Nocton and Potterhanworth, 19th June 2022

Seven on John's walk today with two guests from Newark Ramblers.  Great walking weather with temperatures not too warm and a cooling breeze.  The route took us along Car Dyke to Nocton in an area known for its potatoes.  

After the First World War surplus army narrow gauge railway equipment was bought by farmers in Lincolnshire and the Fens for use in their fields to bring the crops, particularly potatoes, to a depot or a standard gauge railhead for onward transhipment.  One such system was the Nocton Estates Light Railway. It eventually had almost 23 miles of single track, with five new Simplex locos hauling ex-army wagons and vans. By 1960 it had virtually closed but fortunately railway enthusiasts in North Lincolnshire managed to aquire a quantity of rail and stock from the system and built the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway .

Water tower in Potterhanworth, now a private residence

Lincolnshire skyline

Coffe stop at the edge of Potterhanworth Wood and Car Dyke.
The Car Dyke is/was an 85-mile long ditch and is generally accepted as being of Roman age and marks the western edge of the Fens

This hamlet on Car Dyke sits 10m above sea level in the centre of the Nocton Esrate where the limestone ridge of the Lincoln Edge meets fenland and lies just to the east of the River Witham. 

Southwell and Norwood Park Evening Stroll, 15th June 2022

Elaine's 5.7 mile stroll took thirteen of us from the car park in Church Street round the back of Southwell Minster to view the orchids in Potwell Dyke Grasslands, then through the grounds of Brackenhust Agricultural College and into Norwood Park.  Approaching Mayfield Mill we turned off along the Southwell Trail, returning through the town centre.

The Palace of the Archbishop of York next to the Minster

Archbishops Palace Gardens

Common Spotted Orchids in Potwell Dyke Meadows.  Southern Marsh, Bee and Pyramidal Orchids can also be found here

Posh bug house at Brackenhurst.
In the two years since the larger image was taken, occupancy has improved as bees and other insects have plugged up the holes

A very gloomy and dry Potwell Dyke

Starkey's Fruit Farm strawberries in Norwood Park

Polytunnels at Starkey's Fruit Farm

Norwood Park Country House

Maythorne Mill (1785) on the River Greet, a cotton mill which later became a silk mill and operated until the middle of the 20th century

Caudwell's Mill on the site of Southwell's medieval Burgage Mill

Station House.  Southwell was connected to the Midland Railway network 1847 and the line was in continuous use until 1968.  The section to Farnsfield, part of which we walked, is now a nature reserve

The Minster at sunset

Beckingham and Barnby in the Willows, 12th June 2022

John's 6.6-mile walk took eighteen of us along dykes and field paths and tracks first to Sutton and Fenton and then across the River Witham to All Saints, Barnby in the Willows for lunch.  The route back was along the north bank of the Witham.

All Saints' Church, Beckingham - the start

The other side of the fence fortunately

Sutton Dyke

The Witham in June 2022

The Witham in March 2015

Barnby Bridge

All Saints churchyard, Barnby

Return to Beckingham

The Notts/Lincs county boundary follows the old, very wiggly course of the Witham.  The track from Barnby (Nottinghamshire) to Beckingham (Lincolnshire) followed the straighter course but still involved crossing the boundary at least six times

Stoke Bardolphe and the Netherfield Lagoons, 7th June 2022

Sue led eleven of us on this 4.7 mile dampish Evening Stroll from the Ferry Boat Inn at Stoke, round the Netherfield Lagoons and back along the Trent past Stoke lock to the pub (for some).

Netherfield to Radcliffe railway line

Radcliffe Residential Park across the Trent

Stoke Lock

Stoke Lock

River Trent, approaching the end

And so to the Ferry Boat

Sutton Bonington, Kingston on Soar and the River Soar, 5th June 2022

The VBR Jubilee Walk took eight of us on an eight-mile walk from the playground in Sutton Bonington, through fields to West Leake for coffee and then down Kingston Brook to Kingston on Soar for lunch.  Then we followed the Grand Union Canal / River Soar until we came to the path back to Sutton Bonington.

The predicted heavy rain did not materialise, nor did the forecast flooding near Kegworth !!

St Anne's Church, Sutton Bonington

St Anne's Manor (1848), Sutton Bonington

Bridge over Kingston Brook

Approaching the churchyard in West Leake from the ha ha

St Helena's Church, West Leak

Outnumbered  - Lunch at Kingston

St Winifred's Church, Kingston on Soar

You will miss it when it's gone.  My guess is that it will survive until its Diamond Jubilee in 6 year's time

Kegworth Shallow Lock #57

Kegworth (New) Deep Lock is No 56 on the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Section)/Soar Navigation. This new lock, built in 1986 provides a rise of twelve feet (3·65 metres)

Downstream of Kegworth Deep Lock circa 1900

River Soar

River Soar moorings