Saturday, June 16, 2007

 

15th June. Bill's walk. Balcombe to Ardingly

On Friday I did an extra duty at Rocking Horse.
I dropped Bill off by Balcombe Mill House and he walked from there to Ardingly.
Fortunately he missed the day's heavy showers.



This is the Mill House. The narrow winding road passes the other side of the house and we see it each time we go to the shop.
What a wonderful setting for a home - and it is for sale at the moment.






Foxgloves are flowering in woods and gardens.


The path from Balcombe Mill pond takes the walker to Ardingly Reservoir, which was constructed in the 1960s.


There is a footpath round the reservoir and others which lead off into the surrounding countryside.


Dog roses - they are such an English symbol of summer.


Orchid in the meadow.



The reservoir is used for leisure. There are many courses teaching youngsters sailing or canoeing.

Masts and grass.


My first thought was that Bill had caught 2 damsel flies mating. But looking more closely we can see that one of these damsel fly images is not living - it is the cast off skin, wings and legs of the fresh new brightly coloured insect.

Strolling through the fields of barley - not yet gold as in the song. I quote a couple of the verses.
So she took her love for to gaze awhile
Among the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold.
Will you stay with me will you be my love
Among the fields of barley
And you can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold.

Farmhouse in the valley.

15th June. Bill's walk. Balcombe to Ardingly
posted by Grandma P on Saturday, June 16, 2007