Saturday 16th June
2007
Pulborough - Parham - Cootham - Rackham Hill - Amberley - Pulborough
15 miles
Today we had a fantastic 15 mile walk that started with a good old stoat hunt at
Pulborough Brooks. We didn't find any today and this may have been due to the showery
weather. From PB we set off south through Wiggonholt Common to Cootham and Parham
House. At the huge Parham estate there was a country fair on with a clay pigeon
competition making loads of noise all morning. From Parham we headed through
Rackham and up the very steep climb to the top of Rackham hill. The panoramic view from up there was
amazing and the sun was shining between showers while we were up there. We dropped down off the Downs and
walked through Amberley Wild brooks and back to Pulborough. Loads of birds about
today and we managed to see 30 species but the highlight of the day was the
young adder we found in the hedgerow near Wigginholt Common. The markings were
very
vivid and the main colour of the snake was very much lighter than the other
older adders we have seen.
This is the entrance to the ice house at Parham House. Servants
used to break ice off the lake in winter and store it here in this underground
room, to be used for chilling drinks and for making ice cream. Some of the ice
would even last into the summer. We think it looks more like a hobbit's house!
Nowadays, the ice house is home to a colony of bats.
This dovecote used to house hundreds of doves for eggs and
meat for the house.
An Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola).
We also found this male adder (Vipera berus). I only got the chance to
take one photo before it moved off into the undergrowth. You can see the
markings are very clear and striking with the black zig-zags highlighted with a
thin yellow line.