Late Summer Walk and Picnic
On the 14th September, 2024, the weather decided to be extremely kind to us and we had a very enjoyable walk along some local footpaths in lovely warm sunshine.
We’re off! (photo by Carol Sharp)
The walk started at Carol’s meadow, just off Tabernacle lane, and we proceeded along the lane, until we reached the steps that have been cut into the bank for access to the start of our footpath walk, on Footpath 30. This walk would take us on a circular route of some two and a half miles, avoiding all but a short section of roads.
The group on the first part of FP30 (photo by Carol Sharp)
The first section of FP30 is at a relatively high point, allowing fabulous views to the south, and this is one of the many views that are planned to be decimated by the march of huge, 50m high pylons, running for some 180km from Norwich to Tilbury:-
View South. The pylons would run right to left in the dip between the wheatfield and the sugarbeat above. (photo by Keith Fromings)
Route of proposed Pylons through Forncett . National Grid.
From this point we continued along the footpath, passing a hedge filed with Brambles containing some rather tasty blackberries. A butterfly that delights in basking in the sunshine, sipping the nectar from the bramble flowers, is the Comma, so called because the underside of the wings, on both sexes, has a distinctive white “Comma”. This lovely butterfly is the only British butterfly with ragged edges to the wings, giving the appearance of torn drying leaves in the autumn colours.
Comma (photo by Carol Sharp)
We continue along FP30, down a hill towards a group of houses at Cordwell, where we join one of the Bunwell footpaths, FP10, and follow this initially South.
South run of Bunwell FP10 (photo by Phil Whiscombe)
We bear East, along a lower point roughly where the pylons would run and cross the path. A ditch runs the length of this path and is again edged with various hedges, trees, plants and insect life. Deer and rabbits are very often seen along and around this path, enjoying the quiet of the area, some distance from any of the roads, and sheltered in the low lying fields.
Broad Plantain (Perhaps?) (photo by Carol Sharp)
We follow this path until we reach the road at Brocks Water, a ford that frequently floods in the rainy season (as fords frequently do!) and head along the road (Tabernacle lane again) until the turning into Gilderswood. [The exposed earth bank on this corner is an excellent place to see the burrows of solitary bees, while the rough pasture in the back of the shot has been explored as a possible habitat of the very rare Shrill Carder Bee - Editor]
Tabernacle Lane/Gilderswood junction at Brocks Water (photo by Phil Whiscombe)
A short walk up the hill, passing some pretty impressive Rabbit Warrens in the hedgerow, brings us to a footpath on the left. This is Forncett FP26, which crosses another field of sugar beat, that has completely covered the actual footpath. So, we take advantage of the tracks left by the farm machinery to skirt around the fields.
Making use of the tracks on FP26 (photo by Carol Sharp)
We emerge at a junction on Long Stratton road and a short walk westbound, along a narrow lane, brings us to a junction that joins up once again to Tabernacle Lane. Here, we turn right across another field, along FP 28.
Nearly back, crossing FP28 (photo by Carol Sharp)
A few more steps bring us back to our starting point, in Carol’s meadow. Our walk has taken us around 2 hours, enjoying company, conversation, and the warmth of the pleasant sunshine.
The group of intrepid walkers (photo by Phil Whiscombe)
Forncett footpaths (plus Bunwell 10)
We are very lucky to live in an area that has so many lovely walks, with safe footpaths. This was made especially relevant just a few years ago at the height of the Pandemic. Those who lived in the cities, possibly in high rise flats with no gardens, must have been particularly affected by constraints on their movement.
But, Pandemic or not, getting out and about is so beneficial for our health and wellbeing, and I believe access to our wonderful network of footpaths is vitally important. They are worth fighting for where the need arises and thanks should go to the landowners who give their permission to walk some of these paths and to a few volunteer workers that help to maintain them, cutting the grass and hedges and reporting issues that can then be raised with Highways in an effort to rectify any problems.
I enjoyed our walk together and it’s a shame that I couldn’t stay to join the tea party. Thank you Carol for this, and I hope you all got what you wanted from our small expedition.
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