Sell your county.

[tee]

hmmm this is a hard one but living on the surrey / hampshire border I have to mention the areas best kept secrets..... the military training land....We live spitting distance from aldershot and we have the most amazing open heaths and countryside.... I was out at the weekend - the heather is in bloom and looking breath taking! and its all relatively untouched and goes on for miles..... it alternates from heath land to forest... AMAZING

North downs way - again walking distance from our front door - FAB walking great views (shame alot of it is closed at the moment!)

hmmm and I really dont think I could name a third.... sooo many... to choose from

[Jez]

Any Takers for Kidderminster please?

[John]

Originally Posted by Jez

Any Takers for Kidderminster please?

What's wrong with Kidderminster. You have the Wyre Forest on your doorstep, Eyemore Wood, Trimpley reservoir, Habberley Forest then nearby you have Holt Heath, Grimley and Upton Warren etc.

You have a wealth of beautiful places nearby.

John

[Jez]

Originally Posted by John

What's wrong with Kidderminster. You have the Wyre Forest on your doorstep, Eyemore Wood, Trimpley reservoir, Habberley Forest then nearby you have Holt Heath, Grimley and Upton Warren etc.

You have a wealth of beautiful places nearby.

John

Yer i know, beauty spots in there own right John but just Kidderminster please! Glad you like it round our neck of the woods are over here often?

[John]

Originally Posted by Jez

Yer i know, beauty spots in there own right John but just Kidderminster please! Glad you like it round our neck of the woods are over here often?

I lived in Birmingham for 58 years and those were my local haunts. They are a bit further away from where I live now but I still call in from time to time. I especially love the Wyre Forest when the migrants are just arriving in Spring.

John

[Jez]

Originally Posted by John

I lived in Birmingham for 58 years and those were my local haunts. They are a bit further away from where I live now but I still call in from time to time. I especially love the Wyre Forest when the migrants are just arriving in Spring.

John

[epops]

Essex/ suffolk boarder need i say more

[Kerry]

I was asked by private message for the walks that I mentioned in Bramhall and Offerton so I thought that I would post the details here in case anyone else in the future was interested.

This is the info for the Bramhall walk. I take it that you know where Bramhall Hall is. Park at Bramhall Hall and walk through the park to the roundabout at the bottom of Bridge Lane. Head up Bridge Lane for about 2 minutes and you will come to a right hand turn (I think it is called Seal Road but not certain); just as you take that right hand turn you will see a stile on your left hand side. Head through this stile and follow the Ladybrook. Keep an eye out for the Kingfisher as it can be seen all along this brook. It can be quite muddy, especially in winter so you are best in wellies. You will come to a small bridge across the brook; you can either cross this bridge and follow the brook all the way along to Hazel Grove or you can stay on the same side but you can’t go far as it is blocked off by farmers fields. If you go over the bridge you will see trout in the brook further up stream. You will see a wide range of birds including woodpeckers along these woods.

If you are in Bramhall park, early especially on a day when the brook is high and running fast, you will see the kingfisher along the ponds in the park. If you follow the route of the brook through the park to the rear of the hall, you will come to a road; cross this road and you will see another footpath dropping down at the side of the brook, this takes you through to Seven Arches in Cheadle Hulme. Along this side you will also see the kingfisher plus a wide range of birds and sometimes the woodpecker.

With regards to the Offerton walk which is much better than the Bramhall one, you will park either off Park Lane, which is just at the beginning of Turncroft Lane or you will park further down Turncroft outside Vernon Park museum. If you park outside the museum, head down by the side of the museum, down the slope and step and at the bottom of the steps turn to your right and take the path alongside the river. Look out for mink and kingfisher there are two breeding pairs along this river (or there were last time I walked there). The path had partly collapsed at one stage and you had to clamber up into the trees to get along part of it. You will come to Pear Mill, look out for the Kestrel perched on the windowsills of the mill, on the blocked off windows. The long tailed tit used to nest in this area; you might also see the Green Woodpecker in this vicinity, especially on the field just after Pear Mill. Keep a good look out for the kingfisher along this stretch as it can frequently be seen. If you don’t know its call it is just a low whistle. In the winter you might also see the dipper along the river sometimes as far down as Pear Mill but more often a lot further up stream near to Poise Brook – also known as Fog Brook. In the winter there used to be Cormorants on the pylons that you will come to just before Bredbury Hall. Again this stretch is worth paying special attention to with regards to the dipper and the kingfisher. There are sandy, clayey banks all along the river so it is ideal nesting ground for the kingfisher. In the woods in general you will see the full range of small birds, such as chiffchaff, willow warbler, goldfinches, great tits, coal tits, blue tits, Great Spotted Woodpecker and further up river the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Also look out for Tree Creepers, and Nuthatches. As you follow the river along you will come to a weir, above the weir look out for Dabchicks, keep an eye out for them all the way along towards the cricket ground. Along this section you are up above the river. Just before the weir scan the trees well for roosting Owls. Also prior to reaching the weir, look out for Whitethroats and I once saw a couple of Redpolls in this area. Keep a look out for the Kestrel and the Sparrowhawk all the way round. Across the river on the farm land look out for Herons and Lapwing depending on time of year, also in the winter look out for wading birds especially snipe along the river. You will follow the path along and it will drop down just before the cricket ground. Go to the river and look out for the water vole in this area, also a good place to see ducks and the Dabchicks. Go past the cricket ground and look out for Goldcrests in the trees next to the river. Keep an eye out for the fox all along the walk as he can be seen even during the day – it is wonderful to have him walk out in front of you. Keep a strong eye out for Owls roosting in the trees across the river on this section. Along this section keep your eyes peeled for the Lesser Spotted and Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Also a good section for tree creepers and nuthatches. You will come to a bridge across the river, this is a good vantage point for the Dipper and the place where you are most likely to see him and also a good vantage point for the kingfisher. You can either go over the bridge, if you have dogs though ensure that they are on the lead as the farmer is shot happy and will kill them without even blinking an eye. The path follows on until it reaches Otterspool at the bottom end of Marple. If you go to the right instead of going over the bridge, you will follow Poise Brook along, keep an eye out for the Woodpecker round this area as both species nest round here. You also might see the kingfisher along the brook. You will need to retrace your steps and can take the top path back that runs along the houses if you want to shorten the walk or can go back along the river turning to your left near the weir and going up the path through the woods and on to the top of the park. Again you are best going early morning or during the week as Saturdays and Sundays are busy and you won’t see much.

Kerry

[shagbat]

I WOULD NOT SELL A SINGLE SQUARE INCH OF ANYWHERE.
I love every bit, either I'm selfish or lucky.

[Flywaver]

I live in East Cambs with the Norfolk/Suffolk border. I have Welney WWT 20 mins away.. Wicken Fen 20 mins away.. Lakenheath.. 30mins away..
Cavenham Heath and Thetford Forest 40mins... Cant grumble at all...