A few years ago when I saw this newly created path round a big field whilst cycling down Messuage lane near Marton, I thought "How boring". Now I am older and not so nimble, I love this 40 minute walk and can always find something of interest. If it has been very wet and let's face it we do live in rain-soaked Cheshire this hard surface is ideal. It was created by DEFRA (Dept for Environment, Food and Rural affairs) for those with a disability and to protect certain habitats - in this place the hay meadow) . The notice says access ends in 2011 with only 2 years to go should we start campaigning now I wonder?
A couple of weekends ago I set off from the car park at Messuage Farm in an anti - clockwise direction. Visibility was good and on the eastern horizon familiar landmarks of the Gritstone trail were scanned - Shutlingsloe, Sutton bank with post office tower, The Cloud and Mow cop. Black cattle (Aberdeen Angus?) are overwintered here on the cropped hay meadow, home to lush grasses and Ox-eye daisies in the summer. A couple of skylarks were lingering overhead and a Buzzard was lurking in the wood.
Here skies are big and great for cloud spotting. After reading Gavin Pretor-Pinney's book
'The Cloudspotters Guide', looking up will never be the same again!
There is a website at http://www.cloudappreciationsociety.org/
Other than 1 memorial seat, all other seats around the field are in poor condition. However there was no time to linger today as storm clouds chased me back to the car for hot chocolate and Classic FM.
No comments:
Post a Comment