We have been in Braintree since November. It’s my first time living on a fairly busy road. But at its start is the river Brain and you walk up from it to our house. So going into town involves walking down to the river and up to the church, then market square. On the horizon are the spire, water towers, and white of the old weaving sheds.

We moved here to live in a town. We have found the convenience of being able to walk to the shops, the doctor and the chemist, and catch a bus. We have also found the beauty of a town plan that has grown up around a river and the countryside. At the top of the road we can walk into open countryside.

So, looking up the hill having visited the fantastic library, two tiny brown birds caught my attention as they at first landed on bushes near the river and then excitedly flew into the woods. I’m not good enough to identify them, but they lured me into Hoppit Mead, the park land at the bottom of our road. And that’s the picture you see at the head of this blog.

As I walked in, a troup of tiny Long Tailed Tits flew into the branches above. I became aware of their chattering and a new sound: the sound of the leaves flowing in the wind, a gentle rustling. As I walked on, a Speckled Wood butterfly flew up and danced its way through the shadows and the nettles. Gradually the road noise died away and as I looked up towards the houses that fringed the green I noticed an elderly person sitting in their front garden taking in the sun and the view.

Carrying on through the sounds took on a new importance.

Yes, Braintree is a busy town, and yes, both planes and traffic stream up the A120 corridor, but within easy reach, there is parkland, river walks, and pathways through trees.