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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-7 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Wednesday, 1 July 2020

Harris Hikers Adventures (still solo for some) Wednesday 1st July 2020

An Old Dee Bridge Round.
A short burst from a Common whitethroat.
Two Barn swallows take a rest on the "perching tree".
What is it? Is it alive? No, i's yet another "poo bag".
Tide on the way out, carring on its surface what looks like some form of pollution.
Rabbits have fun - no not that sort of fun!
One of four Grey herons seen today.
Hungry Cinnabar caterpillars on the move - can you spot the one that did?
Looking across the Roodee Racecourse from the Chester Riverside Promenade.
The Grosvenor Road Bridge from the path next to Overleigh Old Cementry.
Hazardous work being done.
The star of the day, one of many Ringlet butterflies seen, but the first that stopped to have its photo taken. This one was taken on the Riverside Path, on the north east of Chester Golf Course.
Distance: 8.7 miles. Climb: 94'.
Time: m4 hours 38 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
I set off at 08-30, hoping that the forecast of showers would happen after 13-00, and I would get back  home without geetting wet. Thankfully I took my umbrella as there were two short showers between 09-30 and 11-00.
Approaching the border on the Wales Coast Path, I noticed a vehicle next to the track, I initially I thought it would be Natural Resources Wales, but it turned out to be the Flintshire Coast Ranger, so I had quite a long chat with him. I mentioned that I had seen Giant hogweed by the river near The Cop on Sealand Road, I he said he maight take a look later on.
The Giant hogweed has started to grow on both sides of the river, and if I remember correctly a few years ago they were treated with chemicals to destroy them.
As I approached the Riverside path on the north east side of Chester Golf Course, two more vehicles were parked. They belonged to an Environment Management Company, and looking towards the river were two men in hazzard gear spraying the Giant hogweed with chemicals (sprayed plant had blue colouring the top of the plant).
Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Blackcap, Common whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Common blackbird, Goldfinch, Black billed magpie, Barn swallow, Greenfinch, House martin, Great cormorant, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Common pheasant, Moorhen, Mallard, Grey heron, Black headed gull, Lesser black back gull, Herring gull, Oystercatcher, Grey heron, Song thrush and Common pheasant.
Butterflies seen today included: Small white, Peacock, Red admiral, Meadow brown and Ringlet (apparently not very common in this area).
Overall an enjoyable walk, and as I arrived home just after 13-00, it started to rain, so once more my umbrella was pout to good use.

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