Sunflower in the garden this morning

Reminds me of Frida's happy little smiling face (my granddaughter).

Gatekeeper butterfly in the greenhouse this morning.

Even more Saxon Shore Way, Sandwich to Deal (25/07)

At just under 5 miles, this was the shortest section of the Saxon Shore Way that I have walked so far. It was also the least inspiring.

The route is quite  attractive as it follows the River Stour out of Sandwich & heads East towards the sea. Sandwich is an ancient market town with a long & interesting history dating back to pre-Roman times. It is worth stopping here for a while to explore the narrow streets with their many fine houses.

Shortly after leaving the river the path traverses the Royal St. George's Golf Course.

Viper's bugloss growing on the golf course.

I reach the seashore at Sandwich Bay where some interesting plants grow on the beach : 1) seakale & 2) sea holly.

There is an access road here & consequently, although the beach is very pebbly, it was busy with day trippers & there were many cars & campervans parked along the route. However,  it was much quieter after the road ended. There were extensive views back towards Pegwell Bay.

It got busier again on the approach to Deal. Sea fishing from the beach is quite popular here.

The start of the promenade. Deal pier can be seen in the distance.

More Saxon Shore Way - from Sandling (near Hythe) to Folkestone. (18/07)

This walk was just under 9 miles & passes through a beautiful area of ancient chalk grassland which forms part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB). The rich variety of wild flowers & butterflies found here has led to much of it being included in the Folkestone - Etchinghill Escarpment SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) which has also been designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) because of its importance on a European scale. Orchids are one of the specialities here. The route is quite hilly & includes many fine perspectives over the surrounding countryside & English Channel. As you approach Folkestone there are great views over the Channel Tunnel Terminal & Folkestone town. Evidence of human activity in the area since Neolithic times is evident in the form of several barrows (or burial mounds) located along the way. This is a very beautiful & interesting walk.

Tolsford Hill near the start of the walk is 600ft above sea level at its summit & one of the highest hills of the Downs in E. Kent. The 221ft high BT Tower is a prominent local landmark. Its reinforced concrete construction is unusual.

The stemless thistle is a common wildflower in the chalk grassland around Tolsford Hill.

The path leads down the valley towards the Seabrook Stream near the village of Etchinghill. The valley of the Seabrook is noted for the number & rarity of the crane fly species found here. The stream once powered several corn mills.

Nettle-leaved bellflower growing nearby.

The path passes through a tunnel beneath the now disused Elham Valley Railway. Built 1884-89, the railway ran between Canterbury & Folkestone but was never very successful & ceased operation in 1947.

A steep climb up this lovely combe out of the valley.

Small skipper butterflies were abundant here.

Looking back towards Sandling & the coast from the top of the combe.

I passed several WWII pill-boxes , one of which (but not this one) was built on top of a Bronze Age burial mound.

Caesar's Camp. Actually, the earthworks of of a Norman castle which was previously located here & nothing to do with Julius Caesar.

Great views over the Channel Tunnel Terminal just outside of Folkestone.

Sugarloaf Hill. A local landmark & important site for many wildflowers that are typical of chalk grassland.

Wild thyme: one of the common wildflowers that grow in profusion in this area.

Martello Tower No.3 located at Copt Point, overlooks the harbour near the end of the walk. These defensive structures were built between 1805 & 1812 to counter the threat of invasion by Napoleon. 7 Martello Towers are located in the Folkestone area.

Saxon Shore Way, Dover to Folkestone (11/07/20)

The Saxon Shore Way long distance footpath extends for 163 miles around the Kent & East Sussex coastline from Gravesend to Hastings. It follows a line of defensive forts built by the Romans during the 3rd Century AD to provide protection against an increasing threat of attack by marauding Saxons. The section I walked along on Saturday  is regarded as one of the most scenic with some outstanding sea cliff scenery & good views across the English Channel to the French coast. It also bears considerable historic interest especially in the vicinity of Dover but there are the remains of many defensive structures relating to WW II along the whole route to Folkestone. The proximity to France & the characteristic of this being a 'pinch point in the seas between Britain & continental Europe means that it is a particularly good location  to spot interesting migratory birds, insects & sea mammals. There is a wide variety of wild flowers along the route, especially orchids, which thrive on the calcareous soils. The length of this section of the Saxon Shore Way is just under 6 miles.

