Bluebells

Some of the best bluebell woods are in the Ashurst area, north of Steyning and today they were at their best, helped by the overcast skies which makes the colour seem more intense. In bright sunshine the blue seems to wash out and it is almost impossible to capture on camera. The woodland in this area is mainly hazel coppice with oak standards on a heavy Weald clay soil: ideal conditions for bluebells and they grow tall and lush. There are lots of other spring flowers to be seen in these woods, including Early Purple Orchids which seem to grow extra tall here.

There are always a few deer about and today we saw two Roe and about half a dozen Fallow. Birdsong was everywhere in the morning. We heard blackbird, songthrush, blackcap, chiffchaff, whitethroat and wren. And a cuckoo.