A Year on the North Lancing Bridleway; monthly archive
A Year on the North Lancing Bridleway Episode 6: From Blossom to Berry: A June Diary
Midsummer day had come and gone and in the order of things the sun begins it's imperceptible at first move southwards. By my how she blazed!
Record May heat has been followed by record June heat. Strangely to my mind the first fortnight of this month was a underwhelmingly cool and often cloudy; but just last week gin clear heat followed. 35.9 Celsius at Worthing and 34.7 Celsius at Shoreham by Sea were new records I think. The key factor that created enervation for many people was the high humidity that made us feel drained.
I see no enervation nor stress in the plants and trees along the Bridleway - at least not immediately. The Bridleway is 560 metres long and is provided with light to dense shade along it's length courtesy of Oaks, Ash and Beech. On these hot days they enable the pleasures of walking and Nature spotting to continue.
Comma, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, White and Marbled White butterflies have been on the wing although the June Drop phenomena means there are less on the wing towards the end of the month.
In early spring here, the birdsong is a frantic , competitive wall of sound. By late June, it changes. The birds are busy feeding fledglings, so the territorial singing drops away, replaced by the persistent, chirping "feed me!" calls of young birds hidden deep in the shrubs.
The Hedgerow transition from blossom to berry is occuring. bright green promise of future berries—the hard little clusters that will eventually become autumn’s blackberries and haws, just beginning to form where the early blossoms fell.
A walk along this marvellous pathway will this month leave a trinity of sensual experiences, a Dog Rose blossom, a fat bumblebee on a thistle, and the scent of late elderflower - it awaits your arrival ...
May on the North Lancing Bridleway | Andy Brook Blogs
What a difference a few weeks can make! A Spring that began with such persistent wetness and cold is ending under a glorious heat dome of bright sunshine and sudden warmth. It is as if a switch has been flipped, and Mother Nature is responding with absolute, breathless enthusiasm
The Changing Canopy
Along the Bridleway, the tree canopy has burst forth and is now pretty much fully in place. Walking beneath it feels like stepping into another world—all verdance, dappled light, and cool shade. Looking up, the contrast between the brilliant blue sky and the fresh, translucent green leaves is nothing short of sensational.
Yet, amidst this visual feast, there is a quietness in the air. Alas, there is no cuckoo sound to be heard this year—at least not to my ears. The familiar, echoing calls that used to drift over from the nearby Clump and the ancient trees of Hoe Court feel like memories now. It is a poignant reminder of the passing seasons; tempus fugit, memento mori—time flies, remember death—urging us to appreciate the beauty of the present moment while it is here
A Bustling Community Path
With the arrival of the fine weather, the Bridleway has truly come alive with human activity. It is being used much more now, transforming into a vibrant artery for the local community. On any given morning or afternoon, you will cross paths with energetic runners, steady hikers, and cheerful dog walkers.
Locals, such as myself, tread these familiar paths to drink in the panoramic views of The Downs, while others use it as a scenic, peaceful shortcut heading down towards the Leisure Centre or walking the children to school. It has become a shared space where nature and neighborhood life meet
The Butterfly Burst
That referenced cold start to spring had a very noticeable, quietening impact on our local wildlife. Butterfly sightings were incredibly sparse right into late April, leaving the hedgerows feeling unusually still.
Thankfully, May has spectacularly caught up with the delay. The recent burst of warmth has acted as a catalyst, and suddenly the air is fluttering with colour. Over the last couple of weeks, the Bridleway has played host to a wonderful variety of species. I have happily recorded:
- Brimstones with their vivid, leaf-like yellow wings
- Speckled Woods dancing in the dappled shade
- Orange Tips bringing a bright splash of spring color
- Peacocks and Red Admirals showing off their dramatic, velvety patterns
- Whites floating gracefully over the foliage
- Commas with their uniquely scalloped edges
It is a reassuring sign that despite the rocky start to the year, the natural rhythms of the South Downs are right on track
April on the North Lancing Bridleway | Andy Brook Blogs
April Fools' Day has passed, but nature seems to have played a lingering trick upon us. While other parts of the South have basked in the warmth of 18°C or 19°C, here on the slopes of West Sussex, we remain stubbornly several degrees below. With a few years of observation under my belt, I find myself reflecting that this has been one of the most disappointing, weather-wise, starts to a Spring in recent memory. We were teased by a "faux Spring" of four days or so a couple of weeks back, but generally, the seasonal shifts have been challenging.
