Champion Rampions

This morning we joined three other members of our local RSPB group on a walk on Old Winchester Hill National  Nature Reserve. Old Winchester Hill is actually a good 30 minutes  drive from the city of Winchester, but well worth the journey especially on such a glorious day.  
The footpath takes you round the  ancient hill fort giving spectacular views of Hampshire  down land. As it was so hot most of the the birds were keeping a low profile but we heard and saw Whitethroat,  Blackcap, Yellowhammer, Skylark, Red Kite and Goldfinch. However, the main attraction  today  was the sheer variety  and abundance of wild flowers and insect life adorning the hill side. The insects included lots of butterflies such  as Chalkhill Blue, Marbled White, Dark Green Fritillary and  various Skippers. The plants included  Pyramidal orchid, Scabious, Wild Marjoram, Wild Basil, Knapweed, Lady's bedstraw, Restharrow, Harebell and other vetches, but the highlight was the profusion of Round -Headed Rampion Phyteuma tenerum (P.orbiculare) flowers, which were  growing in great swathes all over the site. Round -Headed Rampion  is only found on chalk grassland in the South of England,  and is also known as  the Pride of Sussex, although I think could equally well be called Pride of Hampshire, judging by the stunning display  we enjoyed today. 
The first extra shows a  view from the  hill fort, and the second shows a small part  of the hillside wildflower meadow.