The forecast heavy rain held off until almost the end of the walk which Jan and Laurie Haseler led at Finchampstead and the Blackwater Valley on Wednesday 16th September. The walk started from the National Trust car park at Simon’s Wood, off Wellingtonia Avenue. A rotten pine stump nearby was partly covered by cushions of the bright green moss Leucobryum glaucum. Down on the path, there were 3 spherical pale yellow galls on a fallen oak leaf. Crossing over to the open heathland at the top of Finchampstead Ridges, a green Bog Bush-cricket was spotted, perched on a clump of flowering heather. Fungi seen here included the turquoise Aniseed Funnel, yellow and red russulas and a Tawny Grisette. A large Blusher fungus had been marked by the droppings of what was thought to be a Badger. The group paused at the view point to look across the Blackwater Valley to the distant hills of Hampshire and Surrey. The path then dropped steeply down through the woods, where golden yellow Chanterelles were an interesting find. At the bottom of the hill was a pond, with sphagnum moss growing around it. Continuing along a track through the woods, a brown Amanita with white speckles on its top was thought to be the poisonous Panther Cap.
The next section of the walk led through the Moor Green Lakes reserve. Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins were flying over the water. A herd of Belted Galloway cattle was grazing round the edge of the lakes. Meadow Cranesbill and Agrimony were in flower on the bank. There were close views from the first hide of a young Great Crested Grebe with a stripey black and white head. Continuing along the track which runs beside the River Blackwater, it was noted that there was an abundance of Himalayan Balsam in flower. A Grey Heron and a mixed flock of tits were amongst the sightings along this section. Flowering Sneezewort was found beside the path which runs round Horseshoe Lake. The walk continued across several fields, along a lane and then along a footpath which went through a wood and then climbed steadily back up to the woods of Finchampstead Ridges. The rain set in in earnest as the group returned to the car park. Lunch was enjoyed at the Queen’s Oak next to Finchampstead Church.
Pictures by Laurie Haseler