View looking  back towards Dover from near the summit of Shakespeare Cliff approximately one mile from the start of the walk.

Samphire Hoe. This promontory below the cliffs was created using spoil from the construction of the Channel Tunnel. It is now a designated country park & nature reserve which attracts some interesting birds during the spring & autumn migration. The Channel Tunnel leaves the English coast not far from here.

One of the interesting wartime structures dotted along the cliffs is this acoustic mirror which was used before the days of radar. It worked by focusing & augmenting the sounds of approaching enemy aircraft so they could be more easily heard & so , alert observation personnel on the ground.

Some of the impressive coastal scenery looking towards Folkestone.

                                     

 

Wear Bay, Folkestone.

Peacock butterfly.

Harebell.

Eyebright. Once used as a herbal treatment for eye complaints.

Vervain : another lover of calcareous soils. Also one of the sacred flowers of the Druids.

Yellow wort.

Ploughman's spikenard.

Red admiral butterflies feeding on buddleia.

Some common salt marsh plants of the N.Kent marshes.

Known as halophytes, these hardy plants have adapted to survive their twice daily submergence in saltwater. Here are some species which I came across on a recent walk along the Thames Estuary between Higham & Gravesend.

Sea Purslane (Halimione portulacoides).

Common glasswort (Salicornia europea). 
The high salt concentration within  the tissues of this plant led to its traditional use in the manufacture of glass & soap. Hence its name.

Sea wormwood (Artemisia maritima) with its distinctive silvery leaves.

Golden samphire (Inula crithmoides). 
The bright yellow flowers of golden samphire grace the salt marsh with their presence during July & August each year.

Sea-lavender (Limonium vulgare). 
The beautiful mauve flowers of the sea-lavender appear during July through to September each year & are a popular nectar-source for bees, butterflies & many other insects.

Water mills, wild flowers and life in Loose valley (28/6)

Walk along the Loose Valley from Tovil to Loose village
Despite it's close proximity to the busy town of Maidstone, the Loose Valley, with its peaceful water meadows & old water mills is a world away. It extends about 5 miles from its source in the village of Langley to its mouth where the stream flows into the R. Medway at Tovil. Most of the valley is managed as a conservation area. During previous centuries  this place was a hive of activity with some 13 water mills dotted along the water course. The fast-flowing spring-fed stream offered a cheap & reliable power source & a plentiful supply of clean water which was ideal for  processes such as the fulling of woollen cloth (a cleaning & conditioning process), papermaking, & corn-grinding.

Upper Crisbrook Mill, Tovil dates from the 18th C. but there has been a mill on this site from at least the 16th C. Fulling was the main activity here although in later years it converted to corn-grinding and when it ceased commercial activities in the 1960's it was being used to prepare rags for nearby Hayle Mill. The water wheel (seen on the right in the photograph) has been refurbished by the current owners & is now used solely to generate electricity for the house.

The old mill ponds attract many species of bird including kingfisher, water-rail, little grebe, tufted duck, grey heron & little egret. Brown trout &  grey wagtail can sometimes be found along sections of the fast-flowing stream situated between the mill ponds. Sadly, brown trout numbers have been greatly depleted in recent years because of illegal fishing.

The water meadows are full of wild flowers including St.John's wort.....

knapweed....

and meadow vetchling.

There are many beautiful old houses including the 16th C. Tyler's.....

and Hart's House (also 16th C).

This yew tree in Loose churchyard is estimated to be at least 1500 years old. It's not quite the oldest in Kent as there is one in Ulcombe churchyard, some 5 miles to the east, which is thought to be over 2000 years old.

The Loose Stream runs either side of the picturesque causeway at the bottom of Brook's Field on the edge of the village.