Actually, when we arrived in Mudeford near Christchurch, it wasn't too bad - very windy but only occasional rain. It did mean the Mudeford Arts Festival was much reduced in size, but after a quick amble along the quay and pub lunch, we decided to brave the conditions for a walk. The waves were quite spectacular - lots of windsurfers out in force - as we walked along the beach, passing the colourful beach huts.
Part of this coast is legally protected as a SSSI, primarily for its geology and erosional processes - lots of slumping clays, sands and gravels, which also make excellent habitat for reptiles and insects. Not that they were evident that day!
This weekend was a different story - baking heat as we walked across St Catherine's Hill into Winchester and back via the Itchen Navigation. Despite the sun-baked ground, there were still enough flowers (knapweed, small scabious, wild carrot etc) to tempt the butterflies down for a sip of nectar. So many fighting chalkhill blues, tussling in the air and making it nearly impossible to photograph their beauty!
And I've just got back from a short foray around Laverstock Down on the outskirts of Salisbury. Again, very sun-baked, but still some flowers present - birds foot trefoil, dwarf thistle, wild carrot, ladies bedstraw, knapweed. Unfortunately the windy conditions rather kept the butterflies at bay, but it was still great to see the vivid patches of colour and the various exquisite flower forms. And lots of sloes on the way too!
The weather looks to be taking a turn for the worse again, but don't we need it?!
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