One place I've not visited this summer is a field lying between Kings Hill and Manor Country Park.
Last time it was a meadow, rich with various plants and insects. The grasses reached waist high and red clover scaled up them creating a tapestry of reds and golds and greens.
There was one area full of pyramid orchids tucked away amongst the white clover and corn poppies.
The air buzzed and it was a rich habitat.
I noted this was cut down come the autumn and presumed it would make good hay for the horses.
Unsurprisingly, I fancied a revisit. I parked up in the car park at Manor Country Park (£3 for all day parking, £3.60 on the parking app) and through the overflow carpark to the gate which leads to the field.
I was shocked. The field was almost unrecognisable from previous years. Biodiversity had shrunk, mares tail, the scourge of any area was widely seen, few native plants remained save for a few white clovers, thistles. Even the grasses had narrowed to a few festucas.
The further I walked, the more apparent it became, this field was slowly returning to scrub.
I presume there must be insects other than ants as I came across a few of these webs. They reminded me of similar sights on Tenerife and in Cape Verde. The spiders may have been super-sized, but they were essentially the same genus.
In this photo I had disturbed it so it wasn't sitting with pairs of legs together creating an odd 4-legged appearance.
I left the field.
To return to the car I walked along the A228, Ashdown Way. I was amazed by the diversity in the verges (I was walking along a dedicated footpath). I was so pleased to see everything from dandelions to pink scabious, blackberry to ornamental thistle. The verge was a mix of escapees to naturally wild.
And then the best bit arrived. I had reached the slope up to the bridge across the dual carriageway. On the slope was a plethora of pyramid orchids, strong and clearly living in perfect conditions.
What a lovely way to end a wander around the block.
