Sunday walking in the woods

It was such a beautiful day yesterday - warm, crisp and bright and so miserable today - grey, wet and, well, Monday morningish! At this time of year you realise that you have to seize every opportunity to be outside that comes your way. So yesterday late morning we decided to grab a football, put on some old shoes and head for the woods. Here's a photo of my youngest outside our house waiting for her older sister to join her. As you can see it's quite a big house, the heating and window cleaning bills are a nightmare .... Sorry, couldn't resist it, of course this is not our house but I wouldn't mind spending the odd week or so living in this setting and grandeur! Built in the 1720s this house, Stanmer House, sits in a huge landscaped park with woods and farmland. I bet this house has seen the odd Jane Austen moment or two.
Stanmer Park is one of our favourite places for a walk in the autumn, winter months and we've been coming for years ever since my oldest was a toddler. In the grounds is an entire village that was completely private and hidden away until 1947 when the city bought it.


Anyway after the obligatory game of footie, climbing of trees etc off into the woods we went. Lots of photos here to show you just how beautiful it is.



The colours of Autumn are beginning to show



and the sun is still high enough to cast dappled rays amongst the trees and heighten the turning shades of the leaves.



Delicate, intricate seed heads are forming



and hidden treasures like this winter cyclamen are waiting to be found



and in corners of the woods leaves are turning chocolatey brown.



It was great to spend hours amongst the trees and climbing the hills, Sometimes it is just too easy to take all of this for granted and there are times like yesterday when I realise what a special time of year this is.