A Year in the South Chilterns
The purpose of this blog is to show how the beautiful area of the Chilterns where I live changes week by week. As far as possible I will identify where the photos are taken so you too can find some of the best South Chiltern landscapes, viewpoints, picnic spots and places to base a walk around. I'll also share some of my favourite places to see native flowers of the area, such as snowdrops and bluebells, and to enjoy the glories of Chiltern beech woods. I hope you will enjoy my photographs whether you want to find and visit these special places or because they evoke memories of an area where you no-longer live or for other reasons can only enjoy from your armchair.
Please click on the images for the full article
Please click on the images for the full article
Inkpen crocus field
18/03/17
Thousands of wild purple crocus in a protected field in the little village of Inkpen
splashes of gold lighting up the countryside
25/02/17
The golden tassels of hazel catkins suddenly seem to be everywhere and look lovely in the early spring sun.
My annual pilgrimage to St Botolph's
19/02/17
One of the best local displays of snowdrops can be found in the churchyard of St Botolph's in Swyncombe
Snowdrops - a promise of Spring
04/02/17
The first snowdrops lift the spirit with the anticipation of the Spring to come
The beauty of a hoar frost
29/01/17
The dried flower heads of hedge parsley look beautiful bejewelled with ice crystals
Cold clear days and vibrant sunsets
25/01/17
A run of cold frosty days has come with a number of striking sunsets
The beauty of beech trees
06/01/17
At this time of year I really like the skeletal structure of beech trees and the patterns branches can make against the sky.
Sonning as the sun goes down
16/12/16
I visited the same stretch of the Thames both in the early morning and late afternoon
The Golden Hour
03/12/16
Late afternoon sun setting the tops of the trees ablaze by the Thames near Sonning
Autumn's last hurrah
26/11/16
At Warburg Nature Reserve the mixed planting results in a glorious autumn of yellows and golds
Autumn ablaze with orange
19/11/16
The final stages of Autumn, when the leaves have turned to orange and caramel is the best time in the beech woods.
Autumn comes to Stoke Row
11/11/16
One of the loveliest places in Autumn is the approach to Stoke Row from Highmoor
Ewelme Cloisters autumn display
14/10/16
The beautifully kept garden in the cloisters adjoining Ewelme Church packs a punch
More signs of Autumn on the way
07/10/16
Harcourt Arboretum, part of Oxford University, is one of my favourite places to take photographs in Autumn
Tinges of Autumn
25/09/16
Walking a stretch of the Chiltern Way this weekend I noticed the first signs that Autumn is on the way.
Asters at Waterperry Gardens
16/09/16
Now is the best time to see the wonderful displays of asters at Waterperry
Enjoying the wide open spaces
09/09/16
The section of the Chiltern Way from Northend to Ibstone crosses a lovely valley
Red Kite over Swyncombe Downs
26/08/16
The Ewelme Loop of the Chiltern Way is a lovely walk to do in summer
Summer skies and golden crop fields
05/08/16
The crops, ripe and ready to harvest, are a beautiful golden brown
Hedge Parsley and Crop Fields
22/07/16
At this time of year I like the combination of the golden glow of fields of crops with the structure of hedge parsley and hogweed
A field of barley ruffled by the breeze can be a beautiful sight
11/07/16
At this time of year many of my local walks involve skirting round or wading through crop fields
It's poppy time!
01/07/16
A whole field of red poppies is hard to find nowadays but they can still be found at field edges
Cobstone Mill, Turville
25/06/16
Cobstone Mill overlooks the little village of Turville and is a well known feature in the South Chilterns because it was used in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Foxgloves near Berins Hill, Stoke Row
16/06/16
The best displays of foxgloves are to be found in woodland clearings
Ox-eye daisies on Maidensgrove Common
10/06/16
Maidensgrove Common is lovely at any time of the year but particularly so when the ox-eye daisies are out
The delicate white heads of cow parsley shine out in the evening light
03/06/16
In late May and early June I particularly enjoy walking the lanes that radiate out from Stoke Row. The sides of these lanes are festooned with frothy white cow parsley and the heads of the flowers glow white in the evening light.
Grey's Court wisteria
20/05/16
After the joys of bluebell woods have faded the next not-to-be-missed highlight is the magnificent wisteria at Grey's Court
The fresh lime greens of new beech leaves
15/05/16
I love the colour of new beech leaves especially in the light after a rain shower
Bluebells and new beech leaves - a fitting place to start
10/05/16
Bluebells are characteristic of the Chilterns, a high spot of the year and a fitting place to start my blog, 'A Year in the South Chilterns'
