May Day 2021

Jack in the Green and May Day 2021 appear to not be occurring 'officially', as I said in a blog a couple of months ago, but we are being encouraged to dress up still, just no parade, fair enough! But there will still be stuff online (facebook), and who knows what else may happen... My contact has said that the Bike1066 event is definitely off too, but I have heard rumours that bikers are very likely to turn up and, if not the 30 or 40 thousand that often turn up, there is likely to be more than a few...

So we won't be seeing the famous Jack in the Green procession for a second year running, nor the biking event, but places are open, particularly outside, so whatever, enjoy May Day, whether you support the pagan traditions celebrating the return of Spring and/or International Workers' Day, comrades, or just want a drink! 😉

Please, though, do not forget we are still in a pandemic, so be safe people!

Artists, Hastings & Hastings Country Park

I have written before about 19th century artists coming to Hastings and its environs to admire the scenery and to paint, particularly 6 years ago when I wrote a blog about Watercolourists, notably J.M.W. Turner, and a blog about the Pre-Raphaelites. Well, I reminded myself many times whilst walking across Hastings Country Park for my exercise during the COVID-19 Crisis and observing this view down Warren Glen, and particularly when filming this video whilst looking down the glen and admiring the cattle.

One of the founding members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, William Holman Hunt, came to Hastings a number of times, particularly in 1852 to carry out a commission, Our English Coasts, a visit during which he was accompanied by Edward Lear, who requested tutoring, and when they stayed at Clive Vale Farm, which no longer exists. This is discussed in my earlier blog, as is Hunt's painting of the daughter of a local labourer, The Schoolgirl's Hymn. Hunt and Lear were joined by Millais for some of that time, and Hunt was accompanied by Millais again during a later visit in 1858 where they stayed at Fairlight Lodge, when he worked on Fairlight Downs, Sunlight on the Sea (above) which he had originally started during the first visit 6 years previously, and The Schoolgirl's Hymn, which was completed in 1859. 

You will notice that the first photograph above is from slightly below the view from where Holman Hunt worked on Fairlight Downs, Sunlight on the Sea, but this field now is more likely to have either Exmoor Ponies or Belted Galloway Cattle in it, rather than sheep. Also, the dog in the painting was added later I believe, and is likely a black spaniel, but it was suggested in correspondence with Dante Gabriel Rossetti that it was based on the Clive Vale farmer's Newfoundland dog that Hunt met during the 1852 visit.

The fun they had... 😉 and it is a great view, enjoy!

Sussex Wildlife Trust Annual Survey

Filsham Reedbed

Sussex Wildlife Trust are presently carrying out their annual survey and are looking for as large a response from people who live in Sussex to discover what matters most to them about wildlife in Sussex. Their survey can be found at this link, and both they and I should be very grateful if you would complete the survey, if appropriate, many thanks!

I belong to Sussex Wildlife Trust which manages a number of wetlands close by, including Pevensey Marshes, Castle Water, Rye Harbour and, closest to Hastings, Filsham Reedbed (above), located between Hastings and Bexhill, to the east of Combe Haven river (Grid Ref: TQ775097), and one of the largest reedbeds in Sussex. It is a stopping off point for many birds, including swallows, warblers, bitterns and marsh harriers, plus reed warblers, bearded tits and water rail breed there. There are many rare plants growing there too, and amphibians and insects live within the reeds and open water. It is well worth a visit, I regularly walk there (eg blog).

If you want to join Sussex Wildlife Trust, or to know more about its work and nature reserves, go to their website. Enjoy the day!

Enjoy Your Weekend and Step 2... or 3...

I mentioned the other day in my blog that the Government's 'getting out of the COVID Crisis' Step 2, or Step 3 for those of us who can add up, commenced on Monday, and here's hoping that, unless you are watching the funeral on television (Prince Philip R.I.P), you can enjoy the day out. Plenty of sun forecast (Met Office), so don't forget the Factor 50, if, like me, you catch the sun, as I did on Thursday!

Hastings Pier has rides for children towards the front, as you can see in the top photograph, and an enormous seating area for its outside Beer Garden, as you can see in this photograph, plenty of seats indeed! 😎 The Pier is now open from 08.00 to 23.00 Sunday to Thursday, and 08.00 to 24.00 Fridays and Saturdays; the beer garden from 12.00 to 20.00 Sunday to Thursday and 12.00 to 23.00 Fridays and Saturdays (Facebook). Glad top have the lads back (blog). 👍

It's also great to see the Goat Ledge Cafe open again for seated customers, although they have been open for carry outs for some time now. I asked how things were going since the Pier reopened and was assured they're doing well still, nice one. And I did suggest the lass look away whilst I took this photograph if she didn't want to be photographed whilst setting up, she obviously didn't. 😉 

And what have I done since reopening? I have had a few pints at the Dolphin, had to show this photograph of RX134 the Stacey Marie, it had just been snowing ⛄ although you wouldn't know, and I got a young woman to follow the boat on facebook, cheers! I enjoyed a few pints (StevetheBeermeister blog). As I'd suggested last week in my blog, many pubs have reopened, but the Observer missed a few, eg the Standard, anyway, have a walk around, although, as it's just outside seating for now, you may have better luck on the Pier today as many tables are already booked up elsewhere.

