Cowlease Farm, Hamsey, East Sussex

Today I had an excellent day out with Unique & Lovely at Malling Down Nature Reserve. I took a lot of pictures and it was actually very difficult to decide what to put on here! I always enjoy a trip out with U&L and today was no exception with much to see and enjoy.

The reserve is run by the Sussex Wildlife Trust and is on the N scarp of the isolated piece of the South Downs just east of Lewes. There was plentyto see up there with many chalk grassland plants and many insects. The best find was a Great Green Bush Cricket which is the largest of it's kind in the UK and was certainly an impressive little beast! Another find up here which is very common are Stemless Thistles. Not good if you happen to sit on one as I did while up there, but one of the most attractive of grassland plants. It's worth noting that the reserve is on an old chalk pit. The grassland has returned after being disturbed by man and is now a thriving habitat, so it proves that even when man disturbs the environment, it can be restored as here.

The views northwards were very impressive and this is just one part of what I photographed. This is a modern farm and in the foreground are the remains, albeit very scanty, of the former railway between Lewes and Uckfield and the River Ouse.