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Bubble Walks on the 14th July 2021

Peter led a very interesting walk for two of the bubble groups, starting from The Street in Sutton. The weather was beautiful as we took a triangular route towards the White Horse public house in the village and then past many fields of crops on our way to Bignor, from there the walk included a number of woodland paths, not yet dry from the recent rain. Peter skilfully avoided areas and also a ford that would have been too difficult to pass and led us on a path where a railway line ran long ago. After a lovely walk of four and a half miles we were back at the cars ready for a quick drive to the Badgers where we enjoyed a delicious lunch in the garden.

Start of walk through the Church grounds of St John the Baptist Sutton.

Our walk leader keeping an eye on the stragglers at the back

Bracket fungus

Smile for the camera!

Cheers!

Time for coffee and chocolates

A marbled white

An aerial or a sculpture?

This looks promising

Waiting for lunch to arrive in the sunshine

Nice cold drinks before lunch

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Geoff and Kathryn kindly volunteered to lead a walk in the Tilford area. The weather was good and although some rain had happened the day before we felt that the sandy soil around Frensham should have drained it all away. Starting from Tilford Green we followed the path going up the River Wey towards Frensham. Some sheep and pigs provided a sideshow before we reached the main path in Tilford Common. We met a couple of cyclists who said the road ahead was impassable but we were not deterred. To be fair they were almost correct but didn't bargain for our tree felling, branch moving, log placing skills and after an interesting passage over a flooded ford we eventually reached a board walk and relative dryness. We stopped for an early coffee at the cafe at Frensham Little Pond before heading for Tankersford Common, via Pierrepont Home Farm. Crossing The Reeds Road we entered the Farnham Heath Nature Reserve. After Tilfordmill Bridge our esteemed leaders warned us of an incline and the possibility of some mud on the path but we as we had already dealt with the Sea of Frensham, the Mud of Tilford was of little consequence. As we neared Tilford we noticed a pill box between the path and the river, one of a huge chain of defences erected during WW11, stretching from Farnham to Edenbridge in Kent, fortunately never actually needed. At our walk end we retired to the nearby coffee shop/post office/grocery and general store. About 4 to 5 miles.

Gathering together outside the Barley Mow, Tilford Green.

River Wey

Happy pigs with fresh pasture

Building bridges

Recycling carrier bags, as recommended by all major supermarkets

This boardwalk was about 50 feet too short!

The drama is over, let's have a coffee.

Taking the easy way to cross water

Posing

Honourable leader taking us through Tankersford Common.

Farnham Heath Nature Reserve

A lone mullein

Excuse me, is the the way to Tilford?

Heading home, one last crossing to make

Pillbox from 1940

Some remarkably clean boots at journeys end.

Bubble Walks on 7th July 2021

Denis kindly led a walk from the Ironhill car park near Liphook, where we were joined by Pauline's group to have a walk up to Linchmere. Why Ironhill has that name remains a mystery. There were iron producing furnaces in Sicklemill, Hammer, Redford, Fernhurst and just below Henley village, so perhaps this was a good source of raw material to be processed elsewhere. Iron production stopped in the area during the 17/18th century. This area is now a nature reserve. After climbing through the bracken of Stanley Common we walked through Linchmere Common to have a coffee break in the church. Seating was excellent with a wonderful view. Almost as good as Pauline's biscuits. The way back was interesting - with some areas still flooded from the previous day's rain. One steep hill was a good test for those recovering from leg surgery and thankfully surmounted successfully. In the middle of a wood we found an ancient memorial stone, engraved IM.1679, RS.1791 and RL1802, but searching on the internet has not produced any further information. After visiting some hobbits in the nature reserve we eventually reached the car park after 4.3/4 miles over some lovely countryside. Footnote - apparently the Selborne wishing stone tested on 9th June does work, sometimes within 10 days!

Meeting up once again. The Ironhill car park.

We rescued this lucky toad

and took him over the road.

Poet, don't know it!

Stanley Common bracken

Small pond on Stanley Common.

Some residents of Danley Lane still need a phone box.

Nice piece of chainsaw sculpture

Linchmere Church, originally Saxon and rebuilt in the 12th century.

Oooooh, they look nice.

View through the glass South door. "For now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face."

Approaching Poison Copse.

Some paths were drier than others.

Luckily in some places planks have been placed to cover the puddles.

We found a mystery stone.

RS 1791, IM 1679 and RL 1802. Any ideas??

Is that a hill approaching?

"So, it was like this".

Perhaps Celina was wishing for a tree house!

About 4.3/4 miles.

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Peter’s bubble walk was in and around Bosham, we started from the car park with overcast skies and a slight drizzle, and headed for the sea front. Soon the weather brightened up with sunshine and a light breeze, and we all enjoyed a lovely walk with picturesque views.

Just checking the tides before continuing

Bosham Quay

Holy Trinity Church is the oldest known place of worship in West Sussex, a grade one listed Anglican church, there was a church on this site in Saxon times.

A wet end street

The Anchor Bleu, circa 18th century with early 19th century additions.

Spot the black bird, any suggestions what it could be?

Idyllic view.

Coffee break.

Horse mounting blocks?

"Hello sailor"

Lovely family group.

