Health Walk - Tuesday 7th June 2016

Photos by Michael & Peter - Please click on photos to see a larger one

Another fine morning, hot humid - thunder and rain forecast.  Seventeen walkers - Carmel, Carole, Colin C, Elizabeth H, Elizabeth M, Frank, Frankie, Joyce, Judy, Kate, Linda D, Linda E, Michael, Paul, Peter, Suzie and Zandra.  

It was Frank's first walk with us.

Michael was leading the Annual volunteers Walk to Lisieux Hall in which Carole and Linda D took part.

Elizabeth M was leading the Health Walkers and she set off towards the Walled Orchard.

Photo 1   
Peter's photo of the lilies in the central pond of the Walled Orchard

Elizabeth, I believe, led the walkers on Route 4 Anti-Clockwise - see map red route and arrows.  Peter led a short walk leaving the main group after the Wooden Bridge - green route and arrows - they finished up on the same route as the main group finishing ahead of them.

The Volunteer Walkers met for the 4th Annual Volunteers Walk during Volunteers Week (doesn't quite make the headlines like other 'special days and weeks', I wouldn't know about it if it wasn't for Bob.)  

Bob Clare organises this walk with Lancashire Dotcom walkers.  He encourages volunteers from the local charities - St. Catherine's, Sue Ryder, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Cuerden Valley Park Trust and The Brothers of Charity - I think I've missed one out?.

We met in the Board Room and Bob introduced himself, David B and myself, Michael Swarbrick, to the walkers.

David B led the Volunteer Walkers to the Walled Orchard

 Photo 2
David is pointing out something of interest to the Volunteer Walkers

Photo 3                                                   Photo 4
David is explaining all about the Park to the walkers, as he'd been asked to do by Bob

Photo 5                                                   Photo 6                                                 Photo 7
David has led the walkers to the new building where he is explaining its purpose and design.  Chairman John is telling us about the lime rendering, this is the first of three layers.

Michael took over the lead now and headed for the Stone Bridge

Photo 8
Approaching the Stone Bridge strung out down Snake Hill

We crossed the bridge and walked across the Picnic Area and up the steps to the Lake

Photo 9                                                   Photo 10
Alongside the Dam

We walked up into Dog Kennel Wood and through Gravel Hole Wood down the the Cycle Track.

We crossed the track and walked along the riverside to Town Brow car park.  Crossing the road we entered the Park again a little way up Sheep Hill following the twisting path to cross Back Lane and after a few yards entered the Park again.

Again twisting right, left, up and down we walked along the top and dropped down to Lower Kem Mill, the former dye works.

Photo 11                                                   Photo 12
This is the lodge, now run dry. There is a Heron in the photos, can you spot it?

Here Bob took over the lead

Photo 13
Relieved of the responsibility I spotted the new allotments on the left approaching Rose Cottage.

Photo 14
We're almost at Lisieux Hall and the leaders have stopped meeting some walkers who had arranged to join us at the Hall - they had come looking for us.

We had lunch in the Chapel followed by a presentation from the leaders of the Voice For All, the advocacy group for Brothers of Charity Services

Afterwards Bob led the walkers up to the Mound for the traditional photograph.

Sadly the Park Health Walkers didn't feel up to this further extension of the walk so we left the group at Dawson Lane where we reentered the Park on the new stretch of cycle track that runs down to Lower Kem Mill and from there we walked along the Cycle Track, National Route 55, and back up Cardiac Hill to our cars.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the experience

Today's walks

Red is the main Health Walk
Green the short Health Walk
Dark and Light Blue is the Volunteers Walk
Light Red is the Park walkers who usually do the Health Walk returning

Michael Swarbrick