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.