Sunday 30th July 2023

Summer seems to have been broken.

It is, we're told, due to the jetstream, being in the wrong place.

Wat it means for us in Kent and the rest of Britain is unseasonably wet and windy weather.

Rain is forecast every day this week, and on Sunday after a sunny morning, things would also get much wetter.

So, we went hunting for Broad Leaved Helleborines, Yellow Birsdsnest and Violet Helleborines.

But because of the wet conditions, we saw lots of autumnal fungi, in July.

This is the most stunning, Amethyst deceiver. And yes, it really is that colour.

In order to beat the rain, we were out straight after coffee and before breakfast, heading along the A2 away from the port, turning off an heading into the ancient woods.

First stop was to see the Yellow Birdsnest. Its a five minute walk down the track, through the woods, but at the end we found three small spikes just beginning to emerge. And on the way back we found about a dozen Broad Leaved Helleborines, about half in flower, and with light good enough to grab some shots, even under the woodland canopy.

We walked back to the car and drove along the valley, parking at the foot of the bridleway. We were expecting mud, lots of mud due to the heavy rain we have had, but truth is, it was pretty firm underfoot and no need to change shoes back at the car.

What we did see, however, were hundreds of fungi, most still emerging, but these are a good six weeks early, brought on my the rain I guess, most were not worth snapping, but the usual Fly Agaric were also emerging too.

At the top of the path, we broke up to look for the Violet Helleborines, and after some searching, we found about 30 spikes, but none in flower. This, despite those in north Kent having been in flower over a week.

Oh well.

And that was that.

We were hungry, so we walked back to the car, seeing even more fungi on the way back.

And do back in the car, back along the valley and along the A2 back to Dover, getting home just after ten where the morning's exercise called for a fresh coffee and some breakfast, quickly followed by a second coffee and second breakfast.

It was all downhill from there as it clouded over, wind picked up and the rain began, so I felt less guilty at three sitting on the sofa which Scully to watch the All Ireland Gaelic Football final.

I can't claim to know all the rules, then few seem to, apparently, but it was fast and furious with a nailbiting end.

Dinner was spiced lamb, fresh corn and lefovers.

I did the trick.

And then it was half seven somehow, and time to prepare lunches for the week and get our collective heads down.

Phew.