particular bird, lets call him Pierre, left Belgium and three days later arrived in NE Spain where he supped and dined for three days before moving along the trade route to Morrocco. Here, Pierre again paused for a couple of days enjoying the souks and the calls of the Iman. Another three days brought Pierre to the edge of a monsoon storm in west Mauritania. This slowed Pierre down so it took him five days to skirt the storm before arriving in southern Mali. A brief pause and then five more days to the insect rich winter feeding grounds of the north Congo basin.