The approach road was under water and there were sandbags at the front door of the Blackbird pub at Bagnor on Wednesday 19 February, when Jan Haseler led a circular walk to Boxford and back. The walk started out across the fields and up a track towards Boxford Common. In the first patch of woodland, there were two fully-flowering plants of Stinking Hellebore. Emerging into the fields beyond, there were two Skylarks high in the sky and both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush were singing. The next copse had contrasting vegetation on either side of the track. On the right, the ground cover of grass and nettles indicated secondary woodland, while on the left was Hazel coppice, with the leaves of Bluebells, Primroses, Dog’s-mercury and Celandines carpeting the woodland floor. On the far side of the crossroads in the centre of the copse was a former saw-pit with about 40 Green Hellebore plants, with big buds but not yet quite in flower. The track continued across one more field, then up to Boxford Common, where the predominant vegetation was Oak and Bracken. Round the steep western slopes of the hill were many Snowdrops. Species-poor grass covered the top of the common. Apparently 1.5 metres of gravel were taken from Boxford Common when the M4 was being built. A Buzzard and a Red Kite circled overhead.
At the end of the common, the route turned left and followed the lane into Boxford. A Winter Honeysuckle beside the road had at least 5 honeybees foraging on its flowers. There was a brief diversion into the churchyard to look at the mass dial in the porch and the restored Saxon window on the north side of the church. A garden of remembrance had been laid out next to the Lambourn River. The fields beyond were flooded, with Mute Swans and Mallards afloat. The return track followed the course of the river downstream. There were some outstanding clumps of Snowdrops. Half way along the route, there was a diversion towards the river to inspect the sluice gates which would originally have controlled the flow across the water meadows. The river water was crystal clear, fast-flowing and deep and a single fish was seen, darting along at depth. There were Lesser Celandines in flower on the bank-side and white Pussy Willow in flower beside the path. The route then led back through another Snowdrop-filled wood and along a hedge-lined track, before returning to Bagnor, where everyone went to the Blackbird pub for lunch.
Pictures by Laurie Haseler and Rob Stallard