For illustrated talks on natural history and history see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

For illustrated talks on natural history and history click here for www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk

Tuesday 8 June 2010

Lindfield Circular Walk with Common Spotted-orchids and wild roses.

This 7.1 miles walk, lead by Tony was from the Mid Sussex Ramblers' programme, starting from the lovely village of Lindfield.
Lindfield pond was home to a Mallard family.
Click on any picture to expand it.
 The Toll House is a reminder of past times.
One reason behind the multitude of lanes and paths in Sussex was landowners establishing their own routes across their own land to move goods and livestock avoiding the toll gates on the main routes.
One of Lindfield's fine houses.
Crossing the river Ouse we passed this Guelder Rose, Viburnum opulus a shrub which will have round red berries later.

Not everyone gets excited over a dung pit.  Yet this is what badgers do - dig a pit and poo in it.  So this is a sign of recent badger activity.  Why don't we just inoculate cattle against TB like we do ourselves and leave the badgers alone?
At Ardingly reservoir and within say 30m of a car park for disabled persons is this exquisite little meadow, which this day was full of Common Spotted-orchids.  What a joy to see, the more so as we saw none others on this day.
Heading south on the High Weald Landscape Trail, the hedgerow was resplendent with the second rose of the day...
the Dog Rose, Rosa canina.
 Passing a recent clearing in the forest, we enjoyed a fine display of Red Campion and Foxgloves.  The insect above, resting on a foxglove caught my eye.  It did not fly off when I took this picture and now you can see why.  It seems to have lost its left wing.  What fine antennae!
Further up the glade is a fine display of Wood Spurge.
Professor William Coleman was the back-marker on this day and pointed out the Figwort below.
Thanks Tony and William for another fine walk from the Mid Sussex Ramblers.

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