​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.

​Venue: Smardale
Date: Saturday 15th July 2017
Weather: Fine Sunny breezy light Rain
Leader: Jean Wardle
Party Number: 23
Distance and Time: 6 miles 4 hours
 
23 people met at the Hob Inn Bamber Bridge at 9.00 am.  We then drove up the M6 exiting at Tebay.  After a short stop there, we continued up the Kirkby Stephen road soon coming to Newbiggin-on-Lune where parked in a cul-de-sac at the west end of the village.  We crossed the main road with difficulty and soon turned right passed a large house to pick up the disused railway that has been adopted as Smardale Gill National Nature Reserve.  This linear  level route took us through the countryside for 3miles to Smardale Gill viaducts which over looked the valley below and Crag wood.  We then returned via the same route to be collected at 3.00 pm. 
Both sides of the path contained numerous plants, butterflies and moths and also a few birds.
It tried to rain on several occasions but when the sun appeared it was lovely and warm.  Listed below are the birds, butterflies and plants we identify but we would have appreciated an expert on flowers to have accompanied on the trip to cover all species viewed.
We met on route another large group from Newcastle upon Tyne RSPB.
This was a lovely day out to an area which we had never visited before. Lots of historical sights including a packhorse bridge and medieval stock gate where cattle were driven off the fells between two walls and funnelled down into a corral.
This was a very good last trip organised by Jean Wardle.  We would all from the Society like to thank Jean for all her hard work and enthusiasm over the last five years.

Venue: Ingleborough N R
Date: Saturday 1st July
Weather: Warm

The party met at 9.00am at Forton Service Station then drove up to Ingleton and Ribble Head. 
We then turned right onto the Horton-in-Ribblesdale road. After one mile we turned right onto a track to Ingleborough National Nature Reserve, Colt Park farm.
We met Colin the warden and went into the barn for a hot drink and biscuits and an introductory talk. 
After this we then walked the 2 miles to Scar Close some of the best limestone pavements in the North West walking over rough moorland and blanket bog. We had lunch here after which we explored the many woodland plants and shrubs in the grikes, the deep fishers in the limestone having been formed over many millions of years by the action of water. We saw 3 species of butterflies and several birds including a female marsh Harrier flying down the valley.
We returned to the centre by the same route and the whole outing took 4 hours. The day was finished with drinks and biscuits and the society donated money in appreciation for an interesting and enjoyable day to Natural England.

Venue: Brinscall Moor
Date: Monday 26th June 2017
Weather: Dark overcast, rain later
Leader: Graham Thomas
Party Number: 13
Distance and Time: 2 miles. 1 hours
 
A party of 13 set off from Brinscall Baths and walked along the pool before climbing up through Wheelton Plantation to listen for Wood Warbler without success but it was a good way to have a rest as well. A few other birds could be heard but being the end of June, most of the birds had stopped singing. At the top we went left then after a few yards took a path on right in woodland eventually coming out onto the Moor. We turned right and skirted the wood to a point where a path came out of the wood near the ruins of Liptrots Farm. The path continued up past an old quarry and sheepfold coming to a wide track. Went left and ended up at the top of Well Lane. The evening had been dark and overcast and now it started to rain so it was decided to call it a day and descended Well Lane back to Brinscall.
8 of the party had a well-deserved drink in The Golden Lion at Higher Wheelton.
This was a quiet evening because of the weather and because it was the end of June.