Where Did The Time Go?

Gentian on Cotley Hill

It's six weeks since I blogged, during which time I have led the Wessex Heights Walk and our twin daughters have turned eighteen, finished their exams and left school. I have just completed the last assignment for my Masters Degree - so that's where the time went!

The show of orchids on the chalk downs is over now but other flowers, no less beautiful, have taken their place. I have just returned from Cotley Hill and on display today; Birdsfoot Trefoil, Devil's Bit Scabious, Ox Eye Daisies, Bugle, Lady's Bedstraw and - best of all - gentian.

Saw some superb butterflies too; Chalkhill blue and very numerous Marbled White. If you want to know more about downland butterflies and conservation take a look at  Jeremy Early's Images.

This is a bumper year for fruit and the last three weeks have seen us picking improbable quantities of strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and currants. Our trees are laden with incredible amounts of apples, pears and plums. The hedgerows are set to be a riot of blackberries by September.

Will anyone pick them? We certainly will, but increasingly people will only eat berries and soft fruits that arrive in plastic punnets. There's a free feast out there waiting to be enjoyed.........sloe gin anyone?!