Seven of us, including our new member Pat, Julie’s friend Mary and Victoria, set off for Linacre Woods. We parked in a lay-by in Old Brampton and walked owards Chesterfield, turned left on a tarmacked road and left again onto a narrow, stony road with green fields stretching away on each side. We soon entered Linacre Woods and beside the river on our right we spotted carpets of yellow celandines and white wood anemones with lone bluebells dotted around. Surely a good sign that spring is here.
The paths alternated between flat and uphill so that by the time we arrived at the toilet block I could certainly see what a good spot it was to place a defibrillator! Continuing alongside the upper reservoir and rising above more patches of celandines, the trees were noticeably bare of leaves. In one spot there were half a dozen silver birch trees lying on the ground as if they had simply given up. Pat pointed out a small group of purple violets amongst the dandelions but apart from small holly bushes and hawthorn saplings struggling to push out of the ground, there was very little greenery on the trees.
We walked along the wooden bridge at the bottom of the reservoir where a bird feeder hung from a tree containing only a small amount of suet ball. Birds could be heard around us and we felt warm from the cold wind in the sheltered part of this area. Mallards were drifting along the water as well as black and
white tufted ducks and we heard the sound of a coot. There was a line of trees, all bent towards the water, looking forlorn and droopy, although some had velvety, pussy willow buds trying to burst out into the sunshine. We passed a family having a picnic at a bench and it was noticed by one of our party that they were eating very healthily.
After walking past the middle reservoir we were suddenly out of the woods and into open fields and going towards Old Brampton on a lovely, warm and sunny afternoon. We learnt something new when we approached a fenced-off area for horses. It is actually called a Manege, which is a French term for a fenced dressage arena where horses are trained.
At the red telephone box, now a book store and notably very clean and tidy, Mary pulled out a book entitled “This is Going to Hurt” by Adam Kaye and recommended it to Julie*, who instantly carried it away to return when read.
This was, as usual, a very enjoyable walk led by Steve and anyone thinking of joining our group will be made welcome. The leader tries to find walks of
only four miles with as few hills and stiles as possible. Our next walk on Sunday 3rd May will be the Peak Forest with everyone meeting at the church gates at 12noon with a packed lunch.
Ev Lowe