Lunch at The Black Swan

The Black Swan is a Hall & Woodhouse Inn located just off the A23 at Pease Pottage (just south of Crawley). Yesterday I joined four old business colleagues here for lunch. With a combined age of 348 we have stood the test of time, haven't really changed much and still know how to party!

The Black Swan, Pease Pottage

Cosy interior view

The inn has been completely refurbished and offers a really warm welcome. Being a Hall & Woodhouse property the full range of Badger ales is on offer. I had a distinct feeling of deja-vu as Ros and I stayed in a Hall & Woodhouse inn only last week - The Lulworth Cove Inn in Dorset. And the menu was exactly the same. Three of us opted for hand battered fish and chips, the fish coated in a wonderful light and crisp Tanglefoot ale batter, and the other two went for Chargrilled Gammon Steak. Plenty of Rioja and Sauvignon Blanc was used to wash the meal down. For dessert the Treacle & Stem Ginger tart is a tangy delight.

The inn interior is cosy and very well furnished and the staff are friendly and attentive. If you are ever in the area then the Black Swan is well worth a visit.

Tweetstorm for Owen Paterson

Yesterday, 4th September, marked the first anniversary of Owen Paterson's appointment as Environment Secretary. In this role he is expected to support any action that has a direct benefit for our fragile environment. Instead, he chose to:

• Push for the introduction of GM foods to the UK
• Start the massacre of England's badgers without scientific evidence
• Fight against the ban on bee killing pesticides
• Back fracking and fight against a clean energy policy

The Tweetstorm conducted under the hashtag #industrylapdog became the top UK trend. But how much I wonder did it achieve? According to @DefraKate, not much:

yesterday was incredibly busy, with all the excitement of the Boss's anniversary. He had a marvellous day - by the way! #industrylapdog

Others felt differently:

@DefraGovUK expecting gunmen to report wounded badgers. As likely as Praterson adjudging the cull to be inhumane #industrylapdog

 Any one seen Owen 2nite? Heard he's sulking in his bedroom. Really chaps a bit harsh? #industrylapdog #stopthecull

openDemocracy.net posted this yesterday http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/heidi-stephenson/war-on-wildlife-truth-about-badger-culling#.UicFpGiFdCY.twitter

"The decision to initiate the badger culling scheme is not only ill-informed, but deliberately shallow. It is time to consider a positive and viable solution rather than scapegoating a species".

Hoverflies Thriving

In these balmy days of early September I have noticed a significant increase in the number of hoverflies in my garden. Like the Bumblebee they are particularly attracted to the large Perennial Anemone 'Serenade'.

Semi-double, deep pink flowers

Hoverflies feed on pollen and nectar, which the anemone has in abundance. The largest number present in my garden is represented by Episyrphus balteatus, a medium sized hoverfly with a rather narrow body and broad yellow bands on the abdomen.

Episyrphus balteatus

Second in numbers present is the Melanostoma scalare, a smaller hoverfly, with a very narrow body. The yellow marks on the abdomen are not complete bands and a black line runs down the middle of the back.

Melanostoma scalare

I am always pleased to see hoverflies in the garden as many hoverfly larvae are important predators of aphids, so chemical control of aphids should be avoided. The African marigold is another good flower to attract adult hoverflies. 

The Rutland Water Ospreys

If like me you enjoy reading about successful wildlife projects then treat yourself to this fabulous book by Tim Mackrill entitled "The Rutland Water Ospreys".

This new book is a celebration of the Rutland Osprey Project and discusses the team's efforts to re-establish these magnificent birds in England and also details the Ospreys' incredible journeys as they migrate to Africa or Southern Spain. The project is managed by Anglian Water and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. 

Read the amazing stories behind the Rutland Osprey Project.

