Waking up to a misty mysterious Sunday Morning we planned our family morning. Having considered (very) briefly about going to do the big shop, I thought that a visit to Coombes was a far more enticing idea. At the mention of “lets get your wellies”, the girls ran around like spaniels waiting to go for a walk. Martha (6 yrs old) was well up for it as she really enjoyed her school trip there earlier in the year. Claris (2 ¾ yrs old) is happy as long as we find mud, puddles and sticks (like I said..... a spaniel