The parish church of St Mary, Gilston in Hertfordshire dates from the 13th century. It is set within wide open farmland north of Harlow. It's one of only a handful of buildings, surrounded on all sides by fields and outcrops of old trees, left behind from when the land was cleared for farming. As we walked along the narrow lane away from Eastwick, thickly verged and wafting with spring flowers, we listened as the noise from the A414 gradually subsided behind us, and dwindled with each turn in the lane, until at last it was nothing.
It was then that we felt real quiet, and heard the skylarks. High and rising over the fields, slowly circling on the warm updrafts. Singing out that from up there they could see whole fields of yellow.
The porch entrance to St Mary's has two wooden benches. A stack of second-hand books, parish notices pinned to the board, warnings to would-be heritage thieves, dog bowls full of water for passing pooches and a box of hand-drawn pathway maps, free to take away. It is the perfect spot to stop and take in the atmosphere. The sound of a sleepy rural church, adorned with sedately cooing wood pigeons basking on its sun warmed slates.
The sound of the overgrown churchyard with its gravestones surrounded by a carpet of cowslips, looking up to be read. Chaffinches and seesawing great tits in full voice from all over, hidden in the hedgerows.
At the far end of the churchyard, just before the fields start, a fir tree sways in the breeze. Jovial. Breathing in the wind. Home to a gloriously country-toned blackbird, who flew back to sing for a while.
106 In time the wren will come - Murmurs of the Kerry Ridgeway
105 Boy dog beach fossils
104 While away in winter woodland (a clear mind special)
103 Tidal breakers winter beach - in HD sound
102 Mild valley in June at the Cheshire / Derbyshire border (source of natural white noise)
101 At Benfleet Creek
100 Suffolk Wood (part 11) - a new day
99 High in the hills amongst snow laden trees - Christmas special
98 A ship that passes in the night - sleep safe
97 Through the trees, distant weir (source of natural white noise - 3D with ear/headphones)
96 A blustery day begins on inland tidal water (headphones)
95 Suffolk Wood (part 10) - a voyage from dawn to day - spacious and subtle - best with headphones
94 The trees that wait for the chalk stream to flow (natural source of white noise)
93 Rain garden after dark (sleep safe)
92 Up in the April hills of mid Wales
91 When woods go weird
90 Wind on water, night curlews, rain later (sleep safe)
89 The birds of the leafy ravine - a tonic for tired minds (best with headphones)
88 An afternoon at Wrabness (part 2)
87 Sky landing - when the wind bends the trees
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