Rutland Ospreys Satellite Tracking

I was fortunate to visit Rutland Water two weeks ago for the 25th Annual Birdfair. The area is now well known for its breeding Ospreys and their migratory journeys are tracked each year with satellite tracking. It is a heartwarming story of conservation, faith and, above all, hope - that these magnificent birds will make it safely to their winter quarters (well, winter for us). I can tell it no better than the news posted on the official site, in particular concerning Osprey number 30(05) and her journey south.

http://www.ospreys.org.uk/africa-calling-or-will-it-be-a-spanish-winter/

Amidst all the sorrowful world news this story is something to gladden the heart...

Wild Purbeck

There are few locations where I have enjoyed walking more than the Purbeck coast in Dorset. Miles of rolling grassland peppered with gorse and other scrub and an abundance of wild flowers. The coastal path west of Lulworth is a haven for wildlife.

The west arm of Lulworth Cove

The coastal path just east of Durdle Door

I saw several species of butterflies as I wandered along the path. A single Adonis Blue Lysandra bellargus landed close by, the most brilliant blue colour and the rarest of our downland blues. A privilege to see this beauty. Several silvery-blue Chalkhill Blues Lysandra corridon drifted over grass no doubt looking for the few knapweeds and scabiouses still evident. Small Whites Pieris rapae showed in abundance as too did Small Tortoiseshells Aglais urticae and a single Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus.

As I watched the butterflies something entered my peripheral vision and I looked skyward just in time to lock my binoculars on a magnificent Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus drifting effortlessly on thermals as he flew by west to east. Following his flightpath brought a hovering Kestrel Falco tinnunculus into view. Further along the track I met up with one of the local rangers and asked the usual "Seen anything?" He pointed out a number of Yellow Wagtails Motacilla lava resting on nearby fence-posts, summer visitors no doubt thinking about their return journey south. Further along the fence we spotted a single Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, another summer visitor. We parted company and I wandered on past an area of low scrub and was lucky to see a skulking Stonechat Saxicola torquata. But the highlight had to be a pair of Ravens Corvus corax, the largest by far of the black crows, big-headed and wedge-tailed.

In February 2012 the Wild Purbeck area was designated as one of 12 Nature Improvement Areas across the country. It is an area of outstanding beauty that provides the naturist with a wealth of wildlife to see. Keep your eyes peeled and remember to keep looking up; you never know what might be passing overhead! 

The Lulworth Cove Inn, Dorset

"Along the varying road of life, In calm content, in toil or strife, At morn or noon, by night or day, As time conducts him on his way, How oft doth man, by care oppressed, find an Inn a place of rest". So said William Coombe and it wholeheartedly fits the Lulworth Cove Inn, where Ros and I have just spent five days of perfect bliss enjoying the fabulous weather and this perfect Inn.

Right on the doorstep of Lulworth Cove, boasting stunning coastal views and scenic Jurassic footpaths, this wonderful Inn is an idyllic location for pleasure seekers. It starts and ends with friendliness and hospitality.

The Lulworth Cove Inn

The view from our room (number 9)

The ancient code of hospitality demands that a host must provide his guest with food, shelter and safety - all the best a house can offer. You get it in spades here. The friendliest of staff, always a cheery welcome, nothing too much trouble and service with a genuine smile. The Inn serves award-winning Badger cask ales (a pint is never enough), lagers from around the world and a menu full of fresh, unpretentious seasonal dishes. The 'Home Breakfast' provided the perfect start to the day: sausage, back or streaky bacon, eggs fried, poached or scrambled, mushrooms, baked beans, sauté potatoes, tomato and black pudding. Wow! And the most delicious cafetiere coffee.

The inn offers 12 en-suite rooms with Wi-Fi access (unfortunately not working during our stay) and stunning sea views. The decor is shabby, seaside chic with plenty of driftwood paraphernalia - the feel of the sea is always with you.

The 'wardrobe' ;)

Everything is spotlessly clean, the bed linen is changed every second day as are the lovely fluffy towels. The beds are just so comfortable with the same mattresses as those allegedly supplied to the White House. And it is so quiet at night, guaranteeing a good night's sleep.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Dorset you will love this Inn. Highly recommended.