Castle Vale Gardens with flowers and view of the Royal Border bridge, plus birds by the river and cliffs in Berwick-upon-Tweed - 9th May 2026

I had been to Holy Island in the morning and the bus back to Berwick-upon-Tweed was at 16.00.  It was now good weather after the rain so, on my return, I went for a short stroll in Castle Vale Gardens

There was an amazing display of Rhododendrons in the gardens

plus these lovely mauve flowers, the name of which I don't know

The Royal Border railway bridge from the viewpoint in the gardens

A multitude of Wild Garlic by the steps from Castle Vale Gardens down to the river Tweed

View of the Royal Border bridge from below by the edge of the river

I wandered further along the river and took a photo of the three bridges - two road and one railway

Very tall  brick tower in Spittal - on the opposite side of the river Tweed

and Berwick-upon-Tweed lighthouse

An Oystercatcher was feeding at low tide on the river bed

Male Linnet perching at the top of a shrub on land at the edge of Little Beach

and a male Stonechat perching in front of the wall

Female Linnet perching on a piece of wood

Two dogs running along the edge of the beach with the lighthouse in the distance

Para-glider or kite surfer had landed on the edge of the cliff

Meadow Pipit perching on a post on the cliff

Wildlife, nature and butterflies seen during visit to Hastings Country Park on 22nd April 2026

Song thrush near the top of a tree while on my way to Warren Glen

There weren't many birds about, but I did see a few butterflies:

Comma butterfly with very ragged wings

Side view of the Comma

Small Copper butterfly

Holly Blue butterfly

I walked down the path from the top part of Warren Glen

but decided not to go down to the lower part as it was too steep for me as I have a bad knee

Instead, I walked along Barley Lane and then went down the path leading to the Dripping well

Lots of Wild Garlic lined the edge of the path

There were also lots of Bluebells

and a Speckled Wood butterfly on white blossom

Here, again, the path was too steep for me so I went back up to Barley Lane

I was hoping to see Yellowhammers in the country park, but this notice by a field had to do!

I just managed to capture a tiny Wren in the undergrowth along Barley Lane

View of the Coastguard cottage and radar station on my way back to the visitor centre

I hope the roaming horses did not eat all the Bluebells!

Part of the old sand quarry wall

Looking down towards the coast from Hastings Country Park

White Fan-tailed Pigeon entering its home on the roof of a house at the edge of the country park

There were several Fan-tailed Pigeons on the roof that were ready to go home

I had an enjoyable day in Hastings Country Park, but was disappointed with the lack of birds and I had not realised that the area was so steep