Sussex
Scrapbook ~ Nature walks throughout the year
Saturday 25th September 2009
Pulborough Harvest Fair
No time for a proper
full-scale march
about today, as we wanted to go to the Pulborough Harvest Fair
again. We particularly wanted to go up the church tower again and take in
the views across the brooks to the South Downs. We parked the
bike at
RSPB Pulborough Brooks and walked around the reserve, which was almost
devoid of people but was bristling with birds, including Yellow Wagtails. There
were also several Clouded Yellow butterflies around, and we saw a Jay snapping
one up.
We then ambled very slowly along the
River Arun in the intense heat up to the village through the scarecrow
competition at East Glebe field and into the fair. Music was being provided by
the
Southdown Ramblers, who were very good but were playing bluegrass. Nothing
wrong with that of course, but we thought that something a bit more British
would have been more fitting to what was a very traditional English country
fair. Never mind, at least it wasn't jazz! There were lots of livestock,
tractors and other animals on show, sheep shearing, local producers and
charities to chat to around the main arena, and dog obedience and motorcycle
displays teams in the arena itself.
At the church they were hoisting teddy bears up onto the roof of the tower in a
basket and then throwing them off suspended from helium balloons. We were not
expecting such shocking cruelty in this day and age and were forced to drink
some hot sweet tea and eat cake in the graveyard while we watched on for half
hour or so!
Finally we wended our lazy way back down the river as the sun was setting,
plotting up on the riverbank for Gill to do some sketching while we waited to
see if a Barn Owl would appear. We didn't have to wait too long before a
particularly big and healthy specimen came towards us along the far bank.
From the river we could see our destination beckoning to us.
A spiders lair laced into the long grass
The scrarecrow competition, which always reminds me of the
crucifixion of the Spartans on the Appian Way.
This one was called Henry the doctor. We have no idea why!
To the church and up the spiral staircase to the roof of the tower
The view across the village, the fair, the brooks and beyond to Chanctonbury
Ring. Perfect visibility too.
The view from the church tower with the
South Downs stretching left to right from Chanctonbury Ring to Amberley.
Look, it's my website and if I want to put a picture of my wife on it, just for
the sake of it, then I will!
Barn Owl on the River Arun
Fallow deer and the sunset as we reach the visitors centre once again