Purwell Valley: December 2010

NOTE: Photos listed are only those upon which I have something to say!
The photo shows the start of the path that I needed to dig out from the bank at Cadwell Lane football field.
This section through to the nature reserve at Burymead Springs took about 2 years to 'break through' so that it could be walked along.
As you will see along the path there are still a couple of large concrete blocks that would be impossible to move on my own ( I have tried!) I am hoping to borrow a winch from Countryside Management Services in order to achieve this task.
Also in this picture is the stump of a tree. This is one of several trees along the path that were rotting and seemed to pose a potential danger to walkers. so, I cut it in such a way that it can now be used as a seat to rest my weary bones near the end of my circular walk.

Each photo is taken at regular intervals along the walk so that the blogger can get a 'feel' for the environment and an appreciation of the river being a constant companion.
This photo indicates the steepness of the bank. If you can picture an imaginary line from the edge of the river to the top of the bank, that is the amount of digging that needed to be done to be able to navigate the path safely on foot. The next stage of the project is to widen the path so that it can accommodate wheelchair access.

All along this stretch I have planted various things to make it prettier and to help stabilise the bank.
The ornamental grasses seen here should help with stabilisation. They were inadvertently 'donated' by the Triangle Garden project at a time when the seedlings from the grass in the garden were coming up like weeds. Hopefully they will have the same effect here and help to avoid the bank sliding into the river.

The teasels were planted as seeds last autumn. Hopefully they will self-set and we will have a good crop along this stretch if the goldfinches don't eat them all. Also along this stretch, bluebells, cowslips, narcissus and many native flower seeds were planted. This is a good place for planting flowers as it catches full sunlight for most of the morning.

The seeds were collected from plants further down the walk where wild flowers are in abundance.

One problem all the way down this walk is to find plants that can hold their own with the vigorous stinging nettles and brambles. Interestingly, the relatively small cowslip tries hard and succeeds to some extent. I give them a bit of a hand by pulling out the surrounding nettles at times when they are at their highest.

During the process of digging the walk I needed to get to the last location of the dig by the shortest routes possible. This meant crossing the football field and coming down the bank. A diagonal path can just be made out on the right indicating how I got the barrow and tools on site.

To the right of the footpath in this picture can be seen a small trench. This catches the water draining from the football field and it is then piped into the river at one end. I put several of these drainage trenches along this stretch because the path simply would not stay dry without them. Unfortunately, the football pitch on the right bank above the path comprises a load of landfill material of dubious toxicity. Hence the water often runs off with a variety of different colours, none of which look 'healthy'.
At the point on the picture where the leaves on the ground seem brown, is the foot of a horse chestnut tree.

The path needed to be edged and built up here as it sloped too steeply to the river. This is where children have a rope swing on the tree to play over the river. Unfortunately they were oblivious to the row of forgetmenots planted here so they were quickly destroyed as the mini-Tarzans landed on the bank. They also broke the edging down several times which was a bit of a shame as my intention was to get the groundwork done so that I could move on to other things. Mending stuff that has already been completed just seems like such a waste of valuable time. However, I do not see this a 'vandalism' so much as 'having harmless fun'.

I suppose the responsibility lies with me to make the edge strong enough to cope with this sort of activity. The problem is that everything I do on the walk is money-free, so I have to botch the best way I can within the means available.

Much of this part of the walk needed building up rather than cutting out, so here I was dredging the river silt onto the bank to raise it up sufficiently for the river not to overflow onto it. A problem was that it never really dried out and was a bit boggy. This may well be because it is closer to the river,but it may also be that the bank is very steep here and the water has to drain of on the surface of the path. The solution was to cut many, many pieces of wood about a metre long and place them across the path to act as a slightly raised walkway. this was covered with leaves and debris which acted as a form of drainage. The solution probably will not last long, but long enough for me to get on with the path and come back to this problem another year.

The path appears to fork at this point. However, the sloped path on the right is another access path to the far end of Cadwell Lane football field. This is very handy if I am just walking the dog a relatively short distance as it comes out right by the dog-mess bin.

