Stefan Durkacz

It doesn't get much quieter down here in the crowded south east of England than a still and misty first Sunday after New Year. Give or take the distant thunder from Gatwick, that is. From East Grinstead station I shlepped along muddy paths and fields past back gardens, then a bridleway down to Weir Wood Reservoir, right on the border between East and West Sussex. The shores of the reservoir are fenced off. With no disturbance from people or livestock, the water is fringed by a wilderness of trees and scrub, huge thorny bowed beds of bramble. Great crested grebe and common terns nest on the water. There's a mink problem though, and the plan is to attract otters to suppress the mink population. The woods were full of little birds trooping from tree to tree along the path. Blissful solitude in the early morning. There's car access to the west end of the reservoir, hence much litter and bonfire remains. Over the road and up to a dry sandstone crest - Standen Rocks, a favourite