At the Booth

I don't know if you have ever visited this amazing museum, because if you haven't, then you surely should. The Booth Museum in Hove, Brighton is a natural history museum of the old school. Founded by Edward Booth in 1874 the museum is all about birds, butterflies, fossils, bones and skeletons. He donated the museum to the city in 1890, and it continues to feature Victorian-style dioramas of British birds in their habitat settings together with a huge collection of insects and other interesting exhibits.

From floor to ceiling, the museum contains glass case after glass case with a bewildering array of birds posing in their natural setting. Although fascinating to see, I am glad that this bird collecting isn't happening now, I don't know how our dwindling wildlife would cope. A little girl of no more than 4 years old, looked perplexed at an interactive display that I was helping her to read, and said very seriously 'It's sad - all these dead animals', bless her!

Walking around looking at all these different species of mainly British birds, it occurred to me that really on a day to day basis we rarely notice but a fraction of these wonderful species.

There was also this little unusual display, a Merboy!

Ben really enjoyed seeing all these Victorian displays, many over 150 years old.

A reproduction of Edward Booth's study

Over half a million specimens and natural history literature and data extending back over three centuries are housed in this fascinating museum. Specimens have been collected from around the world.

I do like birds eggs, there is something quite special about them. I love looking at collections of eggs in old antique books too. I made a display featuring British birds eggs a while back, which still hangs on the wall in the hall.

I have never seen quite such a display of skeletons in a compact area like this. All sorts of creatures:  human, birds, whales and many other animals.

Ben's new friend Fred!

Handsome chap, isn't he? Nice smile!

There are some spectacularly old specimens such as shells from the bottom of a 55 million year old Mediterranean lagoon, and a collection of dinosaur bones too.

All in all, a nice way to spend a couple of hours on a rainy day. Entrance is free, although a donation is always welcome. There is a small gift shop too. The afternoon ended with a well-deserved hot chocolate in the cafe on the opposite side of the road, before heading back home in the approaching dusk.

Chestnutting in the rain

Chestnuts - another good reason to get out into the woods...

I think most of you know that Steve and I are quite partial to some wild foraging, and what better way to encourage us out on a wet Autumn Sunday afternoon? We headed up to Ashdown Forest as the skies got greyer and the wind picked up. We sat in the car park for a short while, waiting for the rain drops to stop, but as this didn't seem likely any time soon, we headed off for cover under the tree canopy at Tabell Ghyll. It was rather muddy, but not particularly cold, and we soon passed the first copse of sweet chestnut trees. To our delight there were plenty of large nuts ready to be picked up or teased out of their prickly shell.

It was indeed very wet, but it didn't restrain our woodland romp! It was nice to get out and stretch the legs and explore a new part of the forest...

It was easy to gently squash the chestnuts out of their shells

Old coppiced chestnuts

We suddenly came out of the chestnut copse and walked straight into a magical stand of tall elegant birch trees.

A magical mound covered in fungi, surely here live fairies?

Back home we emptied our pockets and this is our chestnut haul! I am sure we'll be back for more. They are very yummy as a snack or with a meal. In fact we had a little bowlful of roasted chestnuts with our evening cuppa...very nice!

Have a good and hopefully not too wet week!

The Sunday slow worm!

The slithery slow worm. I am not sure Sam was that impressed!

A sunny Sunday begs to be spent outdoors, and with the very beautiful Ashdown Forest on our doorstep, we headed off for a little wander through the woods. Nearly two thirds of Ashdown Forest's 6500 acres (2500 hectares) are heathland, amounting to 2.5% of the UK's extent of this rare habitat. It also has some really wonderful views over the Sussex countryside.

Even though the height of summer is now over, and most of the wildflowers have long gone, there is another chapter of loveliness in the woods to behold; the fabulous fungi!

Wandering down little meandering paths, we came across many different varieties of fungi fruiting.

Spiders had made incredible webs with droplets of dew which sparkled in the morning sun...

Boy and Zaf in their element!

We were very lucky to spot a slow worm by the side of the path. I haven't seen this legless lizard in a long time. She (I think?) was well camouflaged amongst the leaf litter, and sat there very still, probably hoping to look dead.

BB was a little worried about holding the slow worm, it was cold and so very smooth. He did pick it up and squealed like a girl as it tried to slither off his hands!

As we circled back towards the car park, we continued to see more types of mushrooms, these truly are the autumn flowers of the woodlands.

Zaf did his usual thing of collecting the largest stick to bring home with him, he spent quite a while  dragging it back to the car, whacking us on the back of our knees as he tried to pass on the pathway. Needless to say, I did manage to persuade him to leave it behind...

Homeward bound!

A lovely outing, followed by a bit of gardening in the afternoon sunshine.

Hope your Sunday was sunny too!