Deer spotting and foraging season!

It seems I chose a very wet Sunday to go to Parham House for the deer spotting and foraging event last weekend but I wasn't going to let a little English rain put me off...

Parham House

Parham House

1130am and on the deer spotting walk - very informative with Jim from Parham estate heading up the event giving us lots of information about the "rutting season". This is the time of year when male deer are driven by the urge to reproduce. From October to early November you will hear groaning and belching sounds coming from the woods together with the sounds of clashing antlers as males show off their virility to potential mates.

We stayed well sheltered under the old oak trees whilst we listened to the talk, keeping quite still to spot the estate deer...

Parham House Grounds

Back to base and at 1pm on the fungi foraging tour - a couple of "chaps in the know" advising us what you can and can't eat from Beefsteak fungus, to Horn of Plenty, Hedgehog Fungus and more!

Beefsteak Mushroom!

I have to say its a good job we had an expert to advise since at first sight this Beefsteak mushroom that I picked did not look appetizing but I was reassured that it will be delicious...pan fried beefsteak mushroom with beetroot and horseradish salad anyone?! I will still be cautious and only pick when with an expert - but it was a very interesting talk and one can go on advanced courses which is something I will definitely do in the future!

Beefsteak Mushroom!

The weekend of wildlife spotting didn't end there! On my trip to Climping on Sunday I caught a cheeky little peacock running out of the reception at Balliffscourt Spa...

A cheeky Peacock running out of the reception at Balliffscourt Spa!

I'm looking forward to  more nature watching and foraging on the doorstep of the hotel this week...today I'm off to the festival of Fungi at Pulborough Brooks RSPB!

Lissette x

A day at the British seaside!

With the weather warming up, I thought it would be a good time to write about our lovely local beaches - especially as 2 of them have just won blue flag awards (http://www.blueflag.org/Menu/Criteria)  for the cleanest beaches in England - Littlehampton and West Wittering!

People often stop off at the hotel when going to or coming from these beaches - sit in the garden and enjoy morning coffee, afternoon tea, a light lunch or even supper!

I used to go to Littlehampton beach a lot when my daughter was little and spend hours with her collecting shells from the beautiful sandy beach, with the tide there going out a long way exposing a mile of sand...

Home to superb sandy beaches, a bustling marina, harbor and stunning contemporary architecture, Littlehampton on the Sussex coast is both the perfect place to enjoy a fun family day out.

This seaside town’s attractions include the famously unusual East Beach Café and the UK’s longest bench, as well as West Beach Local Nature Reserve – a site of Special Scientific Interest. For those seeking activity -enjoy sailing and fishing on the River Arun. 

West Sussex Beaches

Many of Littlehampton’s annual events take place on the seafront or around the harbour including the annual Waterfront Festival, Carnival and spectacular Bonfire and Fireworks event.

Down a pretty windy road from Littlehampton you come to Climping - a little secret really!

Climping Beach, West Sussex

Climping beach, as with many along the south coast, has pebbles at high tide. But at low tide, a huge expanse of fabulous sand is exposed, making it an ideal spot for a family day out. The Beach is a quieter area of coastline than its neighbours of Littlehampton and Bognor Regis and much of the area is now designated to scientific interest.

 A great place to base a coastal walk; you have pebble and grass banks at high tide, and compact sand to walk along at low tide. Walking to the East you have the dune eco-system whilst to the West you are backed by countryside and the many private beach estates (Elmer, Middleton-on-sea, Felpham) that line this stretch of Coast.

Climping beach, West Sussex

These also include the beautiful non-commercialised beaches of East and West Wittering, internationally recognised for their wild natural beauty and wildlife.With a wonderful stretch of open countryside , West Wittering is a favorite destination for a family day out, whether you chose to swim in the sandy tidal pools on the beach or relax away from the sand on the extensive areas of mown grass close to the beach which are perfect for picnics, barbeque's and games. The area is also famous among wind and and kite surfers thanks to the unique winds, tides and vast stretches of sandy beach!

West Wittering Beach

The seaside village of East Wittering is slightly bigger than its neighbour Braklesham, but they both share a magical location on the seafront of Braklesham Bay...

In fact, there are so many things to do, you’ll definitely want to stay for longer!  Why not book this year’s holiday or short break - stay at The Chequers Hotel and use it as a base for visiting other local attractions.

A memoir from our trip to Climping Beach last weekend...

Happy exploring

Lissette x