Hatfield Forest & Great Bardfield Church.

We are into the quiet time as far as birds are concerned so my trip to Hatfield Forest was to see butterflies, well I hoped it was to see butterflies!!

The cafe was open today so I grabbed a coffee and sat by the lake.

Gatekeeper

Comma

Silver-washed Fritillary I think

Speckled Wood

Essex Skipper

Silver-washed Fritillary

Silver-washed Fritillary.

Gatekeeper

another :)

I also saw Peacocks, Red Admiral and a Marbled White amongst others.

The cafe was serving sandwiches but I didn't know this so I brought soup. I grabbed another coffee and ate by the lake.

I then wandered off to a local cafe/specialist food shop to pick up some essential supplies. Partially successful, I got the local beer but they didn't have the wine I wanted.

I decided to see if the church of St Mary the Virgin Great Bardfield which was close by was open and it was !

The rood screen is stone. These are quite rare but oddly there are two of these close together in Essex (the other is in Stebbing).

I need to revisit the church as I had no change on me (habit of late as we've mostly gone cashless) and want to leave a donation.