Bubble walk on 30th June 2021

With several people on holiday or with sick notes, Pauline kindly agreed to sharing her walk with the Marian/Linda bubble. We started out from the stream at West Dean and headed up the Monarch's Way towards the Trundle. It was not easy walking but very rewarding at the top of Haye's Down. A vast area was covered in poppies and added to the superb views over towards Goodwood. After many many photographs we headed even higher and eventually reached the top of the Trundle. The effort was very worthwhile with excellent views and whole banks of pink orchids. A tractor cutting a field for hay attracted several red kites, on the look-out for a ready meal. A drinks break was taken in the car park before we headed down the Sussex Literary trail and eventually back to West Dean. The shop in West Dean provided us with excellent coffees and sausage buns.

Leaving West Dean

Walking the Monarch's Way

Stunning poppies in amongst the linseed.

House for hire on top of Haye's Down. Yours for a week in September for £12.000

Distant view of Chichester Cathedral

Just before the final climb.

Trig point on top of the Trundle

Not many punters at Goodwood today.

On top of the world

Circling the Trundle

Flowers everywhere

Especially orchids

Even white ones!

Wild Goat's Beard - also known as Jack-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon.

Red Kites constantly hovering, looking for a meal

We couldn't resist a group photo as we again passed the poppies.

Descending the Literary Trail

A call of nature?

Going downhill at last

Linda's found a shepherd

Wonderful walk leader richly deserved the huge sausage roll.

Portsmouth day out 23rd June 2021

We had a day trip to Portsmouth with all bubbles invited. Led by Marian with a back-up in Lorraine (with helpful leaflets) and lots of knowledge from Mary, we had a very enjoyable day. The weather on the day could hardly have been better with sun nearly all day, but not too warm. Portsmouth was not particularly busy and we had a very pleasant stroll to Portsmouth Cathedral. On the way we had a look at the memorial and a replica of where a crippled cobbler called John Pounds would take in starving children, clothe and fed them and give them an education. He is credited with instigating the Ragged Schools movement which was the forerunner of the education system we have for children today. He educated 500 children over 30 years and was proud to say that none were hung!

Portsmouth Cathedral was quite special. Originally very small in 1185, major enlargements have occurred, the last one being completed in 1991. Our walk to Clarence pier was spoilt by some engineering works taking place so it seemed a sensible plan to find a coffee in the Point Barracks. Suitably refreshed, we headed for Spice Island and a view of the Spinnaker Tower before going for lunch in The Old Customs House, a scheduled monument built in 1790 and the oldest building in Gunwharf Quays. The afternoon was spent sight-seeing around Gunwharf, either from ground level or with some of us going up the Spinnaker Tower to get a birds eye view. After a very enjoyable day we all managed to meet up once again for a smooth journey back to Petersfield, courtesy of South West trains.

Here we go!

We made it!

An amazing story.

Rebuilt shop of John Pounds

Peep inside the shop/school.

John Pounds won the "Man of the Millennium Award" from a local paper, ahead of other contenders including Charles Dickens and Lord Nelson.

The nave in Portsmouth Cathedral.

The Royal Garrison Church left roofless as a memorial to the 930 civilians who died during the Portsmouth Blitz.

Setting up for a group photo is never easy.

But It must be worth it!

Nelson left Portsmouth in HMS Victory on his last voyage in September 1805 and was fatally wounded on 21st October 1805.

Just strolling in the sunshine.

Ah, coffee at last.

View of the Spinnaker Tower from Spice Island. Spice Island, not named after cargos on ships but from being a very seedy area known for it's "spice of life"

Fish Harbour, still in use for unloading and selling fish.

Some figureheads are bigger than others.

Lunchtime at The Old Customs House.

Where's my chips?

Spice Island from the Spinnaker

HMS Victory with one mast missing. All are being removed, repaired and replaced this summer.

The glass is apparently strong enough to support 2 black rhinos - luckily they weren't there on the day of our visit.

HMS Warrior, the first armour-plated, iron clad ship of the Royal Navy. Launched in 1861 but redundant and decommissioned in 1883. Never saw any action, apart from colliding with other Royal Navy ships.

So what's so interesting?

Warning notices are needed for some people.

Bubble walk on 16th June 2021

Walk leader Janet had organized a great car parking spot at the Sky Park Farm, before taking us on a 5 mile ramble. From the Sky Park Farm we headed along the route of the old Midhurst to Petersfield railway line before turning south so that we could circle the West Heath Common sand pit. Passing through the outer fields of the deer park we headed through fields of broad beans before crossing the Rother and turning towards Durford Abbey, taking the opportunity to shelter under an old oak on the way. Durleighmarsh Farm Shop was very busy so we decided to have our coffee further up the Sussex Border Path. From there we cut back down to Wenham Manor Farm and on to the remains of the railway bridge at Oldcroft before retracing our steps back to the Sky Park Farm. Not only had Janet organized the car park and the walk, we also had access to the Sky Farm picnic area to round off a lovely walk on a hot day. Information about Sky Park Farm is here:- Sky Farm

Ready to go.

Our hosts for the day.

Sand excavation on West Heath Common

Couple of old wrecks, maybe a little past their prime.

These are a variety of red deer which are white. The red fawn is a genetic throwback, not evidence that the fences were too low!

Broad beans, not quite ready for munching.

The Rother bridge, looking at the Common water crowfoot - and what are those beautiful blue things?

Damselflies, this one's a male Banded Demoiselle. Common throughout Europe and Asia, perhaps not surprising as the female can lay eggs at 10 per minute for 45 minutes.