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Fittleworth Morning and Day walk 20th April 2022

Catherine led an 8 mile walk from The Swan Pub in Fittleworth covering rather a lot of her childhood which the group very obligingly took interest in. We started with the morning walkers by walking down to see the Mill and the Mill House and Mill Cottage before saying goodbye to them and setting off across the fields, up through the arboretum (QR codes tried out!) and up through Churchwood. We passed Brinkwells, a cottage lived in by the composer Elgar from 1917-1919 and headed to the ruined Bedham Church/School for a picnic lunch. A hilly morning walk became much easier in the afternoon as we headed down through Flexham Park, the fishing ponds in the Lynch and through Little Bognor to admire both a cottage Catherine had lived in, and a house the singer Bryan Ferry has owned since 1970. Onwards across the fields, past Fittleworth House and through the churchyard and up onto Hesworth Common. The whole walk produced an abundance of Blue Bells at their most glorious and we even saw the first Wild Garlic out and most important of all, were able to rescue a baby Thrush which had got itself trapped behind chicken wire.

Tree spotting in Wynkcoombe Arboretum

This tree probably needs a spot of water

Looking at the blue bells AND the South Downs

Plenty of bluebells

Coffee stop.

Walking through Churchwood

Heading towards Brinkswells, the steepest part of the walk

I'm sure it'll be worth it!

Celina in the garlic

Even more bluebells

Brinkswells, Elgar, composer, fisherman, lived here from 1917 to 1919, the sign tells us. Local fishing club say he lived here from 1917 until 1921- who to believe!?

Lunch stop was Bedham Church/School, built in 1880, eventually closing in 1959, Lady Elgar supposedly heard the bells ringing from here at the end of WW1

Pond where Elgar fly fished - he said he caught a massive trout but it may just have been one of his many enigmas

This building deserves a plaque for Catherine

Someone has been busy with her tripod

Back into Fittleworth village

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The strolling group started with the Day walkers from the Swan Inn but after a look at Fittleworth Mill we soon parted ways and headed in the opposite direction up towards Hesworth Common. After walking through the village we turned off towards Brookdean, passing Fittleworth House on the way. We stopped and had a look down the driveway of Bryan Ferry's house, but nobody deigned to come and say hello. Moving north we admired the wonderful garden of Crowsole, an ancient Watermill. Whilst some went east looking for a picnic spot, others went further to see the mill itself. After a break we all headed to Amen and then walked through Sellings Wood. A slight diversion, a busy road crossing and we were in Fittleworth Common, the site of Wynkcoombe Arboretum. Here is an amazing collection of trees, many very rare, planted and tended by a Mr N W Smith. Many trees have a QR code on them and by using a free phone app, the age, cost, origin and whole history of each tree can be discovered. Well worth a visit. After a walk of a little less than 4.1/2 miles we then made our way the The Angel in Petworth for a very tasty lunch.

The Swan Inn - yours for £1.1/4 million. 15 en-suite rooms as well as separate private accommodation.

Fittleworth Mill

Day and Morning walkers gathered at the start

Look, there's a sea trout!

Hidden bluebells and a hidden walker?

A closer look reveals it to be a terrestrial globe.

Hello Bryan?!

Crowsole mill pond

Crowsole garden

Whilst the day walkers were busy saving thrushes, we failed miserably to save this pigeon.

Coffee spot chat

Sheep sheltering in the shade in Sellings wood

Wynkcoombe Arboretum - Small leaved Eucalyptus, planted 1983, cost £3.75 from RHS in Wisley.

Photographer was a bit slow - walkers have all walked!

Under 4.1/2 miles.

Rogate walk on 13th April 2022

Janet and Pauline's walk set off from the Forestry Commission car park at Tullecombe. We then took the road through Fyning Common to Fyning Lane where we said goodbye to John, after admiring the garden and also the views to the South Downs. A sunken lane took us down into Fyning village where we crossed the A272 to get to Fyning Moor, an interesting damp wood now full of bluebells. Crossing the Rother brought us to Habin Bridge, probably built in the 15th or 16th century by the monks at nearby Durford Abbey. We then travelled a little further west to cross the Rother again before heading north past Souters Copse to Rogate village. The path across the field north of Rogate needed the footpath reinstating after some heavy tractor work, but we eventually found our way out. At this point Denis headed for home as did Barbara a little further on. After reaching our cars we headed for the Drovers Arms for a very good lunch.

Starting out from Tullecombe

This used to be Rogate's playing fields but the newer ones near the village proved much more convenient.

Descending towards Fyning Lane

Leaders striding out

Bluebells building up for a big show in a week or two!

Treading carefully through the marshy bits of Fyning Moor

A very ancient plant - Mare's Tail also known as Field Horsetail, Common Horsetail, Pipeweed, Lego Plant, Bottle Brush, Cat's Tail, Colt's Tail, Frog Pipes, Horse Pipes, Scrub Grass, Shave Grass, Snake Grass and Snake Pipes. Poisonous to livestock.

Testing the bridge over the Rother

Habin Bridge

Crossing the Rother once again

Boardwalk installed by The Public Rights of Way Volunteer Rangers over the marsh

Downhill towards Rogate

Drink stop on a handy fallen tree

Ukranian flag outside Rogate Church

Denis taking a short cut home

Ever present South Downs in the distance

Barbara saying farewell

Walkers trying to work out why the red paint? We got there eventually!

