Sussex Scrapbook
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Nature walks throughout the year
Saturday 1st March 2008
Amberley - Houghton -
Glatting Beacon - Bignor - Bury - Amberley
10 miles
The Bignor area is one of the most beautiful in Sussex and the local
architecture encompasses the past 1000 years or more. In the church at Bignor
there is a font that was already old when the Normans invaded. If you want to
see Sussex villages at their best, then go and do this walk. It is such a
relaxing area and the 12th Century churches are living museums of the ancient
communities that have farmed here since the year dot! The churchyards are
idyllic resting spots for the weary traveller. All three of the churches we
visited today had spires that were covered with wooden tiles, and all three were
dotted with woodpecker holes.
The walk itself wound through numerous wooded sections, the floors of which were
already covered with: ground elder, bluebells, violets, ivy and primroses that
were all very close to flowering. We even managed to find a bluebell that was
already in bloom, our first of the year. The walk also goes along the South
Downs Way up to Glatting Beacon where it meets Stane Street, the old Roman road.
We had lovely weather conditions today (for March) and we spent much of the day
walking without coats, although last night there were strong gales and a few
trees had come down.
No owls today although we did see several sparrowhawks and buzzards and lots of
kestrels, plus a lone ring-necked parakeet.
While sleepily drinking a well earned cider in the pub at Amberley, I
accidentally set fire to the map I was reading with a candle. Well done Andy!
There are some amazing little footpaths in
the Bignor area. Go and find them.
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Great conditions on the downs today.
Bright, clear and very little wind.
This stream also doubles as a footpath
Is this the first bluebell of the year? It's the first
we've seen.
Bignor churchyard
This font has been baptising local
children for over a thousand years
Bignor Church with wooden spire (and
woodpecker holes)
An early entry for "bench of the month",
at Bury nr Amberley