Snow in Petworth January 2009

Being protected by the Downs Petworth wasn't as badly hit by snow as many parts of the country, but nonetheless did get a reasonable dusting.  It was all gone pretty quickly but here are a few pictures to remind you of it.  All the experts are saying that this weather only happens every 18 years so it might be a while before we get any more.

Look closely and you can actually see the snow falling in this view of East Street right by the Tudor Rose antique shop.

The Shimmings valley with a thick layer of snow just before dawn.

New Street, view from the Red Lion across to Artful Teasing.

Hoar Frost Petworth 10th January 2009

On the 10th of January Petworth woke up to hoar frost. This rare event only happens on cold clear nights. Heat losses to the sky cause objects to become colder than the surrounding air and crystals of ice form directly on their surface.

The tree outside St Marys Church.

The graveyard of St Marys Church.

The Shimmings valley. The sun trying to shine through the fog.

Spiders web revealed in Hoar Frost.

Shimmings Valley

The Shimmings Valley is directly to the East of Petworth. You can reach it from Bartons Lane which is just opposite St Marys Church.

The traces of medieval field systems are still visible. These the slight ridges you can see in the grass and a remnant of the terraces that at one time would have made it possible to grow food on the slopes.

It is a feeding area for the rare barbastelle bat from Ebernoe Common, one of Britain's rarest mammmals.   In summer at dusk you often see these bats flying along the length of the valley. On the wing they don't really look different to any other kind of bat but they do fly much straighter giving an appearance of single-mindedness.

More information on the barbastelle bat.

And here is proof that I am not the only person who loves the Shimmings Valley.