Thornbury Wayfinders

There’s a lot to do on the Biodiversity Ring before I lead a walk around it at the end of February. Having done my Ramblers Training, I’ve need looking at alternative routes, in case of inclement weather, or walkers who have difficulty with stiles.

One of the problematic stretches is the bit between the Mundy Playing Fields and and the Cemetery on Kington Lane – especially the bit between the little wood and the cross path from Latteridge Lane. One problem is the path doesn’t follow the definitive line, for a number of reasons and other is that brambles have covered the path forcing walkers (and runners) onto an adverse camber that is treacherous in the wet. I think a walk with secateurs might be required. It might be useful to know who owns the land over which the path runs.

By the way, I explored the little wood on the opposite side of the Polterbrook below the Castle Court car park the other day, because there is a bridge across the stream in the wood on old maps, and I wanted to see if it was still there. It wasn’t but there was a fenced lane leading to a ford and a field gate. Just as I managed to get there, a bird took off from the waterside – about the size of a partridge – when it turned its head I saw it had a long beak. I am pretty sure it must have been a woodcock! Seems extraordinary so close to the town.

Picture by ar.inspiredpencil.com May be the American version!

A little further on, beyond the cemetery, a rotten tree trunk has come down across the path. Little by little, a bit of spade work has opened up a two foot four inch gap. It should be enough for the the Riverbank Rollick next weekend. I think it is the remains of a willow. It certainly has some interesting holes in it – must have been very big woodworms!

There are a couple of stone stiles on the Biodiversity Ring as it winds around the edge of the estates north of Butt Lane. There is a reasonably attractive alternative through the estates following an old hedge. I followed the path around the edge of the David Wilson estate with apple street names. This is also quite interesting, but my purpose was to check out a section of the Ring where a blackthorn hedge had done its thing and blocked the path with suckers.

Much later I was going along Clay Lane, which is part of the Ring, when my attention was brought to a barn owl in a field, just past Whitewall Lane, opposite the new allotments on the new Bloor Homes estate. This was in broad daylight – and an angry magpie was trying to shoo it away.