Here again the path needed to be built up rather than dug out and this was helped by asking the people at the factory up the bank to give me their old foundry sand ( they made metal mouldings) This was ideal as a surface to the path because the sand did not get boggy like the river silt. Here, there was what looked like a water outlet which needed to be kept clear which was achieved by utilising an old plastic children's slide on top of some concrete pipes

This stretch of the path was interesting in that the banks were held up with wire gabions filled with rubble.

This was ideal material for the base of the path but it took some hard work and ingenuity to move the wire and rubble into a flat path rather than a sloping bank.

The posts that can be seen on the left of the path was where the factory slid their sand down the steep bank and I had a barrier to stop it sliding straight into the river. Incidentally, it was at this point where I had first made a sloping path from the corner of the football field to make a reconnaissance of the route. I thus realised that it would be feasible to cut a footpath to Ickleford.

In this shot can be seen a wooden cover to a large storm drain. Here I had to repair the brickwork to take the cover and then cut out the wood to fit the peculiar shape of the water outlet. I also needed to put wire over the wood to stop walkers slipping. It was also overgrown here with old trees, ivy and brambles. At the time I felt just a little apprehensive as to whether the job would get finished in my lifetime. However, pacing myself and working everyday for 2-3 hours the job got done surprisingly quickly. I thought it would be a 'lifetime's work' - yet I'm still here and able to now work on the second and third stages of the walk.

All along this stretch was decades of bramble growth which needed to be cut out. Unfortunately this will be an ongoing task if the path is to remain navigable. It does have the distinct advantage of being one of several places on the walk where one can stop and pick blackberries in the season.

This bowed trunk of a tree offered me a choice of over or under. At first I was digging over but soon realised that the spoil was actually making a better path to the left of the tree. Also there was a supermarket trolley conveniently dumped here. That was utilised as a gabion and filled with rubble to make the path firm at the point where the walkers would need to duck to get around the tree.

The choice here led me to make the path go up the bank and around the trees to the right. However, if I ever get the time and materials I will divert it to run to the left of the trees and closer to the river. This will be flatter and better for wheelchair access. The present route is narrow, steep and unsuitable for anyone other than walkers and hardy bikers.

Up the slope, the white stone in the picture is a point of access to Cadwell Lane near Brooker's. I used to park there whilst working on this section. All along this stretch I planted forgetmenots, narcissus and snowdrops.

The red bricks on the right of the picture are the sides of a huge storm drain. I was tempted to redesign this so that we could walk on the concrete base. However, there were so many engineering bricks in the river at this point (discarded into the river by British Rail when they altered the bridge) that it was just as easy to build up the path with these. However, I might reconsider this decision when I try to make this section wheelchair friendly.

Above the arch in this side of the bridge's tunnel is a ledge, inaccessible except by ladder. I thought that if the front of this was covered in it would make an ideal bat roost. When all the other work is completed on the path I hope to persuade Network Rail that this might be a good PR project.

The engineering bricks were also useful to help form a small edging wall and build up the footpath under the rail bridge. Here I planted marsh marigolds and periwinkle as well as the usual forgetmenots and narcissus.

Interestingly, the graffiti under the bridge gets a favourable mention on Google Earth. I am not altogether sure about the quality of the work but have to admit that it's probably more colourful than the engineering bricks.

Emerging from the rail bridge the walker will need to duck under a sewage pipe that spans the river. I did appreciate the graffiti written on the pipe by some wise cracker, it read: " DUCK OR GROUSE".

This stretch of the walk runs at the back of the metal recycling unit. The vegetation changes to mainly reed which was very hard to make into a usable path and I suspect will need a lot of maintenance to keep it from overgrowing again. The scrap metal used to be piled up on the bank where it had spilled over from the site. However, when I had a word about it, the guys soon got their crane over the wall and removed it. They also removed some very large tree trunks which were blocking the river which I never would have managed by myself.

Along this bit of the path are to be found some of the prettiest of fungi. I don't know what they're called but if someone can let me know by adding a comment, it will be included to inform those who are interested in labels.

