Health Walk - Thursday 28th June 2018

Photos by Michael S, Mandy & Jen K - Please click on photos to see a larger one

Today we had twenty-eight walkers.  It was a lovely sunny morning, blisteringly hot.

James led the main walk with Carmel mid marker Cheryl back marking.  

Photo 1
Colin led the short option walk, with Jen back marking.  Here they are starting off on their walk through the Car Park, James' group had already disappeared down into the Pinetum.

Photo 2
James' group approaching the Wooden Bridge turning right as they reached the Cycle Track

Photo 3
Hello!  Heading for the river

Photo 4
negotiating the obstacle course that nature has laid out for us

Photo 5                                                               Photo 6                                                  Photo 7
Hooray we are crossing the newly replaced stepping stones.  Janet is already marching ahead with Graham.  It was heart warming to see the walkers helping each other to cross

A few of Mandy's photos, the last one is I confidently striding across, well I have long legs which helps

The stones were realigned and added to by the Wednesday Volunteers, with help from me Michael S, on Wednesday.  I've been pressing for action for a couple of years and it's paid off at last.
They need a short set of wooden steps at the eastern end for which we are collecting money to buy the hardwood.  They will be made and fitted by the Wednesday Volunteer Group led by Peter Wagstaff.

We continued along this path for the first time for many years to cross Town Brow and enter the south side of the Park.

We took the first path on the left

Photo 8
over the footbridge and climbed up the path alongside the field.

At the top James paused while announcing the Carmel would lead anyone who would like to take a short cut,

Photo 9
here they are just disappearing on their way to Back Lane

We carried on to Michael G's Duck Ponds

Photo 10                                                    Photo 11                                       Photo 12                                        Mandy
The Moorhen chicks are growing

Photo 13
pond 2

Photo 14                                                               Photo 15                                                  Photo 16
Pond 3 - we could see the Rudd again but too far to photograph - I think some saw the Carp

Photo 17
Some of the ducks on Pond 3

We continued through the houses on to Wood End Lane and then down Back Lane and into the Park.  James led us through the field alongside the other side of the river and back on to the Cycle Track to cross the Wooden Bridge

Photo 18
Climbing up Cardiac Hill into the Pinetum and back to the  Visitors Centre

                                             
Photo 19 - Jen        Photo 20 - Jen                                        Photo 21 - Jen                                   Photo 22 - Jen
Colin led the Elite Group round the sunny side of Cuerden Hall round the front and down the Drive to walk along the Cinder Path, turning right along the Cycle Track, entering Cock Cabin Wood emerging to enter Walkers Wood, down Bikers Hill and

Photo 23 - Jen
crossing the Stone Bridge

Photo 24 - Jen
to walk up the slope and enter Dog Kennel Wood through Gravel Hole Wood across the Wooden Bridge, up Cardiac Hill into the Pinetum and back to the  Visitors Centre

Today's walks (Red Main Group, Blue short cuts and Green Short Walk Option Group).  
Where there are green arrows on the red route it means the Elite walkers had followed the main >> or the main group had followed the Elite walkers >>.

Today's walkers

Main Walk - Bernadette, Carmel, Cheryl. Colin D, David H, Edward, Eileen, Eric, Graham, Helen R, James, Janet S, Julie, Kerry, Mandy, Mavis, Michael S, Moira, Ricky, Sheila T & Trudi

Elite group - Colin C, Jen, Joan, Elizabeth H, Elizabeth M, Gwen & Mary P

Compiled by Michael Swarbrick

Cinder Path                Cuerden Hall          Hawksclough Farmhouse                         Cam Lane             

Cuerden Valley's Health Walk    Cock Cabin Wood   Cam Lane Cottage       Ponderosa     Pinetum        Visitors Centre

The Chorley Walks.