The Altons - our life in the Sussex countryside: nature reserve

Showing posts with label nature reserve. Show all posts

Sunday, 6 October 2013

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!

Monday, 1 July 2013

Walking barefoot with Zaf

Everyone should sometimes walk barefoot. I don't think we do enough barefoot walking. Our feet spend months and months hemmed into shoes not feeling in touch with the Earth that supports us. We are too worried about treading on sharp objects or getting cold feet, and I feel this way too, mostly...
But it's good to sometimes just walk barefoot. Feel the changing textures of grasses, the wildflowers and the cool bare Earth under our toes, and even the grit and the sand of dusty pathways.

We used to do this as a children...at what point did it become 'not the done thing'..?

The most beautiful Sussex countryside

Zaf, the most beautiful dog :)

The extended spring appears to have made plants, trees and bushes absolutely drip with flowers and seeds. Here a range of maple 'helicopter' seeds

The elderflower bushes are laden with flowers. I collected some flower heads to make the first batch of cordial.

"Barefoot Days"

In the morning, very early,
That's the time I love to go
Barefoot where the fern grows curly
And grass if cool between each toe,
On a summer morning-O!
On a summer morning!

That is when the birds go by
Up the sunny slopes of air,
And each rose has a butterfly
Or a golden bee to wear;
And I am glad in every toe--
Such a summer morning-O!
Such a summer morning!

By Rachel Field

So... go on, get those stinky socks off, wiggle your toes and touch that Earth,

I guarantee it'll make you smile!

Thursday, 23 May 2013

The birthday splash and dash at Bedelands

BB is turning 11 next week, so before his school chums disappear on vacations near and far in the half-term, we gathered a dozen kiddies and headed off to Bedelands Nature Reserve for a picnic and play. I love getting the youngsters out exploring nature, having fun, getting fresh air and using their imagination.

Here they are heading down the stream, crashing through the undergrowth, climbing under and over fallen trees, laughing and squealing! Fearless warriors!