An early cold-morning visit to the twin areas of Russell Gardens and Bushy Ruff revealed a fascinating phenomenon - the water that runs through them is warmer than the air, so a mist rises from the surface.
The water emerges from the ground a short distance up the valley, from the chalk which keeps it at a reasonably constant 10° C (about 12° warmer than the ambient temperature). Understandably, this is appreciated by the local gulls and ducks, along with bread brought by visitors.
At times of high rainfall and a high water table, a winterbourne stream called the Drelingore appears further up the Alkham valley and runs into Bushy Ruff. This only happens infrequently, perhaps once every 10 years, or as Leland explained
'ones in a vj or vij yeres brasted owt so abundantly that a great part of the water cummeth into Dovar streme'.
This is one of the tributaries of the River Dour which reaches the sea at Dover, and here has been dammed to make an attractive formal and informal gardens.
An early cold-morning visit to the twin areas of Russell Gardens and Bushy Ruff revealed a fascinating phenomenon - the water that runs through them is warmer than the air, so a mist rises from the surface.
The water emerges from the ground a short distance up the valley, from the chalk which keeps it at a reasonably constant 10° C (about 12° warmer than the ambient temperature). Understandably, this is appreciated by the local gulls and ducks, along with bread brought by visitors.
At times of high rainfall and a high water table, a winterbourne stream called the Drelingore appears further up the Alkham valley and runs into Bushy Ruff. This only happens infrequently, perhaps once every 10 years, or as Leland explained 'ones in a vj or vij yeres brasted owt so abundantly that a great part of the water cummeth into Dovar streme'.
This is one of the tributaries of the River Dour which reaches the sea at Dover, and here has been dammed to make an attractive formal and informal gardens.
3 comments:
What a beautiful place and the mist rising over the ducks and gulls makes it more so. Did you bring bread?
No (it's difficult enough finding bread for my lunch-time sandwiches).
I'll have to make a point of saving some for future visits.
Beautiful series..it looks haunting..Be careful feeding a waterfowl bread. My friend who rehabs them says it can clog their crops and cause problems so I use cracked corn which doesn't float every well..LOL..
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