Crickley Hill and Barrow Wake

Crickley Hill is a prominent spur of the Cotswold escarpment. It overlooks the Severn Vale, with magnificent views towards Robinswood Hill and May Hill, and the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountain in Wales beyond.

There is evidence of human activity on the hill going back to 4,000 BC. The area called the Scrubbs takes its name from the brushwood that existed before the planting of the present beech woodland in the 18th century.

In 1974 it was declared an area of outstanding natural beauty. The site supports several types of grassland and the turf contains many lime-loving herbs. There are several species of orchid recorded such as Early Purple Orchid, Bee Orchid, and Musk Orchid. The site includes the Scrubbs and Crickley Woods which are areas of mature Beech woodland with regenerating Beech and Ash and Short Wood is an area of Oak parkland. The scarp slopes provide basking areas for Adders.

There is evidence of settlements over 5000 years old. As the soil is thin on the Hill the evidence lies close to the surface under the grassland. Findings point to occupation by humans over 4000 years (Neolithic period) to a post-Roman period.
 

Spring is just around the corner

Ok so a bit optomistic but you know you are travelling in the right direction when the national collection of snowdrops ar in show at Colsbourne Park

 In spite of the forecast the weather was crisp and sunny, great walking weather.

the lake was smooth as a millpond

Even the on-site parish church was alive with bell ringing.

 


To continue snowdrop weekend Sunday we went to Newark Park with its wonderful country walks.

An oddity on the old hunting lodge is this dragon, recently found in the cellar and restored in London before being hoisted to the roof as a weather vein. A fellow rambler from Newport advised us that it could not be a Welsh dragon as it has four legs??

 Soon be Daffodile time :) 

Mallards Pike

Unlike most ponds in the Forest of Dean that were made to supply water wheels that powered the mills and iron forges of the Forests industrial past Mallards was made by the Forestry Commission for community use. The larger, lower pond is used for water sports, the upper pond is left undisturbed for wildlife but both, this weekend, found the ponds completely frozen over.

 But a watery sun and sprinkling of frost made the ramble crisp and pleasant.

Finishing the day with warm tea and warm homemade bread :-p

Frozen Fairford

Another crisp bright winter weekend saw us in Fairford and a walk round part of the wonderful Cotswold Water Park.











Entered via a lane from the town centre the path takes you along a well routed riverside walk along the River Coln.

Further down the path takes a route between two of the many lakes that constitute the Water Park but today the lakes were completely frozen.

Circumnavigating the lake the path leads through a small wooded area back to Fairford. The woodland wildlife included woodpecker, robbins, squirrels and an assortment of small birds.

The day ending in a short drive to Bibury and a welcome bowl of warm winter veg soup at the idilic William Morris Cafe. Bibury was once described by William Morris (1834-96) as "the most beautiful village in England". The cottages of Arlington Row, a row of weavers cottages built of local stone, are often referred to as the most photographed and beautiful cottages in the country.

Sapperton Valley and Siccaridge Wood

The valley and woods consist of a stretch of the derelict Severn and Thames Canal, flood meadows and woodland. The site is managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust under leasing arrangements with the Bathurst Estate since 1986.

disused canal tunnel now the abode of local bats

 

The wood is in the Frome Valley about half a mile west of Sapperton  and is sited next to the Thames and Severn Canal. Historical records have been traced to the mid 16th century at which time it was called Sickeridge Coppice and it belonged to the lord of the manor  The name Siccaridge comes from the old English sicor hyreg which means 'secure, safe ridge'. The Bathhurst Estate acquired the wood in 1861.

After an extensive walk through the woodland, twix the river and the canal, cross the road to a panoramic heathland walk with some interesting artifacts.

 The multitude of lichen is testimont to the clean and relatively unpoluted air.