Midhurst Footpath Companions
Walking in Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey.

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Viewing posts from May, 2020

A bit of humour

Quiz photos No. 17

It's not far away and if you need a shopping trolley, you've got the wrong building.

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 Don't look too long or you might see a face in this tree - where?

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        Answers to Photo Quiz No. 16

 This photo is from one of Jeff's walk near Brighton and is a

favourite spot for hang and para gliders - the Devil's Dyke.

 This is Foxcombe House near Harting, Built in 1939

History: this house was built on the site of Castle Farmhouse, which was built in 1786 for St Harry Fetherstonhaugh as an estate farmhouse to Up Park, and which was demolished in 1939 to be replaced by the present structure. It is reputed that some of the stone used in Castle Farmhouse came from an earlier house (Ladywell), and some of the stone in the present structure may be reused from Castle Farmhouse. Thanks to British Listed Buildings.

Please be careful when fishing.

A man in Canada went out in his canoe to catch some fish. However, at the same time, a whale had the same idea. Worse still, they were in the same piece of the water.

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After some furious paddling, he apparently survived.

Quiz Photos No.16

                                              

No it's not a rainbow, but where is it?  Walk leader Jeff is a clue, but he's not under the paraglider on this occasion.

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This is not too far away and not as old as it would seem.

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                                               Answers to Quiz No. 15

  That was an easy one - it is of course the wonderful Maddie.

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 This splendid plant is (NOT, SEE BELOW!!) the Arum Lily/Cuckoopint/Lords and Ladies/Parson in the Pulpit.  All parts are poisonous and sadly the early leaves are similar to sorrel and wild garlic. If chewed the stinging sensation may last at least 6 hours. Luckily it is so painful on the lips it is rarely swallowed but can result in swelling in the throat and can cause breathing difficulties.  Just in case you are wondering how to pronounce cuckoopint this might help :- Cuckoopint pronunciation   The reason for this particular pronunciation is that pint is derived from the anglo saxon word pintle. Google that if you dare.

CORRECTION  Hate to say it, but it's probably an American Skunk cabbage- apparently they were an imported plant from 1901.

American skunk cabbage was first recorded in the wild in 1947 in Surrey and was originally introduced to the UK from Western North America as an ornamental plant in 1901. Since then it has spread across Britain, particularly in southern and western areas. Once established the plant can spread quickly. Infestations can dominate large areas and crowd out native species in important habitats such as wet woodlands. Its name is fitting as this plant has a characteristic pungent scent. In 2016, American skunk cabbage was banned from sale in the UK. Now gardeners are being urged to make sure that they Be Plant Wise, dispose of plants correctly and ensure they do not discard this species in the natural environment. - Thanks gov.uk.       Skunk cabbage are also somewhat poisonous, but beloved by bears coming out of hibernation - it apparently gets their plumbing moving, which has been static all winter.....

This is an Arum Lily:-

Guess who

Guess who was out walking this afternoon?

There may have been more of you but these were the only ones we spotted.  About 5  miles apart, so that's safe enough!

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What a nice surprise!