A few more piccies from the weekend in Hampshire, a bucolic county of rolling hills and beech hangars, sandy commons and lush hedgerows.
Under the brow of Butser Hill is a recreated Iron Age village, with a cluster of roundhouses built according to archaeological finds (you can just hear Tony Robinson getting excited about the post holes). The techniques required just to put up the rooves are impressive (take about 30 long poles in a star shape, bind them together and infill with spars and thatch).
There was a clump of woad which is used to test Julius Caesar's view that the Ancient Britons that he met at Kingsdown (well, maybe Walmer) in 55BC were painted blue with indigo woad dye. The skills required to dye cloth are on this site if anyone's keen on the style.
The largest colony of Narrow-leaved (Sword-leaved) Helleborines in Britain is in Chappetts Copse, near West Meon, and fortunately they bloom early - but not quite early enough this year for my visit. Thanks to Nigel J for the identification.
Tormentil
Hidden in the bluebells are two very young fawns, whose mother was disturbed by the close passing of walkers - going to investigate, my friends saw them up close - mother hopefully will have returned, to avoid a tearful Bambi end to the story.
And for another picture of beauty - did you ever see anything as lovely as this Dingley Dell?
Water violets in full bloom in two shallow ponds not far from houses, railway and motorway - may they survive and prosper. 
1 comment:
Those roundhouses are really interesting. It sounds like a lot of work to do the roof. Love the little fawn.
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