Another one I don't know the name of - but it looks good enought to eat! I won't try it until I'm sure.

The corrugated sheets cover another open storm drain from the metal works. There will need to be a better solution to this for wheelchairs but it suffices for now. Along the path a little can just be seen some railway sleepers. The path there was very boggy for no apparent reason. The sleepers were nearby so the problem was resolved. Again this will need to be revisited when wheelchair access is desired.

This bridge gives access to the metal works site from the sewage works. Once again the choice for the footpath was between over or under. The easiest route for now was under the bridge although this takes some prolonged bending to avoid hitting one's head. Eventually, after banging my head many times, I put a wooden peg in the ground at the point where it was safe to stand upright. The path at the riverbed here is most unsatisfactory so I have also explored the option of going over the bridge. This is now possible except that the brambles seem to grow faster than I can get to cut them down.

This is the route under the bridge. Unfortunately it is on an unstable bank and the river overflows the path if it rains. I have tried several ways to resolve the issue but without success

It can be see that bricks and metal have been put down because the wooden sleepers floated off downstream. The problem is that there is insufficient headroom under the bridge and pipes, so I cannot simply build up the footpath to resolve this problem. I think the resolution will come when I make the path go over the bridge.

As the first job in 2011, I have cleared the path to go over this bridge. It's a much more satisfactory arrangement than going under.

Once past the bridge the walker is is the nature reserve. To the left of this picture it is planned to build an Otter halt. Not that we have any otters along this stretch but people live in hope. It was relatively easy to make the footpath along here as the ground is rich topsoil. This prompts a more vigorous and rapid growth of the stinging nettles which overgrow the path at an alarming rate. It's quite hard work to keep it clear even with the help of a petrol brush cutter. I don't like using machinery that makes a noise because it disturbs the tranquility for both me and the wildlife. I much prefer a scythe or, as I have found quite effective, a sharpened shovel, to knock down the growth. Fortunately, more and more people are walking along here and this helps to keep the stingers trodden down.

It is interesting to listen to people's comments when I'm working at the Grove Road entrance. They complain that the path is inaccessible at the other end but when I suggest that they might help by spending some time cutting the stuff down themselves they invariably change the subject.

I give you another picture of the path here because I have planted things like blackcurrants and other stuff that the wildlife might like. The soil is ridiculously good and will make a very good nursery for plants needed elsewhere on the walk. Unfortunately it will need tending as the stinging nettles and brambles have an innate desire to take over.
On the river bank to the left of this picture it is planned to build an Otter halt. Not that we have any otters along this stretch but people live in hope.

As the river bends and the tree overhangs there is often a kingfisher to be seen at this point. However, in order to catch that fleeting glimpse of it, you will need to be focusing on the tree long before you get there, for it's gone in an all too brief, blue flash.

At his point the path that I have made joins the path already in the nature reserve.
In the river there grows an abundance of water cress. As I write this there are two swans feasting on this crop. I had thought of harvesting it myself but as it appears to be food for the swans I will decline this opportunity.

The seat is a place to dwell and ponder upstream. A birder's heaven with the woods both sides of the river.

The joining path can be seen a bit clearer in this picture. It is here that I felt that my digging work on the walk was all but completed, so the next phase of the walk necessitated cutting the grass, nettles, brambles and bushes. I also altered my efforts slightly from here on and put up bird feeding stations. The first of these is up the trees to the right of the seat. They need an adapted extending pole to access them - unless of course you are a bird (or a squirrel but that's another story).

Just after the seat there is a choice of paths. The one to the left is one I cut to stay by the river and the one to the right takes you across a wild meadow to join up with the path at the North Western edge of the reserve.

A view across the meadow which is maintained by volunteers and the Countryside Management Service.

The alternative path nearer to the river - Hence the 'river walk'.

We 'once' spotted a mink on this path but we have never seen it again.

Unfortunately the trees on this walk are getting very old so they keep falling either into or across the river. either way they tend to trap rubbish and make it look unsightly. This is where 'group' volunteering would be useful. I am reluctant to enter the river alone at this point as it starts to flow at some speed in the narrower parts.

