WELL, what a beautiful summer it has been.

It's been hot and dry, which is great for those that love the sunshine and the opportunities it offers to venture out and soak up “the rays”.

I wonder just how many of you did actually take advantage of the exceptional weather.

More importantly, how many youngsters ventured forth, even when away on their holidays, or were they huddled over a screen or some console or other watching YouTube or shooting up baddies?

I know this is a regular whinge of mine - and one which many of you will be fed up of hearing - but I really do believe that the obsession with portable tech is a health hazard and is gradually detaching many from nature and their environment.

Yes, their environment, that which gives us life.

During this summer, I have had memorable encounters with hectic dippers, flashing kingfishers, delightful deer and leaping salmon, to mention just a few, and all in this area - not miles away or in some far off land.

The most enchanting encounter was with some trout, the photo is of the first which weighted around a pound and was released after being photographed.

It was followed by two more, each larger than the one before.

The others were so splendid that I did not want to risk damaging them, so let them go without taking them from the water.

The photograph fails to do justice to the beauty of these fish: they were the colour of brightest gold, with black spots, the most beautiful trout I have ever seen.

All three were released.

"So what?" some of you may ask.

Well, my hobby and that of those that enjoy 'the outdoors', brings me and them into contact with nature and all its beauties.

Anglers that fly fish identify the various species of fly hatching, or on the wing.

Ugh flies!

I can understand that reaction, if you have only ever encountered house flies and those horrible blue bottles that buzz about the house.

The flies of the fields and rivers come in many shapes and sizes, from the great green dragonfly, with a wingspan of almost six inches, which darts and hovers around the river bank, or its smaller cousin, the florescent blue damsel fly, about a third the size of its larger cousin.

There are small and large olives, with upright wings and the yellow sally with bright yellow bodied, flies with wings that fold over their bodies like bungalow roofs.

Red ones and blue ones, the colours are almost endless, and they don’t bite.

Wasps and midges are, of course, the exceptions.

It all reminds me of that old saying "with the kiss of the sun for pardon and the songs of the birds for mirth, one is nearer god’s heart in the garden, than anywhere else on earth”.

The peace and relative quiet of the countryside is a medicine, the green soothes the troubled mind.

I write these few words for those that are kind enough to read them, in the hope that you may be encouraged to go into the countryside and enjoy its many pleasures, but more especially that you may consider the benefits of fishing by a lake or pond or enjoying the pleasures of our beautiful rivers.

I think it especially important that we encourage our children and grandchildren to enjoy the contemplative nature of angling.