Rosemary Staples on Levin Down
April 2007
A Lovely Walk
We
are in the grip of blackthorn winter as I write and all the lovely
little violets that are beginning to dot the hill are shivering in the
icy winds blasting Levin Down at the moment. But as you know, this
happens every year when the blackthorn starts to bloom. In fact, I may
have mentioned it before. Something else that will be wishing it had
stayed in hibernation a bit longer is the adder. We have seen a couple
and other people have seen several. The ones we saw were dark brown
females, trying to get a bit of warmth from the sun under sheltered
banks. We went off piste, as it were, last week. We had to take the car
to East Dean for a service so we thought “why not chuck to dog in the
back and walk home up around the forest and round Court Hill?”. Sounds
perfectly straightforward doesn't it? And it was apart from the bit
about the dog.
You see, our daft dog hates the car so he has to be assisted to get in. We have a hatchback, so there is plenty of room for him. I open the door, position him, with much tugging and pulling. Facing the opening, I lift his front feet up over the sill. He then goes limp—like a sack of potatoes. When I try to lift his rear end he folds up in the middle, front paws still just inside. I am trying to collect up his nether regions in my arms, puffing and cussing—you get the picture! Then, with a tremendous heave he is in—on his nose because he wont move his front feet forward! I then slam the door quickly or he will be out and he stays there in a heap, shivering and shaking till we get to East Dean. Then he is out like a shot and raring to go, while I am the quivering heap still trying to get my breath back!
But, it was absolutely worth it—that is one of my favourite walks—up behind the church, to the little seat, which is the only place to get a good view of the village and the church, then up that lovely sunken path, with primroses blooming on the banks, then into the beech woods with the sun shining on the trunks—it was magic. I couldn't understand why all of East Dean wasn't up there. Then we headed out of the trees, around Court Hill, across the rape field, down to North Lane (masses more primroses there) and back over Levin Down. A lovely walk enjoyed by all,especially the dog!
Hope the weather has warmed up by the time you
read this. Happy Easter!