On The Wing
Marbled White butterfly, photograph taken by Doug Shaw in Queen Mary’s Woodland, June 2023
I’m writing this during odd times. My cousin Audrey died recently. There is grief in the air, and the smell of old paperwork fills the office as I trawl through a long, analogue life, sorting papers, registering the death, and arranging the funeral. Alongside all this bereavement ‘stuff’ sit many happy memories, I guess I’m feeling sadly grateful?
I live on the edge of town. Close enough to shops, trains, buses and the convenience of suburban life, and close enough to open fields, parks and woodlands too. Walking has long been my preferred mode of transport; for work, exercise, and just for the hell of it too. Walking is a lovely way to clear the head, and with everything else that’s going on, it’s proving even more beneficial lately.
A while back, my partner Carole and I decided we’d like to walk The Thames Path, and we’ve been nibbling away at stretches of the river around London. It’s a fascinating walk, taking in the old and new, the urban, the rural, and all points in between. Most recently we walked from London Bridge to Greenwich, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, and Deptford before arriving at the Cutty Sark.
This section of the Thames Path seems to have very few people on it. Beyond Tower Bridge until just before Greenwich, we were surprised at how peaceful the trail is here, given its proximity to Central London. Among the urban quiet, there are signs of nature. Trees poke through the tarmac and serve as places for birds and insects to rest and feed for birds and insects.
Since I was a kid, I’ve been interested in birds, and more recently, I’ve also become much more aware of other winged creatures we share our space with, butterflies and moths. I’m no expert but I’m enjoying drifting from ‘Ooh look, a butterfly’, more towards, ‘Hey – a Speckled Wood, how lucky am I’.
On this section of trail, we saw fewer birds than usual. A few gulls, moorhen, pigeons, and mallards. Then, just as we passed Greenland Dock, I spied a Great Crested Grebe, bobbing on the water looking a bit out of place on such a wide, urban section of the river. The bird lifted our already good spirits, and we finished the walk, stitching together a 58km long continuous stretch of the path. So far, we’ve walked from Hampton Court Palace all the way to the Thames Barrier.
Before heading home, we had a quick look around a few market stalls in Greenwich and I was fortunate to spot a beautiful set of ‘Butterfly and Moth’ Gallaher cigarette cards, issued in 1938. They are in superb condition, and I paid just £15 for the complete set.
Spring is here, and as we continue our adventures into more rural surroundings, I am confident we’ll start to see more butterflies. This year, I’ll choose to acknowledge them in memory of Audrey. Who knows, I may even spot some previously unseen species too. On the wing, taken by the breeze.
Remembering Audrey Hilda Oatley. 05/12/1935 : 10/04/2023
This post was originally written in April 2023 as my contribution to ‘For The Culturally Curious Zine 02 ~ AIR’, a limited edition zine compiled and published by Emma at Brazilarte. It’s a lovely publication - you can get one here, while stocks last.