These woods are magical enough all year round but at this time of year with the sea of bluebells, the clouds of wild garlic and the possible sound of the cuckoo calling it has to be at it's peak.
We were there in the early morning, willow warblers, chaffinches and thrushes singing, water rushing, the heady smell of bluebells and damp earth filling the air.
The grass really was this green
and the waterfall really was this sparkly.
There is a part of the woods that has these curious old stone huts nestling into the side of the hill and the holes that you can see are where beehives were kept in years gone by.
The rooftops of all the huts are covered in wild garlic and bluebells.
It's spectacular.
I felt giddy with all the beauty. There was so much to take in and I said to Dean, "I don't know what to do with myself."
"Of course you do," he said. "Put your camera down a minute".
I resisted at first. But he was right, a moment of stillness was needed. We sat on the wall, thick with damp moss and sunk into the moment. We watched a wren move from rock to rock disappearing into the froth of white and reappearing with a trill. I saw a treecreeper making it's way up a tall trunk. I saw a robin hovering in mid air it's wings backlit in the sun as it tried to catch a fly.
Precious moments.
Then onwards, up flower laden paths
Hello stitchworts!
and as I was marveling at the luminosity of it all, Dean suddenly said, "Shhhh, love, turn around slowly and look."
Can you spot them? 
Tawny owlets!
They were as still as statues
AND THEY REALLY WERE THIS FLUFFY!
Having never encountered an owlet on the forest floor before we had to consult the internet to check that they were ok. The advice is to leave them well alone, unless they are in grave danger - on a road or near a dog or cat or something. The parent is probably nearby still feeding them and keeping an eye out. I hope so. I've been thinking about them all day.
What a magical morning. This is my twenty-seventh spring living in this valley and I still have to pinch myself sometimes. I don't take it for grated. I feel very lucky indeed.
