If you didn’t know, it’s been Men’s Health Month in June. I like the mental health, or mental welbeing aspect of this and has been something that I have been banging on about for literally years and years.

One of the core reasons that we do what we do is for mental wellbeing, both for us and the people who use the path.

Getting out into a green space reduces stress, anxiety and thoughts of depression. Doing something with purpose and passion builds self confidence and gives us a reason to get up in the morning, and just the action of giving without expecting something back is so good for the soul.

Today five of us met and carried on with keeping the path wide so people can walk side-by-side and have a conversation, or mountain bikers and walkers can pass each other without the walker having to leap into the scrubby margins and suffer stinging nettle stings and bramble clawing at their legs.

It looks and feels really good. So good that as I did a litter pick, I lost all track of time until my phone buzzed with a WhatsApp message telling me it was coffee break time.

I was about half a mile away so had to get back to the coffee double quick. Luckily there was not a lot of litter.

On my trek I came across a Bloody Nosed Beetle, which was nice.

He was ambling along in the middle of the path, so I moved him to the side to save him being trampled.

David has made name plates for the picnic benches and they look absolutely fantastic.

There is no excuse for us not to know where we are meeting now. There are a few more to do next week on the northern benches.

Wildflower wise, we are looking good. Ox-eye daisies have started coming up and Rosebay Willow-herb is about to bloom with beautiful purple flowers.

Lastly, we have finally dried out and no longer have the stream running down the northern end of the path and forming a lake.

This was a good six to eight inches underwater for ages. We just need to get the path flat around the Berrybanks bit so access is for everyone, again.

That’s about it for this week.

On Friday we are at the Dunchurch Bridleway and next week we are putting in the replacement benches north of The Bear bridge.

Until then,

Paul