Autumn Watch around Houghton Regis

Two sorts of fungi on this log in Houghton Hall Park

In Parkside I came across this honeycomb with wasps swarming over it, and a broken wasps nest nearby.  I have no idea what had happened.  Curious!

Just south of the A5 dual-carriageway is a footpath through dense woodland, and here I found an unknown climber dripping with jewel-like berries.  Any ideas?

These sloes contrast beautifully with the yellowing leaves.

Hawthorn berries, a feast for birds

Colours of Autumn

Sunset from the Chalkpit

Common Darter in Houghton Brook

Green, white and gold in the Chalkpit

An abundance of red berries in Sewell Quarry amongst the yellowing silver birches

View north east from Sewell Quarry towards HRN2 and the new warehouse, with Wingfield beyond

Looking south west along the Chilterns towards Totternhoe Quarry, Ivinghoe Beacon and Wendover Woods

 

Houghton Regis Northern Boundary with Chalton and Chalgrave

On a very hot, still afternoon I visited the spring at Kingsland, on the edge of Parkside, and found it still wet, even after months of drought.  The area was green and full of life in contrast to the brown fields around, a lovely sight and a vital resource for insects and birds.

A speckled wood butterfly alighted on the grasses and a handsome hornet hoverfly (below) paused long enough for me to admire its yellow and red colouring, designed to deter birds from attacking it. 

The eastern boundary with Chalton Parish runs along the ditch on the other side of the field close to the Woodside Link, then turns west along the Sundon Link.  At the new roundabout on Sundon Road the boundary continues to follow the ditch but this time the Ouzel Brook is flowing west... when it does flow!  An elevation of 126 metres above sea level is marked at the roundabout making this a watershed. 

A footpath follows the track alongside the brook and hedge which veer left while the boundary carries on in a north-westerly direction across the A5 towards the ridge, which it reaches at its highest point of 133m offering wonderful views in all directions.  Below, the sun sets behind the ridge.

View from the footbridge over A5 towards the Sundon Road bridge

 

 

View from the ridge 

 

View across a barley field towards the Chalkpit

 

The boundary dips down towards New Barn then bears left away from the path along the line of pylons behind Grove Spinney (below) next to Grove Farm. 

 

 

Looking east from the bottom of Lords Hill B5120

 

 

The new roundabout on the A5 with a grand view of Chalk Hill

 

 

Pegasus crossing on Lords Hill

 

 

While the pylons march across these arable fields, the boundary with Chalgrave Parish sticks to the hedge marked at intervals wherever a footpath strikes up the hill towards Wingfield. 

 

 

 

This is a delightful path to walk along, wide and smooth with all sorts of wildlife sheltering in the hedge and ditch alongside...

 

 

...and scenes of rural life just over the hedge!

 

 

After the reservoir, opposite Thorn Farm, the path turns up or downhill while the boundary continues along the hedge to the A5 Watling Street shown below.  

 

 

I will leave the boundary here to pick up another time and connect with Sewell Greenway.  For now, here are some more views of the changes taking place in Bidwell.

 

 

 

As I climbed the hill towards Wingfield, more and more distant views appeared until I could see Blows Down in all its glory, Dunstable having disappeared in the dip between.  Houghton Regis is surrounded by lovely vistas which lift my spirits when I take to the footpaths.  The northern boundary certainly has some treasures to reveal to those who make the effort!

 

 



Exploring the Green Boundaries

This month I thought I would explore the green boundaries of Houghton Regis from east to west with the camera.  We start at the Community Orchard on the boundary with Luton by Wheatfield Road. 

 



 

Along the footpath south of the Woodside Link we find a wonderful display of red and white campion.

 



 

Across the stream is the chalk meadow where  tufted vetch is blooming.

 



The Woodside Link runs across our boundary into Chalton Parish.  The road embankments and verges are covered in wildflowers including campion and ox-eye daisies, a wonderful sight for walkers and cyclists.



It appears the cycle paths alongside the Woodside Link are being protected from incursions by banks of soil.  I hope these will be grassed over.



Now we go to the western border where Sewell Greenway starts in Totternhoe Parish but moves into Houghton Regis before exiting into Dunstable.  I'll do the northern boundary another time.

 

Just across the border is Totternhoe Nature Reserve where I filmed this corn bunting singing for all its worth.

 

 

From the bottom of the Greenway you can look up to the village of Sewell, and the two County Wildlife Sites above it.

 

 

From half-way up there are views across the Sewell fields below towards the A505 Leighton Buzzard bypass.

 

 

And this is the view east towards Maidenbower at the top of the escarpment.

 



 

The hamlet of Sewell is accessible from the Greenway.

 

 

A walk along Sewell Lane gives more lovely views.

 

 

 

Back on the Greenway is a helpful Information Board.

 

 

At the top of the climb is Maidenbower, site of an ancient hill fort of national significance.  This scheduled ancient monument is in Houghton Regis.

 

 

Views to the north-west from Maidenbower are long and wide, a beautiful and peaceful spot.

 

 

 

The town boundary is east of Maidenbower running along the edge of Dunstable.  It then turns west again alongside Sewell Greenway and at the old Tidy Tip turns north-east running along the crest of the hill, with the two County Wildlife Sites, Barley Brow and Suncote Pits, right on the boundary.  

 

 

At the A5 the boundary turns south-east along the road then north-east around the edge of the Chalkpit Nature Reserve, another green boundary.  In the south-east quarter the boundary touches the corner of Dog Kennel Down then runs through Woodside Estate.  The former wooded boundary between Luton and Houghton Regis was sadly cut down and replaced by the Woodside Link.  The replacement planting of thousands of trees and hedges has now taken place and hopefully eventually will hide the road.  So we return to the Community Orchard where we began. 

Thank you for joining me.  Next month I look forward to exploring the northern town boundary, much of which is still green and runs along footpaths.