The Idle Valley Walk is taking place on Monday 5th August at the Nottingham Wildlife Trust Reserve. The walk will set off at 1.30. Meet in the car park NG1 1EA (£3 parking). The walk is 4 miles but see the extra information below. The leader is Tricia Haigh. 

Tricia has sent me some further information to pass on to you:

The walk I am proposing to do starts at the Rural Learning Centre and initially follows the side of the lake until we reach the river. We then follow the River Idle northwards until we reach Tiln Pits. Here we join the Tiln Wood Circular Walk where we will turn left walking initially between lakes and then along a track beside grazed pasture eventually turning right to rejoin the river following the riverside path back to the Centre. The whole walk is approximately 4 miles but it would be easy to turn round at any point and return along the river if you didn’t want to commit to all of it.

The cafe in the Rural Learning Centre has a selection of hot and cold lunchtime snacks and there are picnic tables outside.  There is also a Notts Wildlife Trust shop.  There is no charge to walk in the reserve and you do not have to be a member of the Notts Wildlife Trust but there is a suggested donation of £3 for parking. Toilet facilities are at the Centre.

I hope those who are planning to attend Saturday’s YNU meeting will be able to brush up on their botanical skills to identify the variety of plants in the pea family to be found especially along the Tiln Wood Circular part of the route.  In the sunshine last Saturday when I did the walk with John and David there were plenty of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies on the wing.  I almost always see Banded Demoiselles on this walk but on this occasion I spotted the most I’ve ever seen.

Best Wishes

Margaret Prior