The first of the seats facing the meadow needs clearing regularly of the undergrowth. I sometimes get the petrol strimmer or the mower on this but really it is a job for heavier machinery, or more time. Neither of which I have at present.

The second seat in the meadow has a hawthorn bush to it's right. This is where my next bird feeding station is situated. At present the seat is facing the camera. I have suggested that it could be adapted and backed with another seat on the other side so that the bird feeders could be seen more comfortably. Alternatively the seat could be turned to face the centre of the meadow. However, this would then be facing away from the river which also has it's beauty and wildlife. Thus, I feel the most sensible solution is to have two seats! (any offers? - At the RSBP and other sites the seats are donated by people and have a suitable commemorative plaques . This could surely be achieved in this beautiful place.)

The river walk comes out of the nature reserve and into the plantation of willow trees (for cricket bats)

View from the nature reserve into the plantation belonging to Mrs. Parker of Ickleford. I do hope that she, her philosophy, generosity and her legacy last forever.

Here is an interesting new development on the opposite riverbank, in the allotments. A collection of beehives, all different designs and colours. It is so interesting to watch the bees in the summertime.

The river runs behind a huge row of bushes on the left. At the end of these bushes there is a weired weir that seems to run under the plantation and into the river. it is a great spot for seeing the white egret, kingfisher, heron, and many other birds. presumably because of the food available but also because they do not know you are there until you're right on top of them. This makes them so much easier to see.

Over the river by the weir is a big tree. (Ash I think) Beneath the tree one can invariably see a little plastic box. This is part of an activity called 'Geocaching' where people are given GPS locations with the purpose of finding the 'cache'. There is another of these plastic boxes at Gerry's Hole which I came across some time ago. I like the concept of having many different excuses to explore the countryside apart from the obvious interest in wildlife and dog-walking.

Just beyond the shadow being cast by the tree, where the path slightly bends, is another water outlet from the plantation. I needed to put some sleepers here to act as a bridge. Fortunately the railway is not too far away and with the aid of a trolley I was able to drag some spares over to this point.

This stretch of the river is teeming with birds and other wildlife. Along here we have seen a water rail, snipe, wagtails, bramblings, buzzards, kestrel, sparrowhawk, wrens, ducks, swans, moorhens, huge number of butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies and many other species.

This swan comes up for some food in the winter months. It will eat out of your hand if you are patient.

The Little Egret rarely stays around long enough to photograph but is often seen in graceful flight avoiding people. If you are patient it usually flies around in a circle and lands again after your passing.

This part of the footpath has needed some TLC as it is occupied by a sort of tussock grass which is difficult to walk around and is difficult to remove. The main problem for walkers is when the long strands are trodden on with one foot and tripped over with the other. It invariably catches you out as your focus will be on all those much more interesting things surrounding you.

To the far left of the picture is the first of the junctions from the River Oughton via Ickleford Mill. This is a lovely little spot and I don't know why I did not include a picture of this in it's own right. However, I would urge people to go and see this and the other sights for themselves as there is no substitute for experiencing the real thing.

To the Right in this picture is a path that crosses the plantation and brings you to the main public right of way to Ickleford. Beyond that there are the fields by the Railway which we come to from a different direction later on the walk.

I have another bird feeding station located on an oak tree in the middle of the plantation here.

This is another junction with the River Oughton which feeds |Ickleford Mill.

Obviously between this and the first junction there is an island. This is full of wildlife which is probably why we often see foxes over there.

I put this one in to remind me that the bush at the top of the picture needed a great deal of cutting back for the path to go through. At first I cut a tunnel through so that the branches overhung the path. However, the weight of the bush soon made it difficult to pass by so I cut it right back. It took no time at all to fill out again so, I presume this will be another bit of continuous maintenance for the future. Fortunately last year when they were selecting the willow trees for harvest they brushed up against the bush with heavy machinery and did the work for me.

