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Rufford, Mere Sands Wood

31/7/2017

 
Venu​e: Rufford Mere Sands Wood NR
Date: Monday 31ST July 2017
Weather: Fine Sunny lovely summer’s evening
Leader: Graham Thomas/John Wilson
Party Number: 24
Distance and Time: 3 miles 2.75 hours

A lovely summer's evening saw 20 people set off from The Hesketh Arms at Rufford.
We walked south down the A59 then right down Sluice Lane to a bridge over Boundary Sluice. We followed this ditch to Brick Kiln Lane and crossed still following the ditch now on opposite side and along a wooden walkway. We crossed Cousin's Lane then passed the Cricket Ground and into Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve. At this point 4 more people joined us.
We then walked around the Reserve still following the same ditch and walking west. We visited all the Hides with The Rufford Hide being first and was rewarded by observing a Kingfisher perched on a low branch which flew to another branch
for excellent views.  As time was against us we couldn't spend much time in the Hides so we continued to the others.
At The Visitor Center we continued along a path until a public footpath on left led us out of the NR and alongside a hedge to the road. We watched a Brown Hare running alongside a Corn Field.
At the road we turned right to walk back to the pub.
14 people retired to The Hesketh Arms for a well deserved drink after a lovely summer
’s evening walk.

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Bretherton Moss

24/7/2017

 
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.

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Smardale

15/7/2017

 
​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.

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Anglezarke Reservoir

10/7/2017

 
Venue: Anglezarke & High Bullough Reservoirs
Date: Monday 10th July 2017
Weather: A lovely Summers evening
Leader: Graham Thomas/John Wilson
Party Number: 10
Distance and Time: 2.5 miles 2 hours
 
Ten Members set off from the viewpoint overlooking Anglezarke Reservoir and descended through Bracken around the top of a Quarry to a Woodland path along the bottom of the Quarry then along a path by the side of  Anglezarke Reservoir. We found a path to walk through a wood along the back side of High Bullough Reservoir. A small party of Tufted Duck was seen on the waters.
Back at the main path we took a path opposite to walk around a portion of Woodland that overlooked Anglezarke Reservoir. This lovely woodland had a lot of old Beeches.
Back at the main path we walked alongside Anglezarke Reservoir then climbed steps to an upper Car Park then a road. We turned left and climbed steeply back to the Car Park.
Seven of the group retired the The Bay Horse at the top of Babylon Lane after a lovely Summer's evening.
This time of year is quiet as the Birds have breed and no longer need to attract a mate so not many species were seen
or heard.

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Ingleborough

1/7/2017

 
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.

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Photos used under Creative Commons from Åsa Berndtsson, Stefan Berndtsson, hedera.baltica, Dun.can, Andy Morffew, rambomuscles
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