The unsettled weather is set to continue all week but at least it’s not raining, just blowing a gale or at least that’s what it feels like. Time for a walk from Kingley Vale over the Downs to Stoughton and back.
Early in the morning there are quite a few dog walkers about, all oblivious to the signs imploring owners to keep their pets on a lead to protect the deer. I started out with Bonnie on a lead but soon let her off. Surprisingly she was really well behaved returning and even stopping to the whistle; naturally
no deer were to be seen.
It’s always a pleasure to pass through the ancient Yew Forest, or at least skirt round it. The gnarled, spreading limbs speak of ages past. What had they seen? Much more than hoards of families out to see the reserve that’s so widely publicised on the web nowadays. In the Second World War it was a training ground for Canadian troops, let’s hope the nasty stuff they left behind has all been cleared up.
The paths around the Nature Reserve are particularly well endowed with flowers, especially the rides which are more open that the paths underneath the tree canopy. On the way out there were some
familiar yellow ones like Agrimony but plenty of others not noticed elsewhere such as Mignonette, Fennel and Ladies Bedstraw. Along the rides under the Pine Trees the foxgloves were in abundance although past their best.
On the way back from Stoughton the walk up the hill was characterised by blue flowers. Knapweed,
Tufted Vetch, Field Scabious and the tiny flowers of some wild Thyme. There were significant numbers of Orchids about, especially the common spotted and pyramid varieties. Naturally there are plenty of Thistles but I can’t be sure of all the varieties, there’s too many of them.
In the woods there’s plenty of birdsong to hear but difficult to spot. In the more open spaces it’s the Raptors that have centre stage. There’s usually a Buzzard about ,often several, the Kestrels were there too, buffeted by the winds.
Another delight was to see a red admiral, the first seen this year; they dont seem to be that numerous as they used to be. Naturally there were plenty of meadow Browns that we can now differentiate male and female (lighter) thanks to Dermot May.
At six and a half miles it’s long enough to feel you’ve been for a walk, but short enough to fit into a busy day; the flowers today have made it well worth finding the time for today.