I bet I get someone claiming they're rabbits, but they're HARES I tell you, HARES! They were sat upright then raced very fast down the hill as if intent on preventing me from taking a decent photo ;)
It's not far out of the city, but it can provide some far-reaching space and views across open countryside. It's the best place we've found locally for kite-flying and watching meteor showers at night if the time is right. It's a shame what an agricultural monoculture much of our countryside has become. I always look at the vast expanses of bare earth or single crops and imagine it transformed into a huge diversity of forest gardens, permaculture style, growing food for the city and involving many more of us in its production. At least it's not all been covered in houses and roads yet.
There were loads of new nettles coming up which reminded me it's that beautiful time of year when we can start making fresh nettle soup...yummy! Also, we saw lots of blackthorn trees in the hedgerows which we know from previous years produce an abundance of sloes for making sloe gin in the Autumn. The blossoms are edible too and have a slight almond taste. Some people crystallise them to make cake decorations. Most species of the blackthorn contain the toxin, hydrogen cyanide, as is found in apple pips, (this produces the almond flavour) which can be harmful in large amounts, so do your research and make an informed choice. Eating a few blossoms and using the berries in drinks is unlikely to cause a problem. Consuming hydrogen cyanide via cigarettes or industrial pesticides is much more cause for concern.
The lovely walk did however evoke a
pet hate of mine... some people seem to have the strange idea that if you wrap your dog's poo up in a PLASTIC bag and put it in the hedge, that the hedge fairies will magically take it away and make it disappear. Seriously, I'd rather risk stepping in it than see all the plastic waste all over the place! If you can't take it to the dog bin, it doesn't take much to just move it with a couple of sticks off the path into the undergrowth where it at least has a chance of composting naturally.
It was a really misty day on our walk up Portsdown Hill this week but despite that and the wintry chill still stubbornly clinging to the air, there were people spreading their picnic blankets out and sitting down together to enjoy their feast and the views over Portsmouth. Which is quite encouraging really!
