The Strollers second stroll was shorter than the first but equally pleasant. We drove in two cars to Old Standlynch Farm and said hallo to Patrick and Jenny who allowed us to park. Then we set off walking uphill for half a mile through the woods until we emerged onto a field with a view or two. One view was towards Clearbury Hill and the other to Trafalgar House. Crossing this field and over a style to go through another wood. Here we spied lots of spring flowers such as Dogs Mercury, Wood Anemone, Lesser Celandine and Laurel. Further on we saw White Dead Nettle, a curious Sedge, Norfolk Reed (Phragmites), Ivy fruit and Ivy Leaved Speedwell.
From the wood we came out onto a road which shortly led us to a small church. Sadly now closed and in poor condition. In the graveyard there were some dozen Graves of the Nelson family. All of them are pictured below.
Back to the road we followed this down to the river with its multiple streams and wiers and bridges. The footpath goes to Charlton All Saints village over the water meadows. We stopped short of this and having inspected the weir wended our way back through the wood. We branched off across more woodland beside the river Avon as it snakes its way to Christchurch. From here through a plantation of alders to look at a bridge to nowhere with views to Charlton. Some of us saw a Fallow Deer as we made our way back to the Alderbury Road. By the road Ann managed to make friends with a pony by feeding it with juicy grass, whereupon it followed us as we walked down the road back to Old Standlynch Farm and a welcome cup of tea. Thanks Jenny.