{"id":933,"date":"2010-07-10T16:13:19","date_gmt":"2010-07-10T21:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rdnhs.org.uk\/blog\/?p=933"},"modified":"2010-09-04T04:33:13","modified_gmt":"2010-09-04T09:33:13","slug":"walbury-hill-10th-july-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rdnhs.org.uk\/blog\/walbury-hill-10th-july-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"Walbury Hill – 10th July 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fresh from an appointment with the physiotherapist, Martin Sell gamely led a joint BBOWT \/ RDNHS\u00a0field trip at Walbury Hill and Coombe on Saturday 10th<\/sup> July, despite an injured foot. It was a walk of stunning views, first northwards across the Kennet Valley, and then into the steep-sided valley around Coombe. The walk started from the east end of Walbury Hill. Small Tortoiseshell was the commonest butterfly, and 3 big orange fast-flying butterflies were identified as Dark Green Fritillaries. Chalk flowers beside the track across Walbury Hill included Wild Thyme, Squinancywort, Small Scabious and Wild Basil. A Humming-bird Hawk-moth was an exciting find. A short diversion was made along the road which crosses the ridge to enjoy the splendid display of flowers on the verge. The pinnatifid leaves of Greater Knapweed could be compared with the simple leaves of Common Knapweed and there were Fragrant, Common-spotted and Pyramidal orchids. Knapweed Broomrape was abundant, with plants in all stages from first spikes to full flowers and then\u00a0withered brown heads.<\/p>\n

The walk continued westwards along the ridge past Coombe Gibbet, then south down the Test Way. Lunch was spent in a flowery meadow in Coombe Wood, with tall blue clumps of Viper’s-bugloss and Silver-washed Fritillaries patrolling along the edge of the clearing. Small Heath butterflies and 6-spot Burnet Moths flew across the meadow. The walk continued back up through Coombe Wood, then dropped down to the beautiful 12th<\/sup> Century church at Coombe. Bat droppings were spotted inside the church and there was a collection of moth wings in the porch. The walk finished with a steep climb back up to Walbury Hill.<\/p>\n