Sunday 14th June

  Picked up a Sainsbury’s bag with left over picnic in and a couple of other bits

- saw Marbled butterflies (about 6), plus a tiny violet/blue butterfly and some brown ones (Heath maybe) - not v good on butterflies!
- lots of lovely wildflowers- wild thyme, spotted and pyramid orchids, rock rose, dog roses, knapweed, trefoil, agrimony and lady’s bedstraw (I think).
- there was someone on the plum pudding sitting having a quiet time and didn’t want to disturb so didn’t check the fire situation.

- 4 off-road type vehicles came up the track on my way down - maybe they were something to do with the Hampshire Wildlife people?

Pippa  pp.  Jim & Mary Wheldon

Wednesday 3rd June

Had a lovely walk with the "grand dog"! Heard a cuckoo. Red Kite hunting. Plenty of Common Spotted orchids in the triangle between gates 2, 3 & 4. No Pyramidal Orchids showing yet. I'll attach photos of orchid's I've taken over the years on the down No. 1 Greater Butterfly Orchid. 2. Frog Orchid. 3. Common Spotted Orchid. 4. Bee Orchid - no photo of Bird Nest Orchid.

Pippa

 

Sunday 31 May 2026

 All seemed fine. No dog walkers, gates ok, no litter. Evidence of a recent small contained fire on top Plum Pudding. Bet the Downs are drinking up tonight's long overdue rain!

Sam