For illustrated talks on natural history and history see www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk
There were nine of us on this Mid Sussex Ramblers' walk,in perfect weather, (overcast, c.20C and 3mph winds) after a rainy and windy bank holiday Monday. We zig-zagged our way from Handcross, towards Balcombe, back towards Staplefield and then back across to north east of Cuckfield through land formerly farmed by William's father. Then finally back to Cuckfield.
Thank you to all who came, making it a delightful day.
Click on any picture to expand. Pictures were taken with a Panasonic DMC FZ8,
Although not yet fully open, the opinion was that this was the Common Spotted Orchid, Dactylorhiza fuchsii. They hybridise easily with other orchids so are not necessarily easy to identify.
The various ferns are very beautiful in this little wooded valley.
Prof'. William spotted this "Chicken of the woods" fungus Laetiporus sulphureus, which is easy to identify from the bright yellow colour and the particularly sulphur-yellow margin (source New Holland Field Guide to Mushrooms....) ....especially easy if you are fortunate enough to have William on the walk!
Deer watching us watching them!
Luxury luncheon stop with choices of seating.
This is a short, and grizzly entry.
Damsel flies were very active this week around my garden pond. 
This pair were happily laying eggs into the water, when...
... a Dragon fly lava from the deep suddenly struck and dragged the damselfly beneath the water to a grizzly end. Compare the size of the larger Dragonfly lava's legs to the smaller damsel fly.
There were nine of us on this Mid Sussex Ramblers' walk,in perfect weather, (overcast, c.20C and 3mph winds) after a rainy and windy bank holiday Monday. We zig-zagged our way from Handcross, towards Balcombe, back towards Staplefield and then back across to north east of Cuckfield through land formerly farmed by William's father. Then finally back to Cuckfield.
Although not yet fully open, the opinion was that this was the Common Spotted Orchid, Dactylorhiza fuchsii. They hybridise easily with other orchids so are not necessarily easy to identify.
The various ferns are very beautiful in this little wooded valley.
Nyman's wood Millenium walk
Prof'. William spotted this "Chicken of the woods" fungus Laetiporus sulphureus, which is easy to identify from the bright yellow colour and the particularly sulphur-yellow margin (source New Holland Field Guide to Mushrooms....) ....especially easy if you are fortunate enough to have William on the walk!
Deer watching us watching them!
Luxury luncheon stop with choices of seating.
Lovely sight of Greylag geese at Sidnye farm.
