Mind the cow, Pat! I was very good and I resisted saying this as we set off across the pasture-land at the start of the now annual parish walk! David Long was leading thirteen of us across the fields, with Pat bringing up the rear, making sure all the gates were closed behind us.
We started at the Bathurst Arms, North Cerney on a mild June evening, after ordering food for later. We went north along a footpath parallel to the River Churn, all the time looking out for a dipper which David had seen earlier. Instead we spotted two buzzards circling over some unsuspecting prey. At the end of the field we turned right onto the Monarch's Way bridlepath at the SW corner of Conigree Wood. We walked along the Monarch's Way up the valley side for about a kilometre. By this time most of us realised how unfit we are as we stopped to get our breath back. The walk then descended to Rendcomb with a good view of the college. We skirted Rendcomb and went south to the edge of Conigree Wood, rejoining the outward path back to North Cerney and the pub.
Not much Fauna, but plenty of Flora! Pat Long found Herb Paris, a plant indicative of old woodland, at the side of the Monarch's Way and the steeper slopes of Churn valley had Oxeye Daisy and Rock Rose. Enjoying the walk is one thing, but on my own I wouldn't have known what to look for, and if I'd seen it I wouldn't have known what it was! You need an expert like David with you, who can point things out.
After an hour or so the thought of the fish and chips I'd ordered kept the pace up, and the quality of the food was good. In fact our house group now have it in mind for one of our regular dinner venues!
Many thanks to David and Pat Long for organising the walk. I don't know how many they have done to date, but I think they have got the job for life! If you haven't tried it yet, come along next year and see what you've been missing.
David Webber