Category Archives: Fauna

From the Sussex Ox to the First Tractor

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Sussex oxen at Exceat
Ian Everest talks to the Beeding & Bramber Local History Society on Wednesday October 7th at 7:45pm in the Village Hall, Upper Beeding.

Oxen were still in use at Chyngton and Exceat Farms in Seaford until the mid-1920s and were reckoned to have been in use on the Sussex Downs for over one thousand years before. The talk includes photographs of them at work in Seaford, Bishopstone, East Dean and Lewes, together with some of the more unusual non-agricultural work that they were used for. Following the demise of the oxen in Sussex, the talk looks at the evolution of farming to horses and steam power, the rioting when the threshing machines were introduced and the arrival of the first tractors.

[GJMG notes: I attended a different talk by this speaker in Henfield a couple of years ago. It remains the best local history talk I have heard. Ian Everest was brought up on one of the farms he discusses and he really knows his stuff. In addition, he is an excellent speaker with well organized material.]

LAMBS Bug Shot Competition

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Dave Hill Brown Argus


Most Notable Species:
Brown Argus Butterfly by Dave Hill (photographed in Twineham)
Beauty or Beast:
Orange-tip butterfly by Deborah Herbert (taken between Shermanbury and Henfield)
Weird or Wonderful
Oak Eggar Caterpillar with water droplets by Kat Mitchell (photographed in Albourne)
Runners-up
Bee at work by Andie Melvin Harris
Great Green Bush Cricket by Paul Everest
Cinnabar Caterpillars by John Sandford Pike
Hummingbird Moth by Sharon Dowson

More than the minimum wage*

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Photo by David Jacobs
Sussex Wildlife Trust is generously offering to pay a total of £100 for a set of a dozen professional quality photos that they can use in their calendar, magazine and website:

We are looking for twelve stunning photographs capturing the best of the wildlife and landscapes of Sussex. Show us the wild places that are special to you. It could be high on the Downs, deep in the woods or your favourite urban nature spot. We’d also love to see your local wildlife shots. Amaze us with the ladybirds in your garden, migrating wildfowl, macro spiders, flowers carpeting a woodland floor, colourful fungi, clouds of downland butterflies or a sleeping hedgehog in the park.

*The relevant calculation assumes that each photo will take one hour to produce, on average. Only one photographer will actually receive any money. The remaining set of mugs will receive a set of mugs.

Bug Shot Competition

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Bug Shot Competition LAMBS Mayfield
Just get out your camera (or phone) and take a close-up of any insect you come across in roughly the area that Mayfield Market Towns hopes to destroy (the rectangle of the Low Weald bounded by the A23 to the east, the A272 to the north, and the A281 to the south and west). Your photo may just prove to be the vital piece of evidence which ends up protecting the area forever. The subjects of all your photos will be identified by our wildlife experts and then judged in the categories of: Beauty or Beast, Weird or Wonderful, or Most Notable Species. Given the rationale for the competition, the quality of your photo is not as important as the subject. The winners in each category will receive copies of the both of first two books in Nils Vissers’s Wyrd Wood Series which are based in the Sussex Weald. Nils is a huge supporter and has already pledged half of the proceeds of his second book to our campaign. Please take part if you can and encourage your family and friends to enter as well. There is no limit to the number of entries.

Submit entries by September 1st 2015 via Facebook or by email to press@lambs.org.uk.

LAMBS

Villager chased by cow

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A cow cases Joey
One of our villagers was walking on the Escarpment with a friend on Friday and they were chased by a cow with a very young calf. They ended up having to divert from the main footpath as they were then confronted with the herd including many small calves.

Please remember that cows with young calves are very protective and can attack if they feel threatened. The Countryside Code states that if cattle or horses chase you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead – don’t risk getting hurt by trying to protect it. Your dog will be much safer if you let it run away from a farm animal in these circumstances and so will you. Please therefore be vigilant when out walking.

Kate Watson

Saddlescombe Farm Open Day

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Dew pond at Saddlescombe Farm
The National Trust writes:

Discover this ancient downland farm that was once owned by the Knights Templars. Tours of the 17th century buildings, the surrounding downs and the walled garden. Displays and demonstrations of traditional work including; hurdle making, shepherding, carpenters’s workshop and more. This year we are [again] delighted to introduce our new farmers Roly and Camilla — so watch out for newly born lambs and their sheep dog Belle. Tea and home-made cakes available.

Sunday 26th April, 10:30am–4:00pm, adult £5, child £2, family £13.

Newtimber Place Gardens

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Newtimber Place NGS
The gardens at Newtimber Place will be open as part of the NGS (National Gardens Scheme) on Sunday 19th April between 2pm and 5.30pm. The gardens are lovely at this time of year with stunning daffodils and beautiful fritillaries. Beautiful Grade I listed C16/C17 moated house (not open). Gardens and woods full of bulbs and wild flowers in spring. Herbaceous border and lawns. Moat flanked by water plants. Mature trees. Wild garden, ducks, chickens and fish. Tea and home made cakesin aid of the church. There are ducks, chickens and guinea fowl wandering around so dogs need to be kept on a lead. Admission £4.00, children free.