Food is on its way

Nice walk, under 5 miles

Stedham Walk on 6th April 2022

The prospect of a few showers failed to stop many walkers from following Celia and Miguel on a wander from The Hamilton Arms in Stedham. We also had a very welcome guest walker, Kacper, from Poland. After heading for Stedham Bridge we turned towards Iping and then headed north, eventually crossing Tote Lane at Woodgate Farm. A field or two later we found a suitable drink stop in a field that was being surrounded with high deer fencing. Apparently this is because this particular field is to be left to grow whatever trees that the animals and birds, helped by the wind, spread over the ground in the form of seed and nuts. The landowner must have a very long-term plan! We did spot some deer in the field so hopefully they'll move on before the fence is finished. After crossing Stedham Lane we took the delightful footpath down to Stedham Mill, then to wander along to Stedham Bridge and finally back to The Hamilton Arms. After a very good lunch we had a surprise for two of our walkers, Bernard and Celina, due to be married the next day. As well as arranging presents, Pauline had baked and decorated a fantastic cake, which we all enjoyed. The walk was about 4.1/2 miles, often a little damp, but the party was one of the best ever!

All ready to go!

Maybe there is a little rain in the air?

Across the fields from Iping church, and yes, it is rain!

Drink stop field with deer if you can spot them.

Ah, there he is

Is that water even on the camera lens?

South Downs in the distance.

Carefully negotiating a downhill bit

Some stiles are easier than others.

Stedham Mill, once a maker of blotting paper, but sales have dried up in the last century

Now it's time for a group photo please

RESULT! Stedham Mill posing group

Very soon, all to be related. Keen photographer, with her two boys.

Heading back towards the village, along the Rother.

Stedham Hall, next stop Hamilton Arms

Hungry walkers tucking in to some nice Thai food

And suddenly this fabulous cake appeared!

It seemed a real shame to cut it up

The happy couple opening their presents, with Kacper looking on. Cake was too good to keep for very long.

One happy cookie!

About 4.1/2 miles

Sheet to Steep walk on 30th March 2022

We started out, led by Denis, from The Half Moon in Sheet and headed to the stream at Sheet Mill. The little egret was once again in his favourite spot where he seems to have perched in the spring for at least the last 2 years. After visiting Sheet Common we crossed the A272 and found our way to the Sheet Millennium Field before crossing the golf course. After going under a busy A3, we turned left to find a house, once the home of Alec Guinness. We continued to the Ashford Stream but instead of turning left towards The Harrow we turned right and found a picnic spot high above a sunken stream. Suitably refreshed, we headed towards Steep Marsh but then turned west towards Steep Farm and then on to Steep Church. From there we passed the playing fields of Bedales School before crossing over the A3 and eventually finding our way through Sheet village to the Half Moon, where we enjoyed a very pleasant lunch. The walk was about 4.1/2 miles.

Setting out

Sheet Mill

Inside that red ring is a little white thing

Aha - that's what a tele-photo lens can do!

Descending down from Steep Common

Wild fritillary in the Millennium Field

Once the home of Sir Alec Guinness CH CBE aka Dr. Zhivago's half-brother

Having a look in the Ashford Stream

Some sat with their back to a fence

Others with their backs to a very deep ditch!

Heading for Steep Farm

OK, OK, I give in, your stick is bigger than mine!

Ashford stream valley was a nursery for spring flowers

Cowslip, blackthorn and marsh marigold.

Yellow Archangel of the dead-nettle family............... Lady's Smock/Milkmaid/Cuckooflower/Dancing Ladies/Fairy flower, May flower and Coco plant OR Cardamine pratensis.

Admiral Edward Hawker's last port of call, Steep Church. He was a lieutenant in the navy at the age of 14, in command of a cutter in the West Indies at the age of 19 and a captain by the age of 22, fought many battles and had 6 sons and 3 daughters - a busy life.

Photographer has apologized for the unfortunate sign placement.

Garden decorations in Sheet

Dining in the Half Moon

West Marden walk 23rd March 2022

For the second week running Jennifer (assisted by Jean) was kindly leading our walk, this time with no proposed follow up in the afternoon. We were joined by another Jennifer who joined us on the day as a guest walker. Starting out from The Victoria Inn in West Marden, we travelled a short way up the road before turning right onto a footpath. This took us through Lostlabour and Bottom Copse before we took the slow climb up Drift Road Plantation towards Compton Down. Drift Road Plantation is actually devoid of any trees, so we had some splendid views on a beautitfully clear day. We turned before reaching the top of the Down and instead took a path downhill through Robin Wood to a pleasant drinks break spot near Old Idsworth Farm. Suitably refreshed we walked on and met several other walkers near Idsworth Church, one notable walker doing a pre-walk for Winchester Ramblers of around 12 miles. From there we went through acres of wild garlic to find South Holt Farm before heading back through farmland to reach the Victoria Inn for lunch. A very pleasant walk with sunshine all morning.

Starting out up the hill

As we walked up through Lostlabour Copse, we were entertained by 2 buzzards high up above the trees.

Bottom Copse

Walking up past Bottom Copse

Beautiful views over the Mardens

After a long climb we stopped to admire the view (and recover?!)

Descending through Robin Wood

Drinks break at last, near Compton Down Road

St Hubert's Church, Idsworth. King Harold's father, Earl Godwin, had the church built around 1030 AD. The settlement it served ceased to exist in the C14th, probably as a result of the Plague. Another 400 years would pass before the first vaccine (for smallpox) was invented.