Fairies on Wolstonbury Hill, Sunday 8th March 2009

In preparation for leading this 6 miles walk on behalf of Mid Sussex Ramblers, I did Internet searches on the history and natural history of this wonderful hill. Some attendees got a copy of my notes and I tried to paste them on this blog. However that produced technical problems which were immensely frustrating. So I have given up! Should you, dear reader, like a copy of my notes on Fairies and this walk - please email me and I will email you a copy.

Click on any picture to expand.

The ascent of Wolsonbury hill.

There was a little shelter from the biting winds in this bronze age ditch where we ate our picnic lunches. The ditch is inside of the earth wall (and palisade?) suggesting that this hill fort was to keep things in -- animals presumably -- rather than people out.

Glamorous ladies that lunch - in winds gusting to 40mph on the top of a hill.

Near the top is a pond where rare fairy shrimps are found. Click the link on fairy shrimps and scroll down the page for an illuminating insight to these rare creatures.

It was freezing cold when the sun was in and we were keen for Gary to take this shot asap.

Thanks Gary, for these pic's which include me (in red!).

Join Gary when he leads his walk at 10.00hr on Sunday 22nd March from Devil's Dyke car park and me again on Saturday 21st March from Horstead Keynes. It should be nice and warm then!

Rather strong winds made this section quite blustery. I took some pleasure to observe the heavy rain falling on Hampshire and not on us. The sun shines on the righteous, they say!
There were fine views of the Jack and Jill windmills as we strode along - happily with the wind in our backs at this stage.

Click on any picture to expand.The Jack and Jill pub at Clayton looks very inviting from the top of the Downs, but on this occasion lunch was enjoyed in the open, amidst ant hills in a bronze age ditch - so much more enjoyable than an open fire with real ale and no gale force winds.

Open the picture above to better see this lovely picture, which Gary took, including Oldland windmill at Keymer in the center distance.There is a steep descent through the woods to Wellcombe bottom and then up again across this field to a track where ransom (wild garlic) was prolific; another great sign of Spring. (I have sown ransom seeds in my garden under a north facing wall and will collect some leaves for this evening's dinner.)

Celandines in flower in New Way Lane. The name comes from the Latin chelidonia meaning swallow as the flowers were said to come and go with the arrival and departure of swallows.