20 May 2012

Churt is a small village on the western, Hampshire, border of Surrey. In fact it’s a linear settlement straddling the A287 which runs from Farnham south to Haslemere. To the east the land is raised heathland, leading to the famous landmark, the Devil’s Punchbowl. The soil is infertile and acid, supporting heather, gorse, conifers and, around the many plush houses hidden down private drives, banks of rhododendrons. The eastern part of the walk was along lanes with names like  Crabtree Lane, Old Barn Lane, Green Lane.

The best bit was to the west of the A road where the land fell away steeply into Whitmoor Vale, giving views across and along the Vale of uninterrupted forest.

View across Whitmoor Vale

Down by the thin straggling Whitmoor stream were damp deciduous woodlands and muddy paths  lined by wildflowers. The bluebells and buttercups are fading, but greater stitchwort, garlic mustard were everywhere, along with great swathes of ramson, sending their strong damp garlic scent in all directions.

Ramsons

Close up of Ramson flowerhead