It's just lovely along this bit. The flats come into view and the river is teeming with life. Fishermen are sometimes to be encountered here. They tell me they catch trout and pike but always put them back because they like the sport rather than the kill.

Here, on the right, in the grass, we saw a flock of meadow pipits presumably feeding on the abundance of flies in the boggy ground. A mention also of the carrion crows and Jays who nest in the willow trees around here.

The favourite habitat for the wren and the goldcrest

The first glimpse of the bridge from Ickleford. Often the swans are to be seen here. The moorhens will never be far away and if you don't see them, they are what you can hear apparently running on the water.

A view from the bridge I couldn't resist. An interesting bridge in that they built one part for vehicles and a completely separate part for pedestrians. I'm not quite sure of the logic for this as there seems to be plenty of room on the main structure.

The river bend has a footbridge to the flats and to a small playing area beyond

'The Beach'. The curve in the river has created a mini-beach where the children play in summer time.

Being situated as far away from the sea as is possible, it is satisfying to have a little beach like this where children can 'pretend'.

Just another lovely view

View from the footbridge north

This picture is slightly out of geographical sequence with the next as it shows the path to Gerry's Hole.

The two options here are to go to Gerry's Hole (left) or to go on the right of way to Hitchin (right)

I could not do better explaining Gerry's Hole than to present you with Mrs Parker's official notice board.

It's been graffiti'd over a few times but somebody keeps coming back to clean it. - Good for you Mrs Parker!!

Gerry's hole from the footpath. I usually feed the moorhens on the bank at this point. They are usually there before I've left the site and prefer the mixed grain to the peanuts.

This is the path leading over the rail bridge to the Icknield Way and eventually to the Wilbury Hotel Letchworth. It is up this path on the left that you will find the Cadwell Spring, sited in my previous post. (The Ring of Springs')

Just to the left out of this picture is a metal gate leading to a field where the footpath goes to Cadwell.

I have another bird feeding station high in the bushes just inside the field. Someone has put an owl box on an electricity post in the field. What a useful way of utilising an eyesore!

Across the field and on to the river again I definitely needed waders for the next few shots

Wading in and looking back upstream I could get a shot of a wooden bridge constructed by some enterprising home owners on the opposite side of the river. They have also created a concrete walkway to navigate under the bridge. - Very professional looking. I could do with them to help me in other parts of the walk.

View downstream to the back gardens of folk who obviously appreciate the company of the swans on their lawns. The little white fence is a telltale sign that they don't want them all over the garden as they eventually make a terrible mess. It is good to see homeowners who are willing to share some of their space despite the potential mess.

Swans and cygnets in their natural habitat.

Not wishing to wade further down river I now make my way back to Gerry's Hole.

This is the side of Gerry's Hole facing the railway line. It is here that another geochache is located.

My circular path now takes me back home via this route rather than continuing alongside the river which would eventually lead to Biggleswade and on to the Wash.

This is a bit of wishful thinking as I have always envisaged a 'national' riverside walk from it's source at the Purwell 'ring of springs' all the way to the Wash. Something to look forward to in the future?

More views of Gerry's hole.

To the left is a natural wildlife meadow in which have been seen rabbits, foxes, deer, woodpeckers, magpies, redwing, fieldfare and many other species.
Be extra vigilant as you walk this path in the field as midway along there is a rabbit hole right in the centre of the path. Be warned! My wife has stepped in it several times because the temptation is so great to concentrate on the birds feeding in the field. Because I also cut the vegetation along the path, I habitually walk on the edge of all footpaths (off the muddy bit) in the hope of helping to widen them slightly.

I have another bird feeding station in the trees surrounding this field. Very well attended it is too.

Oh dear! These 'environmental vandals' are drilling test holes for a new railway line which will go through the nature reserve and Mrs Parker's willow plantation, across this wildlife habitat and the one the other side of the railway to join the Cambridge line along the Wilbury Road.

I can only be a little cynical about this as it's costing millions in order to save a few people about 3-4 minutes on their journey times to and from Peterborough, only to add a few minutes to the journey times for those going to Cambridge.

