It was still cold and windy and although the day started off sunny there was soon a mixture of sunny intervals and prolonged spells of rain.
We left the cottage in sunshine but by the time we reached Compton Bay the clouds were gathering!
We set off for a walk along the coastal path and for me a chance to try and spot a Glanville Fritillary. It didn't take long for the rain to arrive and after about a mile we gave up the walk and returned to the car as it looked as though the rain was going to last for hours. I think my chances of seeing any butterfly, let alone the long sought after Glanville, were pretty remote!
We returned to the cottage for lunch and eventually the rain stopped and I went a walk along Gotten Lane. It was another one of those times when I wished I had taken the camera with me as the verges were full of wildflowers - vetches, trefoil sp, honeysuckle, dog rose, blackberry flowers, red campion, yarrow, umbellifer sp, speedwell sp, bindweed and oxeye daisy to name but a few. There were lots of meadow browns fluttering about and a few small tortoiseshell.
Later in the afternoon when the rain had ceased again we visited the National Trust Gardens at Mottistone Manor. The Manor house is tenanted and only open to the public on one day of the year. The NT are growing a lot of plants in these gardens, for example, banana and aloe vera from the southern hemisphere and mediterranean climate zones to see how they adapt to climate change and to test which plants may best deal with it.
Mottistone Manor
Iron Gate Border
Sunken Walled Garden
The Steps
The Rose Garden was looking particularly beautiful and I was quite pleased to get some photos of roses with raindrops.
The Double Herbaceous Border
The Vegetable Garden
There is a nice walk from the Manor to The Long Stone from which Mottistone takes its name. This is a tall standing stone on a sandstone ridge. In the past it was called the Moot Stone or Meeting Stone and there are the remains of a Neolithic long barrow nearby. The walk then continues over Mottstone Down but looking at the horizon rain did not appear to be far away so I just had a quick look at the Church of St Peter and St Paul which dates back to the twelfth century.
This plaque in the churchyard explained how wildflowers are allowed to flourish to encourage wildlife
as can be seen here:
I couldn't find a guide to the church so here are just a few pics from inside:
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