We seem to be in the middle of a superb hot spell, and it isn’t even Summer yet!

We have had temperatures up to 34 C (93 F) with the added bonus of a Bank Holiday weekend. What’s not to love…

Twelve sun-seekers donned our factor-50 and came out to play. Ian, Martin, Reece, Marcus, Steve, Dave, Andrew, Ruby, George, David, Ram, and Paul. We covered about 900 metres, which is a new record!!

It’s all about keeping the width, without strimming right up to the scrub edge. Something that we kept doing over the last few years because it was all so tight and narrow.

Our pollinator highway is now fully functioning.

This absolutely makes my heart sing. It’s been the missing piece of the jigsaw for such a long time.

We started the session by trying to keep our entry points open.

It’s so important that people can get on and off without having to fight through nettles and brambles.

We were both perplexed and amused that a tree and a plant could root themselves into the brickwork. It is not going to end well for one or two of the three parties. We also took care to work around the Dog Rose, which was full of bees.

A welcome cuppa and cake bar at half-time.

Having a laugh and finding a purpose really is what life is all about.

We cracked on, and quite frankly, in the heat, I don’t know how we managed to get so far…

If we can keep going at this rate, we will always be on top of the whole trail.

We strimmed around the benches so people can sit and relax.

It just makes it so multi-use, rather than just a path to walk along.

We returned to the bridge access point and strimmed the nettles.

Some might say that this is a little above and beyond, but we want easy access for everyone.

Lastly, a view of where we are going next week, and a litter-pick of the whole of the Dunchurch Bridleway and two-thirds of the Greenway.

Next week, we start to re-stain our benches and really get that “WOW FACTOR” back.

In other news:

Martin has been working on a project to bring back the Mile Marker Posts.

These were used when it was a working railway, and is just our chance to give a little nod to the heritage of the line.

We are funding this via the generous buy-me-a-coffee donations from Pauline, Adam, Simon and Jacquie, along with the patron subscriptions. So thank you very much.

We have an Interpretation Board that will appear towards the end of June. All will be revealed when it goes in.

And lastly, we have a new cafe open up along the line.

The Majic Barn Cafe near Long Itchington.

It is so important that the whole route opens up between Rugby and Leamington Spa so people can make full use of this lovely place.

The next one is on the Dunchurch Bridleway this Friday.

Thanks for reading if you got this far.

Until next time!

Paul