Have you been to Sir Harold Hillier Gardens recently? We went for an afternoon walk this afternoon with Chippy and his wife Annie. They also did a 10k run in Eastleigh this morning. Wondering how many steps they have done today?
We have captured some photos to share with our readers today. [Read more…] about A Walk on a Beautiful Sunny Day – Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
The spring is sprung, the grass is riz
I wonder where the birdy is
The bird is on the wing
Don’t be absurd
Everyone knows the wing is on the bird
We’ve been in meteorological spring since the beginning of the month and today, 20th March, is pretty close to non-meteorological spring (which probably has a better name). And the weekend’s weather has also been spring-like too, for the first time this year.
What better time to visit Hillier Gardens at Ampfield and see the flowers starting to emerge from their winter’s sleep.
Here are a few photos from today’s wander. I’m not a botanist so some of my descriptions may be a little haphazard. Sorry, Wellie. [Read more…] about Spring is here, spring is here. Life is skittles and life is Beer
By Steve Allen and Derek Johnson
We have been walking this part of the navigation for many years and in our opinion this 30-minute stroll has capture the river and canal in it entirety.
After making your way to Twyford Road and finding the track down to the canal you turn left, which takes you down past properties on the left bank, which dip their toes into the water edge. Look out for the signs of the kingfisher as they look for food. These bird are very elusive so you must have a keen eye to catch them perched on branches as they fish. Or you may see the distinctive turquoise rear as they fly past you at great speed.
The view opens out on the right. At this stage, just pause a while to see if you can watch many spices of birds going about their daily life. Some say a small blot on the landscape is Nuttall Construction but I feel this gives a sense of what the canal was used for in years gone by.
Passing under the railway bridge you emerge to meadow land on the right. High on the first pylon it has been known to see up to seven cormorants surveying their territory. In the meadows deer and geese can be seen grazing.
After crossing the road, stop a while to look at the lock, check the depth by looking at the ledge on the other bank. At this time the water is high above and we encounter flooding as we progress. As we wonder through the canopy of trees, just be aware of the river and watch for ripples on the waters edge, as this is a sure sign of the water vole as she make her way through the reed beds to her riverbank home.
New growth is starting to show along the edges of the canal; new life is about to begin.
On the left the meadow land opens out in the foreground; the reeds are growing. If you just stand awhile you may hear the distinctive sound of the reed warblers as he tries to encourage a mate to his domain. He loves to climb up the reeds to have a look at you before he flies away. Most odd.
Depending upon the rainfall, the canal can be clear as crystal. ThIs is a good time to watch the water surface as life is in great abundance on or below the surface.
Many a time I have stopped for a while to take in the peace and tranquility of the canal with its changing moods. Once you are up by the sliuce gates you will see the canal and river side by side, both trying to race one another as they make their through the Itchen Valley.
Lurking in the deep waters is a predator the river barracuda the pike – we have named her Jaws and have seen her in action taking a grayling or two. The heron and egret find this stretch of the river good hunting grounds. As we cross a wooden footbridge we come to the end of our stroll at Brambridge garden centre on the right. We can be found sitting outside under the canopy having a pot of tea and medium cappuccino and a nice ice buns.
THIS IS THE LIFE – ENJOY ONE OF GOD’S PIECE OF HEAVEN.
By Steve Allen and Derek Johnson
Remembering the fun I had had when staying in youth hostels in my younger days, I decided to introduce hostelling to my family.
We started with a couple of weekend trips, to Snowdonia and London respectively. And then for this year’s summer holiday – having found all usual self-catering facilities either fully-booked or astronomically expensive – I booked a six-bed room in a youth hotel at Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales. This cost around £600 for the week (that was with a 10% member discount, and a further 5% discount for including someone under the age of 26 in the party). Now, where can you get views like this for that price? A hotel up the road was charging as much per night!
Many years ago, at the tender age of 12 or 13, my friend and I stood outside a youth hostel, slightly confused by the notice that said it didn’t open until 7. We’d thought it opened at 5. Soon the warden came outside to welcome us: “you don’t have to wait out here, boys, come on in”. We’d made the schoolboy error (well, we were schoolboys) of reading “1700 hrs” as “7.00 pm”!
This was our first trip to a youth hostel. We’d cycled, well, nearly twenty miles, to Greens Norton and this was a taster to see whether we could cope with a longer trip in the summer. [Read more…] about Youth Hostelling then and now – part 1
Britain has a problem with litter. Despite several decades of “keep Britain tidy”, it seems that you can’t go anywhere without coming across discarded food wrappers and drinks bottles.
Thanks to Chippy Minton and Mrs Chippy enjoying their walk in Cranbury Park, readers may be interested to hear about another piece of history attached to the park …
I am sure we are all familiar with the Buttercross in Winchester’s High Street. This fifteenth-century market cross stands 43 feet high and is reckoned to be the finest in the country. True to its name, its original function was for market traders to display the butter they had for sale, as well as cheese, eggs and milk. With four statues in niches, only the one of St John the Evangelist is original, the other three having been replaced during restoration in 1865 by Sir George Gilbert Scott (architect of many notable buildings and monuments including the Albert Memorial in London).
