Wantage NWR has a Walking Group which walks every Friday morning, usually incorporating a coffee stop. It was suggested that as part of NWR’s Walking Month and also Living Street’s National Walking Month we would arrange a walk which could appeal to the whole group, especially those who find our usual walks too long or who are worried about “holding everyone up”.
So, we arranged a short, local walk with options to drop out if necessary. We met at Wantage museum and proceeded down Betjeman Lane to wander round Betjeman Park. (John Betjeman lived in Wantage for a while, and there is a half statue of him in front of the museum). The park is a wildflower meadow, full of snowdrops followed by daffodils in the spring, and mainly cow parsley now. We had a photo opportunity in the park, sitting on a bench donated by a local benefactor. The sun actually came out!
We then proceeded along a path bordering the property where Betjeman lived, crossed a bridge over a brook and returned to the museum via a road of what used to be tanners’ cottages. Tanning started in the 16th century and developed into a thriving industry in the town up until the 19th century.
Refreshments were taken in the museum and several members said that they would like some more “shorter walks” or maybe join in for part of the longer walks, so it turned out to be a popular idea.