This is England

We had a gorgeous eight mile walk on the South Downs today. Halfway round we came down off the hills and into the pretty village of Jevington. We had lunch sitting on a bench in the churchyard, just as the service was finishing for Mothers' Day. Lots of women were coming out with posies of Spring flowers which had been given to all the mothers.

After lunch I had a look inside the church, St Andrew's, the oldest part of which dates from AD 900. Its tower was built partly as refuge against the Vikings, who landed at nearby Cuckmere Haven and raided the coastal villages in East Sussex.

I took this shot from the porch looking out onto the fields nearby. The whole day felt perfect and very English, down to the gooseberry and elderflower cake we had when we finished!