30 members with 2 youngsters met on the Red Lion pub car park on Wednesday 4th August 2021 for the 6 mile walk led by John and Moira Lyne, in the area around Goostrey. This is an old farming village, with a local tradition of gooseberry growing.

From the start we walked towards Jodrell Bank, and the huge dish of the Lovell telescope was clearly visible. Tracks and fields took us towards the A535 where we had to do a stretch of careful road walking. The large fields around us were growing maize and cereal crops.

Lunch was to be taken in Swettenham, and we headed there via the nature reserve surrounding the area. This has ancient woodland, ponds, scrubland and meadows. As we approached the Swettenham Arms we passed alongside the carpark towards the beautiful fields of lavender. This is a 2 acre plot created in 2005, and is a lovely feature humming with insects. Close by is the Quinta Lovell Arboretum.

We sat on the grass verge overlooking the lavender for our lunch break, a real treat of a view.

Afterwards we started our return to Goostrey passing Kermincham Hall, which is surrounded by farmland. Back in the village the final stretch was to walk past the beautifully kept railway station built in 1891.

Unfortunately the pub was closed, but the weather had been sunnier and warmer than expected, and made for a lovely walk.

Gillian Gibbons