On Sunday 19th July, the Rea Valley Community Wildlife group met up in Pontesbury for a walk dubbed the ‘Hinton Hike’. A rough route was agreed in the car park with the only real aim being to explore some of our local footpaths, avoid cows where possible, and see plenty of nature. The mostly sunny walk lasted approximately two and a half hours, and took us through habitats on farmland, beside a stream and along a disused railway line.
Our cow avoidance strategy fell apart a few minutes after setting off, with a large dairy herd interested in our progress across the fields near Hinton Lane. The footpath followed a small unnamed trickle of a stream that soon joins up with the Rea Brook. The banks were covered in invasive Himalayan Balsam, which in turn were humming with bumblebees. With everyone walking at different speeds and pausing to record plants or talk about their various interests, between us we observed a diverse range of species.
Birds included Buzzard, Long-tailed Tits, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, and House Martins. There were butterflies, shieldbugs and an impressive Robin’s pincushion gall on Hinton Lane. A brightly coloured bug called Oncotylus viridiflavus on the abundant Knapweed, soldier beetles and Darwin wasps by Pontesford Brook. Plant species came out top, with Kat reporting that we crossed paths with 121 different species, including an unexpected poisonous Thorn Apple that had probably been brought in by accident on the machinery being used to expand the sewage works. Perhaps the best find of the morning was Laura’s group of Old Lady moths that were sleeping in the brick tunnel under the railway. Ideas for a collective noun included a W.I., a knit and natter, and a cackle.
The walk finished back at the playground, where the group’s youngest member, aged 4, was definitely the only one to play on the zip line and the pirate ship. Another lovely walk in our lovely community with a lovely group of people.
