Venue: Dean Clough Reservoir
Date: Monday 21st May
​Weather: Dry

​A small group of 6 met at a junction on Parsonage Road. We then walked through a field towards the Reservoir, once at the Reservoir we walked anti clockwise around it following the path the whole way around. The rain stayed off for us and we had a variety of bird life around. Just before reaching the end of the walk we got to view the sun starting to set over the water. 

Venue: Potts Corner Sunderland Village & Point
Date: Saturday 17th March 2018
Weather: Very Breezy Cold Rain
Leader: Graham Thomas
Party Number: 7


A party of 7 intrepid members braved a very cold and easterly wind at Potts Corner at the bottom of Carr Lane in Middleton. Throughout the day the weather was unusual in that we had snow showers and sunny periods. The party walked along the coast to the famous Sambow's grave and then doubled back to The Lane leading to Sunderland village. High tide was at 11.20 am 10.3 m. At Sunderland village on the quayside we experienced a very high wind so we retreated back up The Lane to the benches near Sambow's grave for lunch. Two members of the party ventured around the point and eventually joined us for lunch. After lunch we retraced our steps along the coast back to the cars. The walk took us 4 hours approx.
The highlight of the walk was observing a male Wheatear hopping around on the path in front of us on our return route. It flew up to a wire fence where it was buffeted around then it let the wind take it across the sand marsh.
We retired to the Duke of Rothsey pub where we all had a well earned drink and recovered from the wind.

​Venue: Wigglesworth. Long Preston Flood Plain Project
Date: Saturday 23rd September 2017
Weather: Fine
Leader: Graham Thomas/John Wilson
Party Number: 8
Distance and Time: 4 miles 4.5 hours

A party of 8 from the Preston Society set off from The Plough Hotel in Wigglesworth after leaving one car at Cow Bridge for transport on the return.
We walked east a few 100 yards along the road to a gate on right into a field.  Crossed an area called Stocks then followed a footbridge over the infant Wigglesworth Beck located in bottom left hand corner of the next field. Crossed the next two fields to a pool where there was a large flock of Mallard.
The route ahead was north passing a wood with Hallstack Farm to the right.  We came across a large flock of over 400 Canada Geese.  After crossing the next boundary wall we took a short cut by walking east along a wall to pick up a path that took us to the road.  The stiles in the Drystone walls we were old and very difficult to climb.
We crossed the road,then a stubble field to Wigglesworth Hall Farm.  At a slurry pit near the farm we watched a small party of Reed Buntings and Linnets perched on a fence which were dropping down to feed in some scrub.
Our path was now following The Ribble Way that took us around the Farm to the south and then along a track to the left then right to Wigglesworth Hall Laithe Farm.  The route followed the Wigglesworth Beck down to a point where it joined the River Ribble.  We looked for a Kingfisher in this area but we were out of luck. I had seen one on the reccie.
Just before this junction we came to the Hide belonging to Long Preston Flood Plain Project which overlooking the large expanse of the Ribble Valley. We were hoping to see a Marsh Harrier but we were out of luck.
At Cow Bridge the end of the walk we were ferried back by car to Wigglesworth.
The walk had taken us over 4 hours but it was a beautiful area of the Ribble Valley and would be well worth another visit to Wigglesworth.

​Venue: Much Hoole
Date: Monday 14th August 2017
Weather: Rain all evening
Leader: Graham Thomas/;John Wilson
Party Number: 18
Distance and Time: 2 miles 2 hours
 
A party of 18 set off from the famous Much Hoole Parish Church where Jeremiah Horrocks was the Curate here. He rented a room at the nearby Carr House and from there he observed the first transit of Venus across the surface of the Sun in 1639.
Hoping that a rain shower was only brief we walked to the main road to turn left then a path on the left followed a stream.
The rain got heavier but we carried onto the River Douglas.
We didn't hang around but walked quickly down Haunders Lane then a path on the left led through a Corn field back to the Church.
The night should have been abandoned but it wasn't known as to the extent of the weather at first.
No pictures were taken on the evening.

Samlesbury Bezza Lane
Monday 7th August
A lovely summers evening

The Preston Society consisting of 20 people set off from the boarded up Myerscough Smithy and walked down the access track towards Fold Farm. The Farmer came up to meet us as he had heard his Cattle were restless and came to investigate. We chatted before continuing along path by the side of his buildings. In the field we turned right to Moorhouses. These were a line of Cottages that the path went behind. One of them had a 1690 AD Datestone.
We turned right and walked slowly down Woods Brow, a lovely quiet lane. This led to the junction at Bezza Lane. By walking just to the right and looking over a gate, the Ribble Valley could be seen way below.
We walked down Bezza Lane then left down to Pickering Fold Farm then descended behind the farm down into a valley to cross Bezza Brook then climbed up though fields and back to Folds Farm and back to the start. Enroute we saw 3 female Roe Deer and further along near the Bezza junction, a Male Roe Deer.
A group of 13 sat outside The Boddington Arms after a beautiful Summer's evening walk. The still conditions was perfect for viewing Wildlife.
​

Venue: Bretherton Moor
Date: Monday 24th July 2017
Weather: Fine Sunny Warm
Leader: Graham Thomas
Party Number: 20
Distance and Time: 3.5 miles 2.5 hours
 
The Blue Anchor Pub at Bretherton was the meeting for 20 people On a beautiful Summer's evening. We set off and walked down through the Village to the left on South Road. We soon found a path into a field and crossed to a Lane on an old part of Croston. We continued to the left down Sarah Lane to a junction were we turned left onto Back Lane. We continued to Bretherton Road and turned right then crossed into Bretherton Pools and Followed the River Lostock then left along Wymott Brook. As we were on an embankment we could see across the rough scrub area of Bretherton Pools. A path with stile on right took us out of the Pools and along the overgrown Wymott Brook to a Footbridge. We continued along an embankment then a path to left that took us around several fields and back to the pub.
There were lots of Yellow Buntings around plus Swallows, Swifts, and Martins. We watched a family of Whitethroats flitting in the tops of some Cow Parsley.
Some of the Group retired to The Lord Nelson in Croston and sat outside after a beautiful summer’s evening walk.