Four of us met by the crochet covered red post box in the centre of Greatford in Lincolnshire yesterday. A lovely August morning, gently warm and breezy. Jo first organised this circular walk for us on 5th June 2024 https://nwr.org.uk/news/wednesday-walk-greatford-wilsthorpe-braceborough-2024-06-07/ so you can read all the highlights of the route and the points we enjoyed that day – when we were six.
Soon after we left Main Street striking across the arable fields, shorn of their wheat to yellow stubble we encountered a “dart of large dragonflies”. They zoomed and zig-zagged as we made our way past a small copse. (I like the sound of my invented collective noun for dragonflies). I am taking an educated guess to name them as Emperor Dragonflies, although as they were in flight it’s really difficult to identify them against the bright sky. We wondered if there was a stretch of water nearby and indeed there was a large dew pond further along the track.
The pond we discovered was the attraction (amidst the dried stubble) for several swallows feeding in the air and diving across our path and a solitary grey heron, silently watching us with one eye and his potential breakfast in the pond with the other. Jo had spied him earlier flying with that low, slow flight of herons when we began the walk.
The best of our nature treats was yet to come…
We spotted first one then two more adult Kites sitting in the stubble not too far from our roadside path. Luckily I had the binoculars so we got a really good look at them for ages before one took off and we reluctantly continued on to Braceborough.
For me the walk was a glorious relaxing escape from responsibilities at home and I thank Jo sincerely for arranging this at short notice. Conversation and friendship is the rich reward we all find on these rambles – the nature and the points of interest are really incidental.
Cake, scones and coffee were enjoyed at Waterside Garden Centre café afterwards. https://www.watersidegardencentre.co.uk/
Jo purchased for 33p a copy of Marion’s book club choice “In the Blink of an Eye – Jo Callaghan“. This is available for any member to borrow [from Jo] and pass on.
JB.