We turned the corner and saw the snaking queue of caravans, estate cars and some very exasperated passengers. Vehicles piled with bedding, camping gear and toys, and windows wound down to relieve the stuffy heat pouring into the cars. This was a typical bank holiday Monday travel nightmare! And we were right in the middle of it.
Creeping along the single carriageway was not the way i had intended on spending the last few hours of my precious Monday off, but we didn’t have much of a choice. It seems that, like everyone else in East Anglia, we had leapt at the chance to escape the city for the weekend. But, on returning to Norwich (‘the big smoke’) i sat and pondered why, when faced with the opportunity to have some free time, do we all make a mad dash to get as far away as possible? I love the feeling of leaving for an adventure as much as the next person, but as we unpacked the car from our hectic weekend, i couldn’t help but think of all the things that i love about living in the city and how little time i dedicate to appreciating it.
My bike ride into work is kicked off with the sound of screaming swifts – a soundtrack that has become so familiar it now feels like an integral part of my daily routine. Without them, summertime in the city just wouldn’t be the same. The terraces lining my street act as a playground for these acrobatic birds and the months they spend in the UK are made all the more wholesome for their appearance. On the slightly larger end of the bird scale, is the peregrine falcon. The fastest animal on the planet, and he just so happens to be hanging out in Norwich for the summer. The catherdral peregrine has become something of a superstar in recent years and i always make a conscious effort to divert my city wanderings through the catherdral grounds hoping to catch a glimpse of the peregrine. Swooping high above the city-scape looking for food, the parents and their chicks are a favourite topic of conversation around the dinner table.
Whether it’s a small patch of delicate wild flowers, an enthralling bird of prey or a butterfly floating by, there is plenty of charm in the city. Taking the time to explore your local patch is incredibly worth while and certainly beats sitting in traffic! Perhaps, on my next bank holiday, I should think twice about leaping to escape the city when there is so much to enjoy right on my doorstep.
As featured in EDP, Saturday 1 June
Erica, RSPB Communications Team, East