Be safe folks!

Step 2 begins...

As I suggested in my last blog, Step 2, or Step 3 if you can add up, of the Government's master plan to returning to normal following the COVID-19 Crisis begins today, with Hastings back among the least hit areas again, thankfully, currently with just 3 incidences; approximately 15% of the national average rate per 100,000. 

I am replicating below changes from today; source the BBC website:

'More businesses will open, but indoor settings should be visited alone, or with household groups. Outside, six people or two households can meet.

• All shops allowed to open
• Hairdressers, beauty salons and other close-contact services can open
• Restaurants and pubs allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors
• Gyms and spas can reopen, as can zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centres
• Members of the same household can take a holiday in England in self-contained accommodation
• Non-essential journeys between England and Wales are allowed
• Weddings - up to 15 people
• Funerals - up to 30 people, with 15 at wakes
• Children will be able to attend any indoor children's activity
• Care home visitors will increase to two per resident
• Driving lessons can resume, with driving tests restarting on 22 April'

Whatever you get up to please do remember there still is a pandemic, so don't forget to continue washing your hands regularly, maintain social distancing, and wear a face covering where required in law and to respect others, stay safe folks!

Returning to Normal, gradually, Step 2... or really Step 3?

So, we reach Step 2 or 3 on Monday 12th April, depending on if you can count or not, or if you believe that the last step was a mezzanine floor 😉 (blog), and things are gradually reopening from then, it appears. Not to forget that 'non-essential' shops are reopening, and I still don't know how they thought that clothes are inessential, oh yes, and hair dressing and hair cutting, beards etc etc... I used the image above as the Ferris Wheel is due to be open for business too, good stuff, all being well...

 

Regarding hospitality, only outdoor eating and drinking is allowed from Monday, having to wait until May and when the 3rd or 4th step comes into force for drinkers, and people who enjoy eating out, to be treated like humans at last, although it will still come with mitigations as happened last year. The Pier will have its 'outdoor garden' drinking area, as can already be seen towards the end of the Pier, and at least another 13 pubs have confirmed they will be opening, including the Dolphin Inn, Jenny Lind, Stag Inn, Carlisle, Imperial, Marina Fountain, Bull Inn and Harrow Inn (Observer).

And other attractions, like the Blue Reef Aquarium, will be reopening, but check websites or telephone beforehand, for any restrictions, or if pre-booking is required. And the COVID-19 Crisis is nowhere near over yet... 

So please do not forget to wash your hands regularly, maintain social distancing and wear masks where appropriate, stay safe folks! 👍

Happy Easter and another Bird Blog!

I'm having a few technical problems with writing my blogs, and they should be more frequent in a week or two, but I'm borrowing resources for now, many thanks friends, and I had to say Happy Easter! Whatever that means to readers, but to me it certainly is a time of year where we witness birth and renewal with the arrival of Spring. Also, we usually feel very positive and optimistic around now in 'normal' times, and may those feelings continue throughout this year, fingers crossed... 

Anyway, my travels have continued across Hastings Country Park since lockdown began just over a year ago, and I have witnessed many of the birds I saw last Spring and early Summer, well, similar birds, at least. I had been particularly enchanted by a Song Thrush sitting up in the same tree in Barley Lane every day for a few weeks, singing his heart out, but recently he moved on, presumably his singing had made its mark on a potential partner: Love is in the air! But I have heard Song Thrushes all across the Park too, and still regularly hear one in Fairlight Glen, so I'm not too disappointed, yet. I thought sharing a link to YouTube and an example of the Song Thrush in full voice would be nice, indeed!

I've seen numerous birds of prey, Sparrowhawks, Kestrels, and Buzzards for example, but chatting to another mature gentleman, certainly more mature than me in a couple of ways, 😉 and he made me very jealous that he's seen an Osprey in Warren Glen! I wish he hadn't told me, although I'm glad he did really, as they are seen every now and then apparently, and I'd hate to miss one, so my awareness is now pretty acute when I walk into the Glen. You never know, I may be lucky and see an Osprey one day...

As I said above, I've seen many of the birds I've talked about in 10 blogs or so over the last year, including Chiffchaffs, Robins, Blackbirds, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Whinchats, Yellowhammers and Linnets, but... I am now seeing a bird I hadn't seen for years, the elegant Long-tailed Tit, and not just the one either, but I have to admit that has been over the garden fence of a property in Fairlight, feeding off bird feeders, but great stuff!
 
Enjoy your long weekend folks, and remember our Emergency Workers, and other Key Workers, who are at work 24/7, my respect and thoughts with them, cheers!

The photograph of the Song Thrush is thanks to the RSPB and Chris Gomersall, the Osprey thanks to The Wildlife Trusts and Peter Cairns, and the Long-tailed Tits thanks to Sussex Wildlife Trust and Bob Eade. Many thanks to all, cheers!