Sussex Scrapbook
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Nature walks throughout the year
Saturday 3rd May 2008
Cuckfield - Bolney - Warninglid - Nuthurst - Sedgwick Park - Denne Park -
Horsham
16 miles
We started this walk from the church
in the
Independent State of Cuckfield and as Gill was
born in the town we didn't need to worry about getting any visas. We had a very
long walk planned for today and the weather was almost perfect although it was
very hot. I made the mistake of forgetting my hat, so I was completely worn out by the
time we reached Horsham and may have got a touch of the sun!
For most of the journey we were on the
High Weald Landscape Trail, which we can thoroughly recommend as a great way
to see Sussex. The path wove itself through bluebell woods, farmland and
parkland, over streams and between lakes, and also through a fair bit of mud.
There were a lot more insects on the wing this week than there were last week, with
plenty of Orange Tip, Peacock, Large White and Speckled Wood butterflies. Lots
more bees and hoverflies too. Sussex has had its swifts return this week, so the
insect life is bang on time to feed them up after their long journey from
Africa. One of the highlights today was to see a pair of nightingales, with the
male singing beautifully and the female collecting nesting material.
A feature in Cuckfield Church
Part of the Victorian ceiling of
Holy Trinity Church Cuckfield that was restored in 2002
.JPG)
A glimpse of a feature in Cuckfield park
Lydhurst Estate likes to keep things British
The bluebells are still out in force too.
The hot sun really made their perfume pungent.
Speckled Wood butterfly