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.

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 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.

Wolstonbury Hill, Twayblades and more

 On this afternoon I left the Red Campion and Cow Parsley at the foot of Wolstonbury Hill to look for orchids.  Click on any picture to expand it.

I had expected to find lots of Common spotted Orchids, yet spotted none yet in this location.

There was a lot more orchids to see though, namely Common Twayblades to make this a wonderful afternoon stroll.

 The northern slope of the hill is steep, with shady deciduous woodland.  Wild garlic pervades the air having now gone to seed.

 The view towards Jack and Jill windmills on Clayton hill.

 

This looks like "Hound's tongue".

 There were dozens of these Common Blues on this sudden hot (21C) day.

 According to Wikopedia, Sainfoin is derived from Old French sain foin ("healthy hay") as it is a good fodder crop.

It is certainly very beautiful.

I haven't had time to figure what this is, but it is an intricate bud and possibly a Knapweed about to burst into flower.

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This Common Twayblade derives its name from old Norse meaning two leaves.

They are indeed, common on the hill at this time and are fascinating plants; the flowers look like little people.

 

Milkwort?

  Below, looks like an Early purple Orchid, which is past its best.

There are many more orchid species yet to emerge promising more lovely walks to come.

Broomrape and Early-purple Orchids on 7 miles Loder valley circular walk.

Starting from Wakehurst, where we obtained entry tickets for the Loder valley, it was a pleasure to see this toothwort, Lathraea clandestina from the Broomrape family, flowering near the bridge over the Loder valley lake.

It produces no green chlorophyll and is parasitic on tree roots such as hazel.  You can only see it when it flowers and pushes its flowers above ground.

It looks like bumble bees, Bombus terrestris are happy to pollinate it.  Click on any picture to expand it.

The group from this Mid Sussex Ramblers' walk in the Loder valley, lead by me.

Passing a fine line of pines.

There are great views to Chanctonbury hill from this vantage point.

Lunch was taken at the water's edge where one could watch fish swimming and splashing about.  The above picture was taken with a polarising filter so you can clearly see the fish.

 Heading towards Little Strudgate Farm.

 There were some fine (wood?) spurge by the roadside.

Before Newhouse Farm, there were some splendid Early-purple Orchids in the roadside verge.

They did smell awful in contrast with those of some weeks ago.  The speculation is that the smell changes once the flowers are pollinated.  A UV filter was used for these pictures in the vain hope of getting a better colour representation.  It was to no avail.  The flowers are more red than these pictures show.  Come back Kodachrome film -- all is forgiven.

Passing this beautiful wood, we entered the final "down-and-up" of this walk, which is somewhat more energetic that its 7 miles suggest because of the many hills.

It was a lovely walk in perfect weather.