A foggy morning turned out to reveal some hidden pathways and winter woodland glades for our December walk. Pam designed this walk, testing it out with Jim just the day before. We seven members set out from behind St Benedict’s church in Glinton where we parked. Although we didn’t visit the church, I made a mental note to come back and explore it. Not least for the 15th century 140′ high spire and various architectural styles that suggest a long history.
Foxcovert Footbridge
The 4 mile circular route took us beside the train line between Peterborough and Spalding for a time, skirting the very edge of Werrington to the Foxcovert Footbridge. The image below shows a sunnier day from a summer season. We made use of both the cycle ramps and the steps!
The former level crossing spans the railway line between Peterborough and Lincoln via Spalding and Sleaford. The crossing was closed to motor traffic many years ago but remained accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.
Following a long-running campaign by local councillors and residents in response to a fatal accident at the crossing in 2009, Network Rail announced in April 2013 that a footbridge would be constructed at the site. The bridge was inaugurated in September 2014. It incorporates sloped sections for cyclists as the route is used by pupils cycling from Werrington to attend Arthur Mellows Village College in Glinton.
Following a walk in a new area is a real opportunity to inquire about other potential walking places.
For me I have for years regarded Werrington as a ‘village’ signposted on the way to Peterborough railway station on my former work commute as I dashed past on the dual carriageway from/to Bourne. Now I see there is a local reserve called Cuckoo’s Hollow : https://haypeterborough.co.uk/activities/cuckoos-hollow-werrington/
And some adjacent cycle routes : https://www.mypacer.com/routes/oi2zga/werrington-parkway-cycle-path-walking-and-running-peterborough-england?ref=localbusiness
Claire also pointed out an avenue of mixed woodland trees planted at the Queen’s Silver Jubilee – now a tree tunnel and described locally in Summer as ‘the Narnia walk’ leading to a small woodland – a recent behest to the community. I am looking forward to this walk next year.
We all agreed today’s route should be revisited in the Spring and Summer months to enjoy the trees in a different way. Although an accent of Autumn was present still in the yellow fallen leaves of the field maple, today we experienced a winter walk on good paths with good cheer.
Thanks to Pam and also Claire who served up hot tea and coffee chez-Bysshe afterwards.
The photograph of the Mistle Thrush was most poignant for me because I heard him before I saw him. He was chittering wildly at a male blackbird. He seemed to serenade us as we straggled off beside the church wall. I immediately got out the Merlin App to identify the unusual birdcall https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.labs.merlinbirdid.app&hl=en_GB&pli=1.
Calling everyone back we stared up at him. Larger than a song thrush he was a beautiful bird. I quickly added the Mistle Thrush to my ‘life list of birds’, making my apologies for being rather obsessed …