A misty Sunday walk on the South Downs. Hares were about, but some distance off.
A splash of colour in the grey weather was brought by many Yellow Hammers.
The yellowhammer is a sparrow-sized bird, they are a member of the Bunting family. A bright yellow bird of woodland edges, hedgerows, heath and farmland feeding on seeds and invertebrates.
Wordless Wednesday.
I was lucky to capture these images of this fox hunting this morning
With the first blue sky for a couple of weeks, it was nice to take a walk and get some photos without grey skies.
Mottisfont Abbey is a historical priory and country estate in Hampshire, now operated by the National Trust. The site features a historic house museum with changing art exhibitions, the abbey has a rich history that dates back to the 12th century, initially founded as a house for Augustinian canons. Over the centuries, it has transitioned from a monastic building to a country house, particularly during the 18th century when it was remodelled in the Gothic Revival style. The abbey is now recognised not only for its architecture but also for its beautiful gardens, which showcase a collection of old and rare roses, drawing visitors from around the world to experience its tranquil beauty and historical significance.
Two paintings from the current Town and Country: A Journey Through the Seasons are part of the current art exhibition at Mottisfont. These two were my favourites.
Both by Lesley Fortherby.
Tichborne Village in Hampshire stands on the Itchen as it passes on its way from Cheriton to Winchester.
St Andrew’s Church, standing on a small hill, is a Grade I listed building and was founded in the mid 11th Century. It was likely the church for the larger area known as the Manor of Cheriton. The Tichborne family, who had held their estate since at least 1135, came to be closely associated with St Andrew’s and carried out significant additions to it in the early 14th century.
The inside of the church has several monuments to the Tichborne family. These are very grand for a parish church.
St Catherine’s Hill, Winchester, is a 58-hectare chalk grassland. It is a nature reserve managed by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. There are ramparts of the Iron Age hill fort cut into the 70m high hill, buried ruins of the Norman chapel that gives the site its name and several rectangular burial mounds along Plague Pit Valley, which mark the location of mass graves. It offers views over Winchester, the Itchen Valley and the surrounding countryside. As part of the management of the chalk grassland, cattle are used to help prevent scrub from building up.
Two Male {cock} Pheasants squaring up to each other on the South Downs.
Walking the old toll path on Titchfield Canal, I spotted this little bird. Goldcrests are the UK’s smallest birds. With an average weight of 6 grams (the equivalent of about six paperclips!)
Today, being the last day of 2025, we decided to have a day out and headed to the village of Imber on Salisbury Plain. About an hour and a half’s drive from home, but well worth the trip.
All the residents of the village of Imber were evicted from their homes during ww2 in 1943 with just 47 days’ notice. The village and land formed part of the training grounds for American troops. Land was first purchased for military training on Salisbury Plain in late 1890s. Within 5 years, the total area in the hands of the War Department had risen to 43,000 acres. Permanent barracks were started at Tidworth in 1905. After the First World War, the War Department resumed buying land on Salisbury Plain. The Larkhill Royal School of Artillery was built in 1920. The village of Imber and its surrounding terrain were acquired between 1928 and 1932. The villagers became tenants of the War Department. After the evictions at the end of the war, it was never returned and remains, to this day, a training ground for urban warfare within the larger military training area of the Plain.
Today, the village is open for visits on a few days a year.
A walk around the village’s old homes and more modern killing houses.
The church of St Giles occupies the site of an earlier building dating from the mid-12th century. The nave was rebuilt towards the end of the 13th century, and around 1400,the addition of the north and south aisles, plus the tower and north porch. At this time, the nave roof was reconstructed. The chancel was rebuilt in 1849, at which time the north-east vestry was built.
Continued Reflections from my World. 