April Amble

April 15^th 2016

Shining Cliff Woods

 

Only four babes and Betty for our jaunt today as Helen J is off on yet another holiday, Pam has a morning of work and Lynn has her hands well and truly full with other matters.

We met in Ambergate at the start of the footpath to Shining Cliff Woods, Alison and Maggie were ready, waiting and eager and Jo and I were almost on time. A grey morning and the more foolhardy amongst us were regretting casting off our thermal vests! Wellies and boots were the order of the day and off we set. Betty was very excited to see her new friends again and was soon leading the way along the track to the woods.

I am almost certain this is the way!

Yes this is definitely the way!

Perhaps one of these might be useful

The original plan was to walk to Whatstandwell for lunch and we headed in the general direction but we soon resorted to the freestyle navigation methods favoured by Jo. We followed paths up and down thoroughly enjoying the woodland in all its early springtime glory although there was some extreme mud to negotiate (much to Betty’s delight!) and the thermal vest wasn’t missed at all once we got going.

FLOWER LIST

Bluebell

Wood Anemone

Celandine

Dandelion

Wood Spurge

Daisy

Stitchwort

Wood Sorrel

Garlic Mustard
 

Wood Sorrel

 The fresh green, trefoil leaves of Wood-sorrel form distinctive clumps in woodlands and shady hedgerows, often growing from the moss on fallen logs. Rising from these cushions, the delicate white flowers hang on tiny stems, blooming around Eastertime and giving rise to its popular European name of 'Alleluia'

A moment of reflection

 

We passed by the youth hostel and then wound our way down to the small lake. Eventually we found ourselves back on Jackass Lane (no comment!) and decided that we probably wouldn’t be walking to Whatstandwell so we headed back down to where we had parked the cars. This part of the walk gave us the perfect opportunity to develop our eye spy list of animals, both wild and domesticated and also gave us some excellent views.

We can see Jo's house from here!

 

ANIMAL LIST (Domesticated)

Horse

Cow

Calf

Lamb

Sheep

Dog

ANIMAL LIST (Wild)

Brown Hare (wild animal of the month)

Bumble Bee

 Betty trying to make friends with a cow

 

We drove to the Family Tree at Whatstandwell and Pam was already there waiting for us, it was very busy but thankfully there was another room ideal for those with muddy boots and dogs. We had a lovely lunch and a long sit and a thoroughly good chat, catching up with everyone’s recent activities. Jo assured us that we aren’t too young to go on a coach trip but none of felt that we could afford the compulsory £7000 earrings! We were able to reassure Maggie that none of us can remember what Glasgow was like 25 years ago and none of us fell for Jo’s trick comment about Princes Street!

 

Yes, there is definitely a bird up there!

BIRD LIST

Dunnock

Blackbird

Robin

Pigeon

Great Tit

Moorhen

Tufted Duck

Mallard

Blue Tit

Pheasant

Collared Dove

Kookaburra

Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Wren

Collared Dove

Magpie

Swan

Greylag Goose

Canada Goose

Grey Heron

Common Crow



 All our intentions of a stroll along the canal after lunch were thwarted by the fact that it was tipping it down with rain by the time we had finished lunch, so we said our goodbyes and we look forward to a Merry May gathering.