Charming Sharpenhoe, Bedfordshire

It takes surprisingly little time to walk around this steep wooded spur, even if you aren’t “going like the clappers” (*groan*). The views are beautiful, there is wildlife in abundance, and there is an ancient feel to the whole place.

Starting from the carpark, it doesn’t take long before you are puzzling over what your first invertebrate of the day might be, hidden in the long grass of an agricultural path. A song like electric power cables, lasting 20 seconds or more. Not a grasshopper, but a Roesel’s Bush Cricket, and not a bush in sight.

A wooded path had butterflies-a-plenty. Mainly Ringlets I think. They didn’t stop moving for one second. Possibly some of these turned into Meadow Browns as the path opened out into a field with a view. At this point you just have to sit and admire for a while.



Soon enough though, a very exciting wildflower meadow behind you beckons. It was beautiful. Common Milkwort, orchids (Common Spotted, Pyramidal and Fragrant), Sainfoin, all manner of clovers and vetches , Squinancywort, thistles and knapweeds….the list was seemingly endless. I was searching for two specific butterflies – the Grizzled Skipper and the Chalkhill Blue. Blue-wise all I managed to spot was a worn female Common Blue, and not a Grizzled Skipper to be seen anywhere (only Large Skippers). But I got some cracking and very memorable views of the Dark Green Fritillaries, the pictures of which just don’t do them justice.



When you finally manage to tear yourself away from the meadow, you can follow the narrow path up on the western edge of the escarpment. Here the panorama opens up even wider and the place has a very special feel about it.



The walk here was rewarded by the chance to spot a couple of Small Tortoiseshells. Haven’t seen those for a while!

You walk through beautiful Beech woodland as you turn to walk east and then south again. Here there was what sounded like a bee swarm, but I didn’t manage to see it. Knowing that the sound can travel long distances, I didn’t investigate. You then walk past the monument, and a little further, you are back walking along the top edge of the beautiful wildflower meadow. Here you can hear Skylarks – wonderful! The return walk along the shaded path this time threw in a fantastic chance to see a Red Admiral sunning itself.

All in all, a very special area of the world and a lovely place to visit. I would highly recommend it.