The Withdean beech - again

Almost bare: just a few handfuls of leaves on the lower branches.

Red on blue

Plenty of berries on the cotoneaster but apparently the only bird that will eat them is the waxwing - and we don't often see them around here.

Past time

There are quite a few of these signs fixed to various things around the area, both in the town and on the Downs. They've been there for weeks and surely they should have been removed by now?

Waiting for the plough

Until it comes I can run across the field without getting muddy paws. Not that I care if my paws are muddy.

A private initiative

Walking along a footpath running between the houses of Patcham and the Brighton bypass, we came across this bench. It's not standard Council-issue so it must have been placed there by some individual. Whoever it was, they have also provided food and water for the birds and water for passing dogs. The cross was presumably placed there for Remembrance Day. Perhaps this was a favourite spot of an old soldier.

Winter presses on

From the Boss: These two pictures were taken from almost exactly the same spot less than two weeks apart. Truly,

'Summer retreats. Winter advances her probing, dead'ning squadrons.'

Recovering

The grass in Stanmer Park seems to be recovering nicely from the cycling event the other weekend.

They're not children

We're in the Ladies Mile Nature Reserve and those young men are working off some of the community service to which they have been sentenced by the courts.

Where are the children?

It's a cold afternoon, it's trying to rain, and it's term time. No wonder the playground is empty.

Sarsen stones

Sarsen stones are blocks of sandstone deposited across southern England in the last Ice Age. This one, which measures about four feet across, is in a field just north of the Brighton bypass. Those are Stanmer Woods in the background.

Stanmer church

Drier today

As you can see from the picture of a path in Stanmer Park, it's been pretty wet this week. It's not raining today and I wonder where we will go for our walk this afternoon?

A matter of balance

You see all sorts of things in Stanmer Park.

Making tracks

There was obviously some sort of cycling event held in Stanmer Park over the weekend. No doubt the grass will recover eventually.

The new stadium again

It seems quite a while since we last checked out the new stadium at Falmer. Here it is, seen from 39 Acres. The houses in the foreground are in Coldean, while the University of Sussex buildings can be seen in the trees on the left. The buildings to the right of the stadium are the University of Brighton, Falmer campus, and a gym. Way in the distance, just under the Downs, there is a glimpse of Lewes.

Paint job

'Spotted' parked in Stanmer Park!

More sheep

There are even sheep in Stanmer Park this year, although only for 10 days. The Boss says this is the first time as far as he knows.

Sheep

Every autumn the local farmers acquire large flocks of sheep, probably because they (the farmers) are letting their fields for winter grazing. The sheep are possibly brought from more exposed sites, although I would hardly have thought there were any sites more exposed than the Downs within a hundred miles or more.

Sea view

Every day this week has been wet and windy - except one. That afternoon we walked over the Downs from Falmer to a spot where there is a distant view of the sea and a glimpse of the chalk cliff of Seaford Head.

Patcham war memorial

Overgrown

The Boss says he can remember when this part of the Wild Park was a grassy slope. That was only about 20 years ago - human years, that is - so the Council may have a point about clearing scrub.

Wild Park clearance

The Council has decided to clear some of the scrub and scrubby woodland around the Wild Park with the intention of restoring the landscape to what it was 40 years or so ago to encourage bio-diversity. The cleared areas are being fenced to allow sheep to graze, although people will be allowed access and gates are being provided. Some people are objecting strongly and have torn down fencing and uprooted the fence posts where they can, but the gates and corner posts are too much for them.

Foggy

To be strictly accurate, it wasn't fog but low cloud swirling through Stanmer Woods.

A colourful corner

The wind has taken most of the leaves now but a couple of days ago this corner of Withdean Park was still colourful.

Invasion!

A corner of 39 Acres has been taken over by travellers. The Boss gets very uptight about this sort of thing - and I don't like their dogs 'cos they bark at me!

The climbing tree

This tree is by the dew pond at the top of the Wild Park. Isn't it great for young children to climb on? (I heard the other day that the fire brigade had to rescue a dog stuck 30 feet up a tree. How on earth did it manage to climb that high?)

Berry season

The seems to be an abundance of haws, hips and berries of all sorts this year. Could it be a sign of a bad winter, or is that just an old wives' tale?

Devil's Dyke

Posting a blog about St Cuthman reminded the Boss that he had not been to the Dyke for a long time so we went up there yesterday afternoon.

From the Boss: The Grand Canyon it isn't, nor yet the Gorge of Verdun, but the smaller picture on the left includes a horse, rider and another person, giving an idea of the scale of the Dyke.

The Withdean beech

When we saw this beech tree in Withdean Park last Tuesday many of the leaves were still green.

A sad memorial

Hard by Keymer Cross is this sad memorial to Peter and Philippa. The words are a little difficult to read: "Peter and Philippa loved life and each other. Together now forever. Both aged 21 years. 23rd September 1994" An accident? Suicide? The Boss has been unable to find out anything, but somebody still remembers as flowers have been left on the fence nearby.