Deep in the heart of Essex, 2017

On the hottest day of the year so far, before the trip along the seafront in the evening sunlight there was a journey out to find cooler surroundings, away from the concrete of the town, and the Prittle Brook Greenway was it.

It starts up in Thundersley, heads south to Belfairs then east to Prittlewell, which is the bit I know. It has a path beside it and runs parallel to the London Road. At Priory Park in Prittlewell there are lakes and ponds, probably from when it was a priory and would have been used to keep fish. It then heads north up to Rochford where it joins the River Roach.

Three recordings, the first from the Blenheim Crescent end, plenty of birdsong, twigs falling off the trees and a light aircraft from Southend Airport. Secondly, from near Olivia Drive from the grass verge and allotments to the left, more birdsong and the wind in the trees. The picture shows the brook at that point with the earth bank; mostly it’s canalised though. Final short piece is behind Darlinghurst School, a junior school, not as much birdsong here; I think that might be because of the school playground and mown school field.

The Greenway is popular with walkers and cyclists, very good for blackberries, although you need to watch your step and don’t pick from too low down because it’s also popular with dog walkers.

Recorded 4 o’clock, 4.15ish in the afternoon.