After the muddiness of our trek-through Cranbury Park, we looked for somewhere with better paths for our next walk. We visited Riverside Park in Bitterne Park, parking near the White Swan at Mansbridge (better known to locals as the Mucky Duck) and walking to Bitterne Triangle and back.
It’s a smidgeon over 3 miles in total, so ideal for a Sunday afternoon stroll. [Read more…] about Another walk in another park
Looking to expand our repertoire of “walks withing five miles of home”, Mrs Chippy and I recently explored the public footpath through the Cranbury Park estate.
The Chamberlayne family of Cranbury Park once owned much of the land in what is now Eastleigh town centre. The names are preserved in the names of Cranbury and Chamberlayne Roads, and the Chamberlayne Arms pub. I think that Desborough and Nutbeem were something to do with the estate as well, but I forget what. [Read more…] about A walk in a park
I’m sure many of you will remember the late Barbara Woodhouse, the famous dog trainer whose catchphrase “walkies” has lived on.
Is there a dog owner who doesn’t use that phrase, I wonder?! Certainly all three of my dogs (the bearded collie cross, Gracie; the border collie, Mabel; and now Lady who is a border collie/flat coated retriever/chihuahua mix) all knew the meaning of the word and were/are keen fans of it!
Have you been out taking your daily exercise during the current lockdown? Maybe walking around your local area a touch more than usual?
Have you realised that you have taken just a little bit more of your precious time on these local walks too? No need to rush. After all you have got all day every day for the next few weeks!
The weather has been very conducive too.
Did you think to look that bit closer than usual at some of the things you would normally not even notice? Maybe you were just rushing from A to B. before. Probably driving! [Read more…] about What Do You See Around You?
Some of my post-Christmas traditions include riding on the Watercress Line, having a day trip to Dorset and walking along West Bay beach, enjoying a New Forest walk, and catching up with members of the family who live a little further away. Have ticked those all off for this year and a good time was had by all.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration. Many best wishes for 2019 from us all at CFT! [Read more…] about Winter Traditions
This morning we joined our friends Mike and Alison Standing, together with Deborah Hockney (Alison’s sister) and her family on A Walk for Adam.
The walk aims to raise awareness of the high level of suicide that occurs in our society, especially amongst younger men, which seems to get hidden from view from the general public.
The 40-mile walk started from Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church this morning, and will spread over 4 days. Today we completed our first day’s walk and arrived at Winchester Cathedral. Friends and families will continue the rest of the journey over the next 3 days. [Read more…] about A Walk for Adam – from Chandler’s Ford to Winchester Cathedral
Over the August bank holiday weekend, Mike and Alison Standing will be joining Deborah Hockney (Alison’s sister) and her family (Gabriella and Joel) on ‘A Walk for Adam’, to raise awareness of the high level of suicide that occurs in our society, especially amongst younger men, which seems to get hidden from view from the general public.
Image Credit: All pictures unless otherwise stated were taken by Allison Symes
One of the joys of dog ownership is it encourages me to get out and about. Of course, you don’t need an active pet to get you out and about, but it helps me a lot as I find I am more than willing to take Lady out, but would I just go for a walk by myself? Maybe but definitely far less often.
The only thing to watch with dogs, especially at the moment, is whether the weather is suitable and adjust timings of walks accordingly. [Read more…] about Out and About – Summer 2018
One of the nice aspects to living in Chandler’s Ford is it is easy to leave it! There’s the motorway network, being close enough to the local airport, the various main roads, the rail network, buses etc but the reason you might want to go is the fact we have on our doorstep a variety of local walks, which are ideal for anyone keen on walking, whether they have a dog or not.
One walk I take regularly with my better half and Lady, our new collie cross, is up at Jermyns Lane, Ampfield. (Pococks Roses and Hillier’s Arboretum are both on this road, which is just off the Straight Mile). It’s a 10 to 15 minutes run in the car but you do get right out into the countryside. [Read more…] about Hidden Hampshire – Woodland Walks: Jermyns Lane
This is a blog post about…fog.
We went for a walk in the wood yesterday afternoon, and saw Chandler’s Ford through fog.
We walked through Flexford Wood, then through to Valley Park.
The birds were chirping, and dogs could be heard barking from the distance. [Read more…] about Walking in Flexford Wood on a Foggy Day
Update 20 March 2017:
We have been awarded £28k from @veoliaenvtrust for improvements to Hocombe Mead Local Nature Reserve #ChandlersFord https://t.co/K8gtzhEBDk
— Eastleigh Borough (@EastleighBC) March 15, 2017
For lovers of history, who like getting out and about, there is the opportunity to learn how to be a heritage guide for free, with all expenses paid.
The opportunity offers exclusive behind the scenes trips to heritage sites.
You would also get to go to lectures from top historians and academics. [Read more…] about Want to Become a Heritage Guide?
