Sussex Scrapbook
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Nature walks throughout the year
Saturday 28th October
2006
The Trundle
After doing nothing last weekend because of the heavy rain, this weekend we were
just glad to get out in the fresh air. We didn't end up walking far at all, but
instead went for a ride on the bike to the Trundle. This is a large iron age
fort that lies on the top of a hill between Chichester and Midhurst, right next
to Goodwood racetrack. From the fort the views are amazing. You can see the
whole of the coastal plain around Chichester down to the Solent and on a clear
day you can see the Isle-of-Wight. In the other direction you can see as far as the
North Downs. There were lots of kestrels, wheatears, goldfinches and
greenfinches about up there and we think we saw a honey buzzard on the way home.
Lots of fungus about too including a Hairy Earth Tongue, which was a new species
for us.
After our visit to the Trundle we dropped down into Chichester and had tea and
cake in the cloister cafe in the cathedral.
The hill fort must have been very impressive in its day.
The huge circumference is protected by this ditch between two raised banks.
I think this was an inkcap, but if it was, it must have
been a very new one due to its small size.
Hairy Earth Tongue (Trichoglossum hirsutum)
The Norman cathedral is well worth a visit. In the
breeding season, peregrines live on the spire.