One of my favourite times of day is sitting quietly in the distillery garden with a cup of coffee, listening to the dawn chorus. Nestled amongst herbs, alliums and flowers, you soon become part of the scenery.
The birds gradually stop seeing you as a threat. Once that happens, everything changes.
There is a stillness here that feels increasingly rare. The air carries the coolness of the night. Dew clings to the herbs. The first rays of sunlight catch the plant tops as the garden slowly wakes.
Apart from birdsong, everything feels calm. Peaceful. Grounding in a way modern life rarely allows.
The blackcaps are usually first to appear. They dart through the juniper, picking insects from the branches. Restless and energetic, they move in short bursts before vanishing again.
The juniper itself feels alive. Every branch holds some small drama if you sit still long enough to notice it.
The dunnock is far more cautious. Often moving in pairs, it creeps through the plants studying this strange new feature in the garden. It slips between stems and foliage while keeping a watchful eye on you.
Watching them becomes a quiet game of hide and seek. One moment visible. The next completely gone.
The robin behaves as though he owns the place. Bold and confident, he hops ever closer. He puffs himself up indignantly, as if demanding that you leave his garden at once.
Nearby, the finches bicker endlessly around the feeder. Seeds scatter in every direction as they compete for space. Sparrows, tits and the woodpecker wait patiently for an opening.
Above them, young blue tits line the branches calling constantly for food. Their exhausted parents shuttle back and forth without rest.
The best sounds come from higher in the canopy. Four young tawny owlets sit hidden amongst the leaves. Their distinctive calls drift across the garden as they wait impatiently for the adults to return.
Even future predators begin life demanding food and attention. Some things never change.
For all the talk of productivity and rushing through life, these mornings offer a reminder. Nature moves to its own rhythm. Sit quietly for ten minutes and you realise you were never missing anything important indoors.
