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