Richard Thompson - all but the final act of the festival - is giving a masterclass in both guitar playing and story-telling. Once more I am sorting photos - this time, from a cracking day out on the local chalk.
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| Richard Thompson - Folk on Foot "Front Room Festival 2" |
Having spent the weekend primarily in and around the house and garden we decided to stretch our legs today and venture on foot to Butser Hill, exploring a new approach along the way via Green Lane and Thieves Lane.
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| Green Lane |
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| Thieves Lane |
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| Thieves Lane passing through Ditch Acre Copse |
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| Fagus sylvatica - Ditch Acre Copse |
Thieves Lane passes through the southern edge of Ditch Acre Copse, a private woodland that comprises (by the looks of things) a very well managed hazel (Corylus avellana) coppice under beech (Fagus sylvatica) and oak (Quercus sp.), the bridleway then continues along the edge of Bryden Copse, meeting the road and we have to turn uphill road wise to join the South Downs Way.
As we approached the South Downs Way, it was apparent that many people were taking full advantage of both weather and the recent easing of Covid-19 exercise restrictions. The Way itself was busy with walkers and cyclists; and the verges on the top road leading to Butser Hill were full of parked cars, and picnickers.
Most people were still observing the social distancing protocol as they passed by each other - with a few rude exceptions. The car park was busy, but not full - the parking charges not liked by all perhaps?
Out on the vastness of the northern slope of Butser Hill it was easy to avoid other people - and we began to search for our quarry the Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina). On the lower hedgerow we flushed a single specimen, but could not re-find it
Taking the precipitous descent from immediately above - and down to - the beech copse at the northern end of Rakes Bottom, we failed to turn up another duke, but enjoyed the abundant common-spotted orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) around the valley floor.
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| Dactylorhiza fuchsii |
Getting close to the lek site at the southern end of Rakes Bottom, I noted a Duke as it flew around my feet - but again we couldn't relocate it. At the lek site - we successfully connected with another Duke, which variously settled, between vigorously chasing off all other butterfly incomers.
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| Hamearis lucina |
Leaving the lek site for the steep ascent to the top of Butser Hill, we counted at least another four Dukes.
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| Hamearis lucina |
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| Callophrys rubi |
Our return trip took us down the south slope of Butser Hill, and along the bridleway on Oxenbourne Down, which follows the top of the A3 cutting. Altogether notching up a respectable 10 mile walk - here and back again.
Home in time to tune into the latter half of the folk festival. Cracking day out! Cracking night in!
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