EXPLORING THE COUNTRYSIDE

Pauline's Last walk is illustrated in a gallery that you can see by clicking HERE
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By Walks Group Leader Pauline Wade

Have you ever noticed that the Thursday after the monthly coffee morning is always fine? Well, there was one that was wet but that's another story!
The regular day was chosen for two reasons: so that details can be given out at the coffee morning and for an inspired guess to be made about weather and ground conditions (mud!).
Most walks are in the Salisbury area, although we have been as far as Bath and Weymouth in the summer. We reach our starting point by local bus. Most walks are 5-6 miles with a stop to drink the contents of our flasks of coffee. We return by bus, possibly from a different point.
The winter walks return to Salisbury in time for a late lunch, except in December when we visit a local pub. Sometimes in summer we travel farther and take a picnic lunch.
There is always something interesting to see and learn about our local countryside: the changing farming year - we have a farm visit planned for the Spring; wild deer, hares, many birds including buzzards, herons, wrens, and a multitude of common species; wild plants and flowers - snowdrops, the first primroses, a field of wild cowslips and, if we are lucky, orchids.
We have stopped to watch thatching, ploughing, narrow boats through locks, and bought watercress and eggs at the farm gate.
We have even picked strawberries at a PYO farm.
Each walk is planned with the use of maps and bus timetables, checking the timing for the return bus, and often walking the route the week before to inspect the condition of paths and stiles.
The walks are varied and we are very lucky to be able to walk in what I think is one of the loveliest areas of England.
Below are some photographs taken during some of our walks.