Downland view

A long downland walk this afternoon from Glynde over the Downs to Lewes and back via Southerham, Oxteddle Bottom and the Caburn hill fort. Masses of flowers like common toadflax, ladies bedstraw, red and white clover grow on the south facing slopes, usually having a dwarf form on the thin chalky soil. It was drizzling and cloudy so not many butterflies about. This is the view south from the Southerham Nature Reserve, near Lewes, across the Ouse valley towards the main ridge of the South Downs above Iford, Northease and Rodmell.