Hedge-laying at Slindon Forge 2

. . . the whole job took us two days, above you see the laid hedge with its hazel bindings, in Sussex pattern of course . . .

. . . but that's with quite a generous meaning of 'us' - as well as having the help of the Youth Discovery Working Holiday, we are very grateful to have had the skilled help and guidance of Dan Cornell, of the South Downs National Park - thank you again, Dan . . .

Hedge-laying at Slindon Forge

We've had a Youth Discovery Working Holiday group at Slindon this week, staying at the basecamp while carrying out work on the estate - it is difficult to express how much good work such groups of volunteers do.

On Friday, we all joined in for a day of laying hedges at the old forge at Slindon - mostly hazel butts, rather lank & overgrown . . . .Before . . . . .

. . and during . . .

"After" will be on Monday, when the remaining stakes go in at half-metre intervals along the centreline of the living laid hazel-stems, followed by the intertwining of the binders & an immediate trim - this is of course to be a Sussex style laid hedge.

It was a day of bonfires & billhooks . . .

Nightwatch - on Harting Down [part2]

. . . if you braved the snow along the South Downs way, you were guided by a line of candle-lanterns till the you were able to see, emerging from a fold in the Down . . . .




. . . a brilliantly lit NT marque. Inside, there was bacon-butty-grilling, hot-soup pouring, a display from our friends of the Sussex Bat Group, and another featuring owls.

The dull & cloudy night cleared up just enough for John Mason of the South Downs Planeterium to point out the visible stars & nebulae . . . it was a beautiful night, & all credit to Simon, Fiona, & Lisa of Woolbeding Countryside for being such imaginative hosts.
(photo credit to: Archie Hawkes)

Nightwatch - on Harting Down [part1]

. . . 100 metres or so from Harting Down carpark on the 12th February, you could see two eyes glowing in the dark . . . .
(photo credit to: Archie Hawkes)

Nightwatch on the South Downs - at Bignor

A week or two ago we went along to a BBC-sponsored event at Fontwell Racecourse, & above you can see Karen Whittaker - who is managing a visitor enjoyment project in the South Downs - giving information to one of the way-over-500 visitors to our stand.

Next Tuesday - on the evening of Valentine's day - in collaboration with our friends at Bignor Roman Villa [we're using their excellent facilities & onsite catering] - we are hosting a Nightwatch event between 18:00 and 21:00.

It should a great time under the stars [with the excuse of education] for kids still on their half-term. John Mason from the South Downs Planeterium will be giving a laser-guided tour of the stars, galaxies, & nebulas above.

The previous Sunday 12th February, our colleagues over at Harting Down are hosting a similar event - they'll be selling bacon butties & sausage rolls & hot soup served from a NT marquee on the Down.

After-image

. . and this is how the White Horse looks now from the Cuckmere Valley.

After our toil, & the gleaming joy of the rainbow, (I took the picture from just above the horse's ears), we all tottered damply off for a high tea/early supper at the NT Cafe at Birling Gap . . . this has just been revamped & is under new management with a new chef.

The food was delicious - really delicious; I wasn't that surprised, since one of my tasks is to collate visitor feedback, & recent reports, like the recent public reviews here, are genuinely positive about the food & the service.

During-image

Scrubbing the horse: 'Before'-image

Trained & qualified lo these many years ago as an Archaeologist, rather than be anywhere downslope of a chainsaw in the rain, I chose to help clean & re-outline the White Horse at Cuckmere, along with most of the local team, lead by Glen & Zara, the Countryside & Property Operations Managers . . . can I repeat that all this happened in squally rain on a serious slope?

. . above is the 'Before' image (thanks again to Natasha)

Bashing scrub

. . . on the same rainbow-y day as below, we had the choice of two tasks to carry out on a 45 degree hillside in intermittent rainy squalls: most of the Slindon wardens, & Jane our General Manager, bravely chose to manipulate chainsaws & build & feed bonfires . . . .

. . the plus side of this was the bonfires, on one of which Graham from Devil's Dyke managed to brew [& more importantly share] delicious gorse-smoked tea . . .

(thank you Natasha for this snap, & the ones of the horse)

Bowing to the rain

We don't gather together often enough as the National Trust South Downs Countryside team; but late last year we got together for a 'scrub bash', clinging in the rain to the 45 degree slope of the Cuckmere valley just North of High & Over.

I have never seen a full 180 degree rainbow before, so was absolutely delighted to see one - the above image is looking Nor'west.

Hibernation

. . . over the weekend I was lucky enough to be invited by the Sussex Bat Group to join a local bat hibernation count [how many of each species per site] - some of these sites are in the quieter corners & crannies & nooks of neighbouring National Trust properties.

The only bat of the 250 or so we saw that day to be disturbed by our lurching around waving torches in the chilly dark was this rather dazed-looking Natterer's bat (photo credit: Sheila Wright) - we had to almost wake it up to take the number of its pre-existing ring.

I am happy (in fact extremely relieved) to be able to say it appeared to doze straight back into deep hibernation.

Later in the year - usually around August - Slindon will host bat-walks, one specially for children - brilliantly carried out last year by the team, led by Bob & Katie.

Each time I went last year - to enjoy the living dark & the expertise of Bob or another warden leading the walks - Serotine bats wheeled & swooped spectacularly at canopy-height above a clearing in the Park Pale woods, then we saw Daubenton's sweep low over Slindon pond - & of course at random intervals Pipistrelles would skitter by, going about their miniature private business.

Make sure you keep checking the link at the top of this page for Slindon Estate's next three months' events.

Carrying a Torch for the NT . . . .

. . . unseasonably fine evening & as you see in the photo above an unexpectedly large turnout - around 75 to 80 - of all ages. I say 'unexpectedy' because advertising was limited to a few A4 posters up locally around Slindon, plus the last-minute mention a couple of days ago in this new blog.

Friends & colleagues came over from other South Downs NT teams at Woolbeding Countryside & at Black Down [see their engaging blog here] . . . torches bobbed & swayed as chatter & conversation wound up Nore Hill to the folly, then back down Lees Lane.

We'll do this again . . . it might be especially lovely to have a torchlit walk later in the year, perhaps high up on the ridge of the Downs near Toby's Stone . . . mmmm . . . ?

Flaming Torch walk

. . . we've ordered dozens of these funky 'processional torches' for our Saturday 14th 19:00 hrs walk up to Nore Hill Folly . . . they take a blowtorch to get 'em lit . . but whoo it's worth it when you do

All that's missing is the pitchforks, the scythes, & Count Dracula . . . but it'll be great fun to parade up to The Folly through the dark, then along through the beechwoods then back down along the sunken lane back to Courthill.

There may be a few places left on the walk [booking essential - dogs on leads & children welcome]: 01243 814730