Four of us got out today at Berrybanks, we missed Dave, but cracked on with going backwards to pick up where we got to last week, and then we ploughed on northbound and got to spitting distance of The Bear bridge.

Reece had a poke about with the drainage and we are coming back in the first week of August to try and understand what is happening with the constant overflow.

This is the width that we need here, and probably a bit more on the westerly side if the stream reappears in the winter.

The bit between the underpass and Berrybanks is quite tight in places so we need to be making deep scallops in the autumn for wildflower-rich grass to get established.

We just need that buffer between the path and scrub so we really maximise with the wildlife biodiversity.

Our YouTube of our progress.

We now have 72 YouTube subscribers. How that happened I do not know, but it would be nice to get it to 100, so please subscribe to the channel if you can.

I quickly zipped up to the Potford Dam end and knocked back any opportunist bramble runners, and also strimmed under all the benches. A couple of lovely ladies were sitting at the Spinney’s View bench and wanted their picture taken. How could I possibly refuse?

If the grass is long then critters will go up trouser-legs and start taking chunks out of the soft skin towards the back of the shin, the inside of the thigh, and worse…

The benches do need a quick splash of Ronseal wood-stain and it’s on my “to do” list before dampness returns to the air in September and summer gives way to autumn.

I was under very strict instructions to make sure I was back at the Berrybanks picnic bench for our 11 o’clock coffee and cookies. I was wondering if we had a “special guest” as I literally had to run for the last 200 metres or so…

But no “Jeremy Beadle” type surprises or anything like that, just a reminder to be on blooming time for once in my life!

We have had an incredibly generous buy-me-a-coffee donation from Andrew (who looks after the geocaching trail) for £20 to go towards the Forest School area behind the actual school. We had a donation from Wendy for £15 and two donations from Pauline for £10 so we are kinda there or thereabouts.

Thank you guys. Very much appreciated.

This is the area that I feel is suitable. It’s raised off the track-bed so should remain dry.

I will run it past the group first to make sure it really is OK, and then we can clear it off ready. We can also cut a load of timber so dens and camps can be made. I’m actually really excited about this and we have scheduled it to go in on August 14th.

I couldn’t help but spot some friendly neighbours.

Up close they are quite intimidating, although probably not meaning to be.

Dunchurch Bridleway

No workday to report this week but I did a bit on Sunday.

Just 65 metres along this stretch of 240 metres. It’s pretty heavy going with an electric strimmer but I didn’t want to use anything more powerful when working on my own. It’s more of a statement of intent showing how it will look when the whole path is trimmed back, than a serious session.

We also replaced the logo badges on our benches.

Once again, thank you so much to The Kitchens Inc for sponsoring the benches.

Loads of people using the path, the first loop, and sitting on the benches.

The first loop should be called the Windmill Loop because there used to be a windmill, that dates back to 1546 or earlier, in the field that the path goes through, and of course Windmill Farm is still there.

The second loop should be called the Solstice Loop because it goes past the Solstice Coffee Shop.

This whole area was referred to as “west heathe” back in centuries past, and even today the fields are full of wheat ready to be harvested and turned into bread, with the exception of one field which, I am reliably informed, is barley. And we all know what barley makes – beer!

A picture of how harvest might have looked in the 17th Century.

Well that’s about it for this week. Always spare coffee in the pot if anyone wants to pop along and join in. It’s good fun, massively therapeutic and a great way to meet new people and make friends.

Until next time!

Paul