It has been a challenge for Mother Nature, too. My butterfly sightings along the North Lancing Bridleway have been notably low, and the usually industrious, humming drone of Bumble Bees has been a rare solo performance rather than the familiar orchestral background. As a Universal Gardener, I recognize this "fallow time"—that period where growth feels suspended, waiting for a harmony between light and warmth that hasn't quite arrived.
But today, the air is bright and dry, and that can only be good. The Bridleway has finally shed the gaunt, skeletal look of Winter and embraced the greening of Spring. Bluebells and Wild Garlic flowers now carpet the floor, while the fresh burst of leaves on shrubs and trees provides a new texture to the landscape. There is a sense of community returning, too; people are out walking the path again, perhaps, like me, regularly enjoying its ever-changing persona.
Reaching the northern end of the path brings a moment of Ekphrastic reflection. Those of a certain age will remember the Great Storm of '87—a monster that wrought destruction across Southern England. I recall reading that only the felling of Oaks for Henry VIII claimed more wood. Near the junction where the public footpath splits toward Cissbury Ring or down past Lancing College to the River Adur, the scars of that night remain. Yet, many of these trees stood firm against the gale, acting as a living shield to "protect" the Bridleway.
As I walk past these ancient sentinels, I find myself thinking of the rhythm of the year. In just eleven weeks, we will reach Midsummer Day. In the Music Room, we learn that the space between the notes is as important as the melody itself; perhaps this cold, slow April is simply the breath before the great crescendo of Summer.
March on the North Lancing Bridleway | Andy Brook Blogs
Life on the edge of the South Downs often presents a shift in perspective when the seasons turn. While March winds may bring April showers, today the bright, mild days have given way to a heavy damp and fog as I walk the bridleway. In these nature observations, I’ve noticed the fog acts as a physical boundary, closing off the aural experience except for the most local emanations—the best of which is the rhythmic drumming of a Woodpecker nearby.
Plant growth is well underway now, evidenced by the emerging Bluebells and Three-Cornered Leek (Garlic). There is a lush green pulse to the Nettle and Elderberry growth, while Spurge—a garden escapee—makes a splendid architectural sight against the grey mist.
The heavy winter rains have eroded the centre of the path towards Manor Park, revealing the stones and flints that underpin everything. These are the "bones" of our landscape, a reminder of the ancient community stories that have traveled this same chalky route for centuries.
While I have seen Brimstones, Whites, and Bumble Bees elsewhere, I have not spotted any along this stretch so far this year. Yet, the stillness of the fog provides its own reward. No matter how busy the day is or how heavy the weight of world events, I always stop here. My philosophical reflections lead me to one conclusion: to truly experience all that Nature gives, you must first be still. In this space, we become grounded.
February on the North Lancing Bridleway | Andy Brook Blogs
I’ve decided to do something a bit different for 2026: a Sussex nature diary documenting my monthly walks along the North Lancing Bridleway. It’s a path I know inside out, sitting just west of McIntyres Field and tucked above Manor Park.
I’m usually here twice a day. Over the next year, I want to document the seasonal changes of this landscape, from the local wildlife to those small, unexpected details you only notice when you’re really looking.
It’s mid-February now, and because the winter has been so mild and wet, the Lancing flora feels 'forward.' Spring is impatient; I’ve already spotted Violets peeking out and the first leaves of Lords and Ladies. There are even some Summer Snowflakes—garden escapes—joining the wilder plants.
One of the best things about the bare winter trees is seeing the 'bones' of the path. I’ve been studying the ancient flint wall; covered in beautiful lichen and framed by thick ivy, it makes the history of this Sussex coast path feel very present.
Standing there, I wonder how many journeys started on this exact patch? It’s just that sort of place."
The First Pulse
Ancient flint wrapped in ivy’s green hold,
Where violets wake before the frost is old.
I walk the rhythm of the rider’s ghost,
A daily guest upon this Sussex coast,
Where every journey finds its quiet start.
