Sussex Scrapbook
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Wildlife walks throughout the year
Saturday 25th February
2006
Staplefield
We have volunteered ourselves to carry out a small part of a breeding bird
survey for the British Trust for Ornithology this spring. They have given us a 1
square kilometre patch in Staplefield to survey and so today we went there to
try to get permission from the land owners to invade their property in the name
of science. Our first stop was the pub on the village green to get some local
info and to have some lunch. The landlord told us that part of the land is owned
by Maurice Saatchi the (in)famous advertising man and one time joint chairman of
the conservative party. He is also the Baron of Staplefield.
We turned up at the gates of his manor house but were given a bit of a cold
shoulder by his staff via an intercom. It looks like we may have to make other
arrangements and try to circumvent his land.
Anyway, we got to have a look around the area and it is very rural, very pretty,
and chock full of birds. It should be a very enjoyable duty to carry out the
survey in the spring months.
First stop...The pub. Of course!
I'm not wearing a strange hat, the peak of
my cap is seen head on. Good food at the Jolly Tanners and London Pride ale too!
A small part of our patch.
The snowdrops are out, the daffs are on
their way.
The people round here have the welfare of
birds on their minds too.