From 39 acre field

I like 39 Acres as much as Stanmer woods, and the Boss enjoys the views. This is looking east across the valley of Wild Park with a corner of Stanmer woods just above the houses on the left. Beyond are the buildings of Sussex University and the two white buildings on the horizon top left are what remains of the buildings of the old Lewes race course. The main road is the A27 Brighton to Lewes road, and the buildings to the right of the crane are Brighton University. The crane is being used on the construction of the new stadium for Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club. One of the stands is well under way. The white marks in the hillside behind Brighton University are chalk pits at Lewes, several miles away.

Wow! A man-made tree!

But the real things look better.

It's good to have a friend

From the Boss: Not one of my grandchildren, but the son of another dog walker.

After the storm

The storm was actually long before my time, but I have heard about it. This tree was broken by the storm and the stump has been carved into an armchair.

From the Boss: The storm was the Great Storm of October 1987, the worst storm to hit the British Isles since 1703.

Stanmer church

I wasn't particularly happy about it, but the Boss wanted to take another picture of the church so I went along with him.

Flying a kite

What is the point of doing that? I can chase a ball, but a kite? That's worse than chasing magpies!

Beyond the woods

And along the sky the line of the Downs
So noble and so bare.
(Hilaire Belloc)

We see this view on the way to the dew pond.

Almost a bird's eye view

There is one spot in the woods where it is possible to look down through the trees to the village.

The rowan tree

I can't say that I fancy eating those berries, but the Boss tells me that some birds will be feasting on them during the winter.

10/10 cloud cover

The Boss might prefer summer, but I like this time of the year when there is rain, mist or just low cloud swirling through the trees.

Birdsong

There are plenty of blue tits and great tits calling to each other while foraging in the trees, but the only bird that is actually singing now is the robin.

Where is he?

Shouldn't there be a gnome sitting on that toadstool?

Autumn is here

When I was just a silly pup I would chase the leaves falling from the trees at this time of the year but I'm more sensible nowadays. Besides, they don't taste very good.

Stanmer House

The Boss sometimes wants to go right down through the woods and onto the open grassland. I'm quite happy if we stay on the wider stretch of grass, but if he wants to have a look at Stanmer House (on the left) or the church, or even go into the village, I don't like it so much as I have to stay on the lead, which is frustrating when there are children I could go and play with.

From the Boss: Stanmer House was built in 1720 for Thomas Pelham, first Earl of Chichester. It was subsequently owned by Brighton Borough Council and become somewhat run down. However, it is now owned by a company using it as a venue for weddings, small conferences and so on and they have made a good job of renovating the Grade 1 listed building. In the summer, cricket is played on the grass between the house and the church - a really good setting for the old English game.

Messy

Why must some humans be so messy?

The dew pond

Some days I decide I would like to run in the long grass as well as snuffle through the trees and, if the weather is fine, I persuade the boss to walk through the woods and across the fields to this pond. So far I haven't plucked up the courage to paddle into it but maybe I will one day.

From the Boss: Dew ponds are quite common on the South Downs across Sussex. Most of them date back to well before the second world war when the Downs were mainly used for sheep grazing. They are man-made ponds for watering livestock. There is a good explanation in Wikipedia.

TIP - R.I.P.

There are worse places to be buried.

Hey, boss

How come...

...this tastes so much better...

...than the water you give me at home?

Toadstools

I met a dog the other day who told me that toadstools are good to eat. But his boss said that he gets stomach upsets, so I think I'll give these a miss.

Ouch!

That might be the same colour as my ball, but it looks painful. I'll keep searching.

Autumn sun

The weather yesterday afternoon was beautiful - bright sun but not too hot for me to run around. The boss liked the way some of the leaves on the beech trees are still a spring-like shade of green when the sun shines through them while there are golden brown leaves all around on the floor.

Wild life

The boss tried to take a picture of a deer the other day. I kept quiet for him, but I could have told him it was no good as the deer would be too quick for him. These were about his speed though.

Hello

Just to say hello and tell you a bit more about me. I'm five years old and I love my walks in the woods and across the fields. I especially like having a tennis ball to carry, but I sometimes let the boss have a bit of fun by throwing it for me. This is quite an old picture as I was still a puppy when it was taken nearly five years ago.