Rucked up and rumpled, more 'ups' than Downs. These soul-worn tops, these ammot-mound-mountains of ours. All foothold and sheep track and lee-of-the-wind. Chalk scarred, tapestried and serenaded, a rise in the land that lifts us to the top of the world. Only the windhover and the lark claim higher. Chanctonbury Hill East, Above Washington. South …
Gardens Month Friday Feature: The Gardening Tourist
Today's photos were taken in yet another fabulous West Sussex garden: that surrounding Parham House near Storrington. Nestled beneath the brooding downs, and surrounded by flint walls and parkland, Parham is a magical - almost isolated - world of wonder. You can read more of my impressions on previous blogs inspired by visits to this …
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Downs: A Natural Heritage (World Poetry Day)
Thursday 21st March 2019 is 'World Poetry Day', so here are a few lines inspired by a love for my home county, its landscape, heritage and nature: the Sussex Downs. Downs: A Natural Heritage Bone chalk bruised beneath way-marked graze. The scent of you – woody and thyme filled, blossom haze.Flint nuggets, flat mat black …
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Wealden Worship and Wrens in the Woods
I could hear the song thrush even before I opened my eyes. In that lull of morning when the world breathes gently and gathers itself for the day, I lay and listened to the bird’s song ringing out like a call to prayer. Yellow spring sunlight found its way through the east-facing window of the …
New Nature & The Quest for Wild Sussex
I've been bursting to share this news with you all week! I have been given the opportunity of writing a regular column in one of the best magazines (in my humble opinion) currently in publication! Best, because it is innovative, fresh, engaging, stunningly well produced, and all created free of charge by young naturalists (aged …
One From The Archives: A Downland Walk
Archive post: Thursday, 19 February 2015 A Downland Walk For one of the first times this year, the sun shone with noticeable warmth, making it a pleasure to stretch, breath deeply and stroll grassy paths, and gaze upwards into the blue. I climbed high above the village onto the side of the downs, and higher, …
SFN Journal – Autumn Almanac: Return to Autumn
I popped to my Mums house, to exchange a couple of bits of shopping we'd picked up for each other. It is just a 5 minute walk around the corner, but I found myself amazed by the complete image of early autumn offered to me by the remnant hedgerows and woodland edges that soften my …
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Sussex, The Downs and I
Regular followers of this blog will be familiar with my passion for and connection with the area of the country I call home: the Sussex Downs. This week is 'National Parks Week', so it seems a perfect opportunity to delve a little deeper into where this love affair with my home county and its landscape …
Sussex Field Notes 