Bank Holiday Walk, 29th May 2016

By Andrew -
As usual, there was no Green Gym session on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend so instead we led one of the Bank Holiday walks, which have been organised by the Friends of Abingdon since 2012. Our walk left from the centre of town and took us along the Ock Valley to show people some of the work Green Gym does there and nature and history of this part of town.

Green Gymmers Eleanor (who organised and led the walk), Sally, Andrew, Graham and Colin were in attendance along with an additional four who had signed up for the tour.  This was somewhat lower number than than on previous years, but the damp weather may well have been a factor.

The route took us from Abingdon Market Place, down East St Helen's Street to weir behind St Helen's Court.  From here it was along the Ock Valley Walk to it's furthest extent at New Cut Mill via Drayton Road and past the junction of the footpath with the Tesco store. 

After that we headed towards Drayton/Sutton Wick and traversed some fields in the direction of the Ladygrove Estate and subsequently meandered back to town along Caldecott Road.

There were several stops along the way to point out interesting features and we spotted many birds including grey herons, swifts, skylarks and a family of swans and cygnets.  We even witnessed a mini-murmuration of starlings!

Despite our limited numbers we all had a most enjoyable time!
-Andrew


The meeting point in the Market Square.

Along East St Helen's Street...

The town end of the Ock Valley Walk.

The Green Gym's woodchip path.

Heading west.

Swans and their cygnets.

A grey heron.

On the footbridge beside Mill Lane.

Pausing in a country lane.

A dog rose bush in flower with Didcot Power Station in the distance.



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