Members of the Petersfield-based Sky Surfing Club counted their blessings when weather conditions proved ideal for flying local hills.

Gentle northerly winds drew plenty of paraglider and hang glider pilots to Harting Down – the steep escarpment generating unusually good height gains for the time of year.

On one visit Neville Almond said: “It was slightly rough near launch, yet just one mile to the east it was unusually buoyant, with the climbs going to 3,100ft. What struck me was the way it was possible to move around in a one-mile band behind the ridge line of the South Downs, staying between 2,000ft and 3,000ft with ease.

“I was tempted to go another two miles downwind towards the coast where a more inviting area of cloud sat for some time – but I didn’t want to land miles away from the car! It was a fantastic day and I’m so glad I made the effort to travel, despite being mid-winter.”

Almond’s 90-minute flight took him from Harting Down, past Treyford Hill to Linch Down and back. On a subsequent visit to Harting Down, he was joined by several other Sky Surfing Club pilots – and a family group of soaring birds.

He said: “There was not much wind but nevertheless this great site delivered and we had a superb hour and a half in mild UK winter thermals, flying with a cluster of red kites at one point.”

Almond and his adopted flock was joined by hang glider pilot Justin Needham and a number of paraglider pilots.

Jan Henslow said: “It was the most amazing day with proper thermals developing for the first time this year.

“I reached more than 1,600ft at the peak of it – very good for early February.”

Brian Parkins