This weekend I made a circular walk from the village of East Kennet, Wiltshire, up onto the ancient wansdyke and back.

On this particular day the perfect contours of the chalk downs, the summer patchwork of textured fields and the variegated colours of crops and meadows responded to the majesty of the swirling weather. Mists descended, soft striations of distant rain marked the horizon and the sun peaked through bruised clouds like a spotlight illuminating the finest gothic cathedral.

The astonishing beauty of it all composed itself before my eyes. All I had to do was look. I couldn’t quite believe how perfect it was. In this moment I felt like I caught a scent of the Edenic creation, unfallen and in its paradisiacal state.

I love this land. The more I see it, the more it reveals of itself and of the creator.