The convenience of the rail travellers is counterbalanced by the inconvenience to local people and is insignificant compared to the destruction of wildlife habitat. However, I'm convinced and confident that these esoteric lifestyle concepts will be of little interest to those who are focused on their own profit rather than wildlife and the countryside.

I thought this picture would be of interest in that it shows this year's willow tree harvest ready to be shipped out. It also shows part of the route of the proposed railway viaduct. They say that the footpath will be diverted but say nothing about the trees, shrubs and wildlife habitat on the left of the picture that will be destroyed in the process.
I have another bird feeding station on the top of a brick pillar where the car is parked at the end of the lane.
The birds are usually waiting for me to arrive and swoop down even before I have finished throwing the food onto the top of the pillar.
Just in front of the building on the right is the footpath leading back into the nature reserve. At this point, by the gate, there is a small drainage pond in which I have seen Great Crested Newts. I am doubtful as to whether they would survive the onslaught of Network Rail as the flyover is destined to go right over this spot.

Let us move on from this now somewhat depressing part of the walk, to take the path back into the nature reserve. On the right we have a beautiful area of swamp and reed bed where we see herons, tree creepers, reed buntings, warblers and loads of other water birds. A heron often sits in a dead tree just over the water at this point.

It's worth dwelling in this place for another picture and to explain that behind the camera, in the wood I have planted, split up and replanted loads of snowdrops. It all looks so pretty in the spring. I'm hoping that the railway vandals don't destroy it all with their heavy machinery.

We are now back along the path already trodden on our way to Ickleford. The nice thing about coming back along the river walk is that the views are fundamentally different travelling one way to travelling the other.

Having ducked under the bridge at the sewage farm/ metal reprocessing back entrance it is tempting to raise one's head to see where you are going. Do this with care, for this pipe is the next obstacle which can be most painful for the unwary walker. On the left of the path is a wooden stake which marks the point where it is safe to raise one's head without banging it against the pipe.

Up the slippery bank

Alternatively you can now avoid the river and low pipes by walking over this bridge.

Through the 'gate'.

Over the bridge

To join the path on the other side.

Along the reeded path at the back of the metal works

The sewage pipe across the water.

Railway graffiti and footpath

Where all the bricks were blocking the river before the path was constructed.

Note how the sunshine filters through the trees. this will be ideal habitat for planting woodland species.

Just lovely and tranquil

Reflections of housing across the river. However, the flat dwellers don't have direct access, so do not disturb the wildlife.

Nearing the culverts at Grove Road . The outward journey took us through the spinney, whereas the homeward journey view is actually in the river.

Just to show that the path is still there for those who don't have waders

It's so much more satisfying being able to walk where most people cannot access.

A picture postcard of a place. hidden from the view of the casual walker

Nearer and nearer to the culverts

Here we are! back at the pathway down to the culverts. It will look so much better when it is finished. However, that depends on the goodwill and free provisions of materials.

The two culverts under Grove Road almost see the end of this part of the journey.

In this picture can be seen the builders bags over the culverts containing wild plumb and ivy. They will also provide a place to plant holly trees from the cutting which will hopefully be available this coming spring.
The heap of rubble in the river is where the force of the water, particularly from the Hiz culvert, has pushed the river bed out to make a deep hole. River walkers beware!

Steps up from the proposed seating area by the river. In the background my very own log pile again

Looking back from the log pile to the culverts, including the very branch that the kingfisher often sits upon to do his fishing. The prospect of going home from this point almost feels disappointing and there is a strong desire to linger awhile, which I oft-times do.

That's the end of this blog posting.

I hope to blog some of the flora and fauna on the river walk when I can get someone to help me identify them all.

I hope you have enjoyed the trip. For those of you who want a shortened version, or want to locate it on the map, I would recommend Google Earth. Unfortunately the map available to Bloggers does not appear detailed enough to follow the path accurately.

Purwell Valley

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

River walk 2010 flora & fauna

Wednesday, 22 December 2010

BIRDS of Purwell Valley

Wednesday, 8 December 2010

Riverside walk part 3 Cadwell football field to Gerry's Hole