Julia Cooper and Ian Duddle led a walk up to the Ridgeway, starting from Churn, near Blewbury, on the morning of Wednesday 11 December. While most members were gathering at the start, several others walked over to the bridge over the disused railway line between Didcot, Newbury and Southampton. A Yellowhammer was calling from the top of a Hawthorn at the side of the railway line and lower down in the bush, there were several House Sparrows and a Blue Tit. Next to the railway line on the other side of the bridge was a heap of farmyard manure. In front of the heap was a noxious-looking brown puddle which had attracted a Grey Wagtail and a Pied Wagtail. The group set off along a metalled track in a south-easterly destination. Three perching Buzzards were noted. Despite it being the middle of December, a number of plants were still in flower, including as usual, White Dead-nettle. Plants identified round the base of a barn adjacent to the track included flowering Common Field-speedwell, Scentless Mayweed, Pineapple-weed, Black Medick, Bristly Ox-tongue, Weld and Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill. A Kestrel accompanied the group, flying ahead and perching on the next-but-one telegraph pole. It gradually became bolder and remained until the walkers were almost underneath it. A string of race horses came gently down the gallops on the left hand side of the track, then turned round and set off back up the hill at a faster pace. At this point the route joined the Ridgeway. Plants on the banks on either side included Lady’s Bedstraw, Salad Burnet, a Common Knapweed plant which was just about still in flower, Agrimony and Clustered Bellflower. There were several ant hills on the right hand bank, covered by grass which looked denser and a brighter green than the surrounding vegetation. Common Rock-rose was identified growing on some of the ant hills. The edge of the field on the other side of the track had been left fallow and two Stonechats were foraging here. Back on the bank, Small Scabious plants with pinnatifid leaves and small seed-heads were identified. The track led to a small wooded area where five ways met. The woodland had an unusual mix of trees, including Beech, Scots Pine and some neglected old coppiced Hazel stools. The track led northwards out onto open downland where a large flock of Fieldfares were foraging down on the ground in the adjoining fields. At the next track junction the walkers turned westwards. Once again, the banks on either side of the track had some interesting plants, including a Clustered Bellflower which was still flowering. The route rejoined the Ridgeway. Instead of walking straight back to the parked cars, there was a diversion to a bridge over the disused railway. The hedges were bright with Spindle berries. Wall Rue was growing on the old brickwork of the bridge. Down in one of the adjacent fields was a mixed flock of Starlings and Fieldfares. The group then walked back to the cars, before driving back to the Blueberry pub in Blewbury for lunch.
Attended by 10
