8 members gathered at Clay Hill Heath car park this morning eager to do the short walk. It was quite cool compared with recent weather and ideal for our foray. Straight from the cars and immediately through a gate into an enclosure and along a woodland path chatting all the way. Soon it was over a low stile, across a cycle track and back into another enclosure and we all managed the hazard of the fallen tree easily. Not a “whoops“ from any of us. On route a deer was spotted in the undergrowth and not long after another was observed quite close on a track to our left.
Moving onto rougher ground we followed the signs for the circular walk which soon led us on to a more pleasant woodland track. We passed wattle fencing, an area of replanting and also a very boggy area set aside for conservation. Emerging on to another cycle track we crossed to a break in ferns and brush to find what we were looking for - the Bisterne dragon of fable fame (go on, Google it). It was a carving of a dragon head on a fallen tree trunk, quite cleverly executed and varnished over to preserve it. Time for a photograph or two which I hope to be able to publish soon.
Back on the track and soon another deer loped across about 30 yards ahead of us. The final stretch of our morning was along a further woodland path with a couple more carvings to see, one of a torso in a pair of trunks and an impressive one of an owl before retracing part of our steps to the car park.
It had taken us about an hour and a half to cover not more than 2 miles so more of a stroll really. We all enjoyed ourselves which is the whole object of the exercise.
We’ll arrange another one soon on an ad hoc basis maybe in September. Should anyone have a favourite and/or interesting shortish walk in easy reach which they would like to share please set it up or bring it to our attention. We’re all in this together.
Ken and Charmian.
