The next short  walk(up to 1 hour)  will take place on Friday 5^th November starting at 10am from Bramble Hill Car Park.

 To get there proceed though Cadnam and then go under the motorway and pick up the Fording ridge road.  At the village of Brook take left fork signposted "Fordingbridge".  After about 1 mile or so you go through a junction & about 1 minute up the road on the right is Bramble Hill Car Park.

 Looking forward to seeing some of you there

 Michael Page

What a brilliant day for an autumn walk in The Forest! 10 of us met up with Mike Page at Bramble Hill car park with the sun shining brightly and almost no wind. Dead on 10am we plunged into the forest area at a steady pace along a grassy way avoiding the many puddles where we could. One or two small streamlets needed to be negotiated too.   

Not a lot of wild life was seen: a couple of large birds overhead but not easily identified due to the sun directly in our eyes. Circling round in an anti-clockwise direction we crossed carefully the Fordingbridge road on to Longcross Common. A helicopter flew lazily above us in the distance which caused us to notice the large number of airplane trails criss-crossing the almost clear blue sky. This gave us an unusual perspective as we reached Longcross pond and saw these smoky trails reflected in the clear lightly rippling water. I should have have brought a camera. Lots of chatting along the way, of course. 

All to soon it was time for another group dash back over the road to the car park within an hour of leaving it.

Cheery goodbyes with us all looking forward to the next walk on December 3rd and hoping the weather will be much the same. Thanks again to Mike for making us stir our stumps and getting us out in the fresh air.   

If you want another reason for a face to face get together I am reminding you that we intend to meet for petanque again on this Monday (7th) at 10.15 am on the pitch behind the library. Let’s see many of you there.

Meantime enjoy your weekend. We will, as we’re at Hanger Farm on Saturday evening and a 6 year old’s birthday party on Sunday.

Take care and stay warm. Ken

 Walk - 15th October 2021

We met up beside the Bulmer Lawn hotel for our 5 mile walk but decided to take a half mile drive further up the road to the Standing Hat car park before stepping out.

Through the gate and we were off on a fast pace enjoying the mild weather and the sun shining through the trees. The Forest was dressed in its autumn colours with ferns beginning to dry out. Plenty of spiders’ webs could be seen glistening in the bushes as we passed by and we noted a single blossom of honeysuckle clinging on still. We kept to the cycle tracks all the way passing a nod or other pleasantries with other walkers. At one time a horse and trap came towards us but it was full so we couldn’t hitch a lift. We carried on and a horse and rider passed nearby and we came across various fungi, but only Charmian spotted a deer crossing our path 2 or 3 hundred yards ahead.

All too soon we were back at the gate from the enclosure to the car park and I for one was pleased we didn’t have to tramp back to the hotel area. Those cycle paths can be quite a strain on your soles after 4+ miles!

Another enjoyable morning thanks to Ingrid, Brian and (of course) the sunshine.

Ken