Ramblings, photos and thoughts from the village of Bepton, West Sussex – plus Midhurst, The South Downs, Chichester and surrounding areas.
Please read this blog and I’ll explain JUST HOW BAD the situation has become on Bepton Down – and why I believe that Cowdray Estate and Natural England are jointly responsible for the decline of one of Britain’s last remaining areas of Chalk Grassland.
I discovered this mighty beast walking up the hall this evening. Not a word of a lie it was at least 6 feet from front to back toe. An absurd monster, stalking around the house seeking to eat anything in its way. Giant teeth. Growling too. It attacked my dog, thank goodness I don’t own a cat!
I’m going to hazard a guess and say this is a Dark Bush Cricket. Might be wrong but it’s definitely a Bush Cricket and from the size of the ovipositor I’d say she’s a lady.
In case you’re wondering I scooped her up and put her outside 😃 She savaged my arm but I’ll be ok.
Bepton Down is 14 hectares of unique chalk grassland on the north face of the South Downs overlooking Bepton. It’s a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an area of national importance.
Continue reading “Poor management of Bepton Down SSSI on The South Downs”
Round these parts, the Heyshott Bonfire and Fireworks is one of the highlights of the social calendar! The fireworks are as good as you’ll find anywhere (and I include my old village of Chiddingfold), and this year was no exception with the added advantage of fine weather and unseasonably high temperatures.
Very pleased to say Red Kites are alive and well, and flying gracefully over the South Downs near Bepton and Cocking in West Sussex. These are immigrant birds (probably from Spain, Germany or Sweden – does anyone know their origin?) which were reintroduced a few years ago to the South Downs at a secret location near West Dean. If you get close enough, you’ll see that they have green plastic wing tags. Hang out in Bepton for a couple of hours you’ll be pretty much guaranteed a view – 2 or 3 of them at a time. Great to see them taking to the skies! Almost as nice as seeing them sitting in a tree…
Dawn on a misty November morning. The leaves are reluctantly clinging to the oak trees and there’s a frost on the grass. The dead oak in the middle of the photo is one of my favourite trees in Bepton, it’s where you’re most likely to see a Red Kite.
Changing seasons on the South Downs. Autumn, and the mist and clouds roll across the face of Bepton Down. A week later, and the leaves were gone.
Bepton Ranger 