2017 has been a great summer for butterflies
Here’s a photo of a gorgeous Peacock in the garden. Peacocks are common enough, but this year they are swarming in our garden!
Category: The South Downs
New Zealand Romney Sheep
Welcome neighbours!
A big welcome to Andrew and Laura and all their wonderful sheep. Andrew and Laura join us from Locks Farm a few miles along the Downs near Pulborough and it will be lovely to see all their lovely sheep in the fields between Didling and Cocking.
Bee Orchid on Bepton Down
South Downs Bee Orchid
How about this for a stunning little orchid!? When I see British wild flowers like this I marvel at how wonderful nature can be. Goodness knows how or why this little flower evolved to look like a bee, but that’s only half of the mystery of the bee orchid.
Fallow deer population in Sussex
Oh deer, oh deer, oh deer…
There are lots and lots of deer in and around Bepton. You’ll see large herds of Fallow, small groups of Roe Deer and if you keep your eyes peeled – the occasional glimpse of Muntjac deer. There are plenty of Muntjac in and around Midhurst and the Severals, we often see them on winter evenings on the drive home. Fallow Deer are perfectly suited to life on The South Downs, with arable areas for nighttime grazing and woodland for cover during the day.
Barlavington Down
John Deere, rolling Downs
It’s a good day when everything comes together for a nice photograph! The simple rolling lines of this vast chalk field, a single tractor and perfect light. Ooooh it’s good to be out and about…
This photo and others are on my Photostream at Flickr.
Visitors in the garden
Long tailed tits feeding on peanuts
I’ve been enjoying some interesting visitors in the garden this week. Just outside my study window I’ve got a bunch of bird feeders – which can be a bit of a welcome distraction!
Sussex beeches
Misty trees
Last week I took an early morning ride along The South Downs Way and then to the oil fields in Singleton forest.
Petworth Park Boathouse
Petworth Park on a misty Autumn Morning
I was up at the crack of dawn on Sunday morning, eager to be the first person into Petworth Park as they opened the gates at 8 o’clock. Here’s a photo of the boathouse on the Upper Pond.
Watching the sun go down
Pyramidal orchids on an evening in June
Thursday evening is my favourite time of the week.
Greater Butterfly Orchid on Bepton Down
A big white white orchid that looks like a hyacinth!
The start of the season saw a few setbacks with very few Early Purple Orchids or Cowslips. But things have improved a little and there are now lots of Common Spotted Orchids, Twayblades and these lovely Greater Butterfly Orchids.
Bepton Ranger 