Airbourne Airshow Eastbourne 2015

AeroSuperBatics formation wing walking team are a very special attraction - two or more vintage Boeing Stearman biplanes carry the wing walking performers 

Airbourne, the seafront air show in Eastbourne has to be one of the best free attractions on the summer on the Sunny Sussex coast - fours days of some of the best International air display flying you are likely to see.

Avro Lancaster of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - always a show stopper with the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane

Visit Eastbourne from Thursday 13 to Sunday 16 August 2015. The display may be viewed from along the seafront, West Lawns and along the cliffs to Beachy Head with its' spectacular views back to the town and display. Many of the display airplanes are based at Shoreham Airport for the display and overfly Beachy Head and the South Downs National Park.

Supermarine Spitfire Mk PRXIX PM631 unarmed long range

high altitude photographic reconnaissance ship

There's plenty to see and do during the four day event including numerous ground attractions and a mini music festival including Toyah & Scouting for Girls!

http://www.visiteastbourne.com/airbourne/

The Monday Group - Rights of Way Volunteers

I'm sure there are many who wander along the public rights of way, footpaths and bridleways across East & West Sussex and South Downs National Park who see small green & yellow signs and wonder what they represent!

Those small signs show the work of the volunteer Monday Group who meet every week, fair weather or foul to ensure the public rights of way is Sunny Sussex are maintained and accessible for all who us them.

Harold Rowling MBE, founder of the Monday Group with a stile bearing his mark

- 93 is Harold's age! One of two stiles build as a result of a kind donation from South Bank Ramblers.

Harold founded the Monday Group in 1961 and is still the driving force behind the group in 2015. Stiles, directional signs and footbridges are all installed under Harold's engineers eye. During WW2 Harold served with the RAF and moved back to the area after the war with his wife Pam. In 1961 many rights of way were closed and overgrown as a result of the South Downs being used as a military training area during the war - it was Pam who spurred Harold to do something about it; things began with getting Westmeston Bostal reopened. A bridleway connecting Westmeston Village to Ditchling Beacon.

The work of the Monday Group continues thanks to the hard work of the many skilled volunteers and those who donate funds in order that materials may be purchased. One recent donation is from South Bank Ramblers who have funded five stiles, two near Novington Lane, Plumpton.

Harold and volunteer Kate with a stile designed by Harold and built by Jim Edwards from green oak.

All the stiles, signs and footbridges are built away from the point of installation and assembled in-situ. The group have a workshop behind St. George's Park in Ditchling where much work is carried out.

Jim Edwards with a freshly installed directional sign.

All the outdoor work is done without the aid of mechanical devices. Mainly as they are too heavy or cumbersome to carry to most locations.

To donate to the Monday Group or volunteer on a regular or even irregular basis contact them direct via their website http://www.mondaygroup.org/contact/ 

Donations may be sent direct to Harold:

Harold Rowling MBE

Home Brow House,
Underhill Lane,
Westmeston,
East Sussex,
BN6 8XG

Seven Sisters & Cuckmere Haven

Sometimes it's worth the effort of venturing out when the conditions are less than ideal!

One of the most stunning sights of the many in the South Downs National Park must be the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters.

This area is a magnet for photographers and tourists alike, whether approached from South Barn car park and the classic scene with the Coastguard Cottages in the foreground, the light house at Beachy Head or the spectacle of the the cliffs in storm light as scene from the cliff top close to Birling Gap, as illustrated here.

Birling Gap is a perfect spot to experience the Seven Sisters; it's accessible by bus and there is ample car parking. The beach may be reached by means of metal steps down to the shingle beach. Birling Gap café serves food and there are public conveniences.

Links and map below.

For any photographers reading this -

Canon 5D MkII, 24-105mm ƒ/4 L Series, LEE Filters 0.6ND Hard Grad to hold back the sky. Manfrotto carbon fibre tripod. 

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/birling-gap-and-the-seven-sisters/

Wolstonbury Hill - BBC Countryfile Secret Britain

Wolstonbury Hill viewed from the Orchid Bank on the east side of The Hill - an area were volunteers have cleared scrub and undergrowth manually allowing numerous species of orchid to reestablish

Wolstonbury Hill is a very special place and I have the honour of being the founding chairman of the the conservation group Friends of Wolstonbury.

Friends of Wolstonbury were formed early in 2007 as a result of a survey undertaken by the South Downs Joint Committee late in 2006. The survey was sent to everyone living in Hurstpierpoint, Hassocks, Keymer & Ditchling seeking to find out their "special" countryside place in the area - as a result Friends of Wolstonbury was formed.

Wolstonbury Hill is a special landscape shaped by human involvement for well over 3000 years. To keep it special we need to maintain that involvement to help the National Trust & local landowners to stop scrub invading banks where rare orchids grow and maintain footpaths so people can walk onthe hill and enjoy it safely.

