The SuffolkArgus
Spring2004
weather. Our group, now up to full numbers with the arrival of the four remaining members, was to spend the day on Salisbury Plain, our leader being Kevin Walker, of the 'C.E.H.', at Monk's Wood. Kevin, undertaking research in the area, had kindly offered to show us around his 'patch' and duly met us at our first location, Everleigh Down, a few miles N.W. ofTidworth. Our 'car park' was normally used by Army vehicles when on manoeuvres, fortunately, being Sunday, they were having a day off. We had been pre-warned of the dire consequences of parking on tracks used by Tanks! The Plain, is approx. 20 miles from west to east and 12 miles from north to south, parts given over to military use. Kevin showed us a map to explain the M.o.D. owned land, basically divided into three parts, the eastern area where we were at present, the western area around Imber, and a central 'impact' area consisting of the Larkhill Artillery Ranges. We gathered that this 'impact' area supported colonies of the Marsh Fritillary butterfly. Setting off on our walk, up cowards Sidbury Hill, we had superb views of a vast green expanse of undulating chalk downland, the largest remaining such area in Europe. The walk eventually produced sightings of 21 species: Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Peacock, Brimstone, Small Heath, Small White, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Marbled White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Small Blue, Dark Green Fritillary and a Humming-bird Hawk Moth. Also we found two of the 'webs' of the Marsh Fritillary caterpillars, on Devil's-bit Scabious. Once again the chalk downland flora being too numerous to list here, but perhaps I should mention that Kevin searched, in vain, co show us a Tuberous Thistle (which only grows in Wiltshire) but he could only locate a hybrid of the Tuberous/Stemless Thistle. Returning for a picnic lunch, we were most grateful to the Army for the provision of a 'thunderbox' (portaloo) in the parking area. This evoked considerable amusement and Richard Stewart was photographed, for posterity, exiting this edifice, perhaps it was fortunate that it wasn't
booby-trapped! For our afternoon visit, Kevin led us in a convoy of cars, to the western end of the Plain, and the village of Lierle Cheverell. Here, a lane led us to Fore Hill and after leaving che cars, we crossed a grazing meadow which led us to a bowl shaped steep sided Coombe, the slopes of which were covered with a profusion of flowers. By now, although still sunny the freshening wind was tending to whisk the butterflies away from the flower heads. In this area we noted: - Marbled White, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Wall, Small Skipper, Dark Green Fritillary and Clouded Yellow. Growing around the rim of the Coombe was the attractive and rare Woolly Thistle, the globular flower heads covered with a white cotton-like growth and up co three inches across, the largest of any British thistle. This now brought our weekend activities to a close, the visit providing a fascinating insight into two contrasting habitats. Our thanks co Kevin Walker for sharing his expertise with us, I'm sure we all left with a greater knowledge of a lovely area of Wiltshire. Postscript:- Some members stayed on for a late afternoon walk and although still broad daylight, they were able to approach, quite closely, and photograph a Badger. The same memberspaid a brief visit to Bentley Wood on the Monday morning, seeing a Purple Emperor that conveniently alighted fairly low down on an Oak tree by the car park. A Silverwashed Fritillary and a White Admiral were also seen. The latter bringing the species count for the weekend to 21.
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My First Walk in the Pyrenees 8th January 2001 by James Mann Now for something completely different, not a butterfly in sight. When Anne and I had lived here in Le Boulou for just over a year I was asked if I liked walking and if so would I like to take part in 'La Randonnee'. I replied yes and I would. I did not know until later that I had been invited to join "Les Rafals" an exclusive group of seven or eight retired people who walked in the mountains each Monday. I was told I would need good walking boots, waterproofs, backpack, food and water etc, all the essential things to safely walk in the mountains. I was also told I should join the F.F.R.P.Federation Francaise de la Randonnee Pedestre which apart from anything else covered me by insurance so that in case of accident I would be picked up by helicopter, taken to hospital, and treated without charge, well wotth the 18 Euros so I joined the other 150,000 members in France. On the day of the walk I was picked up at 8.30am, Anne said I looked like the 11 year old she remembered from school. We drove up the Vallespir to Saint Laurent de Cerdans at 670 metres altitude parking at the old railway station that has been closed since October 1940 when the line along the River Tech was washed away by floods. We started off at 9-30am admiring the patterns in the thick frost on the cars. Climbing above the village we passed the last few houses and were greeted by the friendly barking of dogs who
no doubt would have liked to come with us. We soon entered an extensive old coppiced chestnut forest clearly planted by man. I have read something of the history of the area and discovered that iron had been mined and forged here from Roman times up to the I 960's. In the 17th century the supply of charcoal for che forges was running low so the chestnuts were planted to alleviate this. The sun was shining brightly through the bare branches giving ever-moving patterns of light and shade. The path zigzagged steadily upwards and by about 10-30am we arrived at Mas Couloumer, a farm owned by a trio of Belgians who have been producing goat and cow cheese for 19 years. After having a welcome drink of coffee from our flasks we could not resist the temptation to buy some of the lovely fresh cheese. The path levelled out and we soon arrived at the village of Coustouges situated close to the Spanish border at 780metres. The village has an interesting church which dates back over 1000 years and a 12th century medieval cemetery on whose gravestones it is possible to trace the old family names. The walk moved off out of the back of the village via Rue de Escalier, yes it was like a staircase. My feet were now telling me that I should have worn my boots in more, I knew I had at least one blister on each foot. My eye was taken by what looked like huge piles of reddish concrete. I was cold that there had been many volcanoes in this area and that this was red lava that had picked up stones as it rolled down the slopes and cooled. I have since seen lots of this "prehistoric concrete" cut into blocks and used in the construction of many of the old buildings, including parts of the Coustouges Church. The path now entered a pine forest and we began to encounter patches of snow but with the sunshine in seemed quite warm. The path rose sharply for a few metres and came out onto a wide track leading off towards Spain. After following this for half an hour we came to a stone block at the side of the track with the number 545 cut into it. This was a Borne Frontier marking the border between France and Spain. We all played the game of leaving the country and having one foot in each country. My feet were now really hurting and I asked, "Do we
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