April 2018

Sunday 8th April

Chew Valley. Steve Day. Circuitous walk of about 6.7 miles with 3 hills of about 270ft (~=90m ) with 12 walkers, including Dave from Bath doing a trial walk with us.

The weather was mild but overcast with low cloud, misty but dry as we set off. The fields were sodden due to a very wet Easter and subsequently, some stiles were wet and greasy, and we also encountered brambles (cut back) and electric fences (left in place). Lunch stop was on Breach Hill common where we would have had a good view over Chew Valley Lake were we not close to the cloud base in drizzly conditions.

We returned along Breach Hill Ridge Road, see picture, and down to The Obelisk . The article on much of this walk by Sue Gearing in the August 2017 edition of The Mendip Times (pp 58-59) describes this a 32 ft high, 19th century air vent owned by Bristol Water built as a waterworks marker for the gravity fed system to the River Chew to Barrow Tanks.

The route back was excessively muddy but we used the Chew Stoke Ford as an effective boot cleaner. Returning to The Stoke Inn was very welcome and most of us sampled beer, tea, coffee and even early strawberries to take home. Parking was very busy as the Inn doubles up as a village stores and a cafe as well as a pub.

Thank you to Gordon Wise for taking most of the photos below and David McGregor for being back marker as we did not lose or gain anyone. No injuries either, what a relief. We were lucky to get most of the walk in before any rain and everyone seemed reasonably content though it was nice to get home and out of muddy trousers!

Thursday 12th April – medium

Wick to Siston and around. Dave and Anne Memery.

Some info about the beautiful carving of the Beech Tree.

It was due to be taken down but on inspection half the tree could be saved.

Artist Andy O’Neill carved what is called The Greenman. It comprises of a Fish,Otter,Kingfisher,and Bats around

The Green Mans Face. He took 10 Days to complete, and was paid for by a DEFRA grant .

8 Of us enjoyed a Muddy Walk including the Llamas.

Looks like Dave was leading and not in his normal position as back marker.

Sunday 22nd April

Woodchester led by Gill Carter. At last some decent weather and not too muddy! Bluebells and Orchids.

“Nestled in the Cotswolds, the secluded valley of Woodchester Park is home to the remains of an 18^th-and-19^th-century landscape park, a Victorian mansion, a chain of five lakes fringed by woodland and pasture, and an abundance of wildlife.”

Photos from Gordon and Hilda.