Which way does the wind blow?

This morning when I opened the back door I had the distinct sense that a steam train had just passed by – I could smell the smoke! And then the thinking part of my brain took over: it must be an easterly wind and the delightful aroma of Asker’s bakery coal oven was floating in my direction. It also tends to mean there is high pressure, so the weather is often lovely.

On more mundane days, the south westerly brings in the dull roar of the A1 traffic, a reminder of the world outside.

The North wind doesn’t seem to bring sound or smell, just very purposeful clouds and lots of cold, so it usually means it’s time to wrap up warm.

But the rarest and most exciting breeze of all is a southerly, which brings in warmer French air with the aroma of vineyards and summer holidays on it, and if we are really lucky the stunning Clouded Yellow butterfly which floats across from France and Spain to check out the nectar in our parts. June is a good month for this.

Nicholas Rudd-Jones, Editor

Cover: The entrance gate to the sculpture garden, by Mark Blackmore