Julia Bradbury, presenter BBC Countryfile with National Trust Warden Graham Welfare

During my tenure as chairman we became involved in filming an episode of Secret Britain, a short series produced by BBC TV Countryfile during June 2010 showing special places in the English countryside. Wolstonbury Hill was chosen as it's home to a diverse chalk grassland flora & fauna including fly orchid Ophrys insectifera & man orchid Orchis anthropophora.

David Lang, orchid expert & author of Britain's Orchids

David Lang an internationally recognised orchid expert and author of Britain's Orchids was involved in filming, during which he experienced something he's never seen in over 40 years - a parasitic wasp pollinating a fly orchid! This actually happened during filming which took Julia Bradbury by surprise, since David became distracted and began photographing the event.

Parasitic wasp Listrodromus nycthemerus pollinating a fly orchid

- David Lang was quite surprised when I showed him this image which I'd shot the day before filming whilst on a guided NT orchid walk!

The main aim of the programme for to seek and film the elusive man orchid, the locations of which are known to very few in view of its' scarcity and the fact there are people who will dig up specimens illegally.

I'm pleased it wasn't me that had to lug the heavy broadcast camera gear up the steep slopes of Wolstonbury Hill!

The target of our quest, the man orchid. I consider myself privileged as one of a select few who know the location of this exceptionally rare plant.

Wolstonbury Hill is a very pale and well worth a visit. The access is remote so be prepared for a long walk from Pyecombe village along a rutted path which is normally slick with wet clay. The Hill may be accessed from the north by means of two routes, both are sticky clay so decent footwear and a walking stick or pole will be an asset.

Visit the Friends of Wolstonbury website for more information. Enjoy your day, you'll not regret it:)

South Downs National Park Becomes Reality in November 2009

Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP points to the South Downs from the garden of Ditchling Tea Rooms

On 12 November 2009 Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs signed the Designation Order making the South Downs National Park a reality in law with England's newest National Park becoming operation from 1st April 2011.

Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP inspects the Designation Order

I was invited to cover the event at Ditchling Tea Rooms for the then South Downs Joint Committee. It's not often we get a someone such as Hilary Benn on home turf! We have much to thank him for; the South Downs National Park, the ninth in England, providies protection for 632 sq-mile of beautiful landscape.

The Dew Pond on Wolstonbury Hill, there are approximately 300 across the South Downs where there is no running water, they provide an important source of water for livestock

The South Downs National Park includes the village of Ditchling and many unique landscapes including nearby Wolstonbury Hill, home to the rare Man Orchid Orchis anthropophora, the Seven Sister chalk cliffs and Cuckmere Haven with the classic meandering river.

Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP signs the Designation Order enshrining The South Downs National Park in English Law

The National Park and surrounding area is also the largest wine producing region in England, with over 145 vineyards in South East England, including two in Ditchling with awards for the quality of their Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines. If you ascend Ditchling Beacon and look north it's surprising how many vineyards have been planted locally in the last ten years.

Creating the newest National Park has taken 60 years, but it's been worth the wait.

Sussex Grower, Saf Mohammed

Saf Mohammed, happy to be growing his own produce

More people are choosing to grow their own produce for pleasure, to feed their families or for profit, in the knowledge that it will be fresh, seasonal, free from chemicals, pesticides and unnecessary distribution miles.

As the shape of UK agriculture changes plots of land and becoming available allowing growers such as Saf Mohammed to grow crops of unusual and special varieties of vegetables not normally found on supermarket shelves.

Saf decided to grow his own produce in order to feed his family after being made redundant from a job in London.

Elephant garlic, a member of the leek family with edible cloves and stem

From the beginning he chose not to use any pesticides or herbicides. Saf makes his own compost & mulch along with supply of manure from the organic chicken farm where his plot is located close to the village of Ditchling in Sussex.

It can be hard work at times, especially in the poly tunnel during a hot spell!

For now Saf uses no mechanical aids in production as he is frees his plot and poly tunnel of unwanted weeds, which if rotovated would multiply uncontrollably. Digging by hand is hard and satisfying, it’s also a great way to keep in shape according to Saf!

For the 2015 season Saf plans to produce a wide selection of fresh seasonal vegetables including garlic, runner beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, salad leaves and elephant garlic which is actually a member of the leek family where the stem and bulbs are edible. The elephant garlic should be ready around the end of June. It may be used in a number of ways including a very tasty tortila with organic eggs from Geoff’s chickens; Geoff is the farmer from whom Saf rents his plot.

Saf’s seasonal produce is available from selected local outlets including

The Purple Carrott in Hassocks & The Larder in Ditchling

http://thepurplecarrot.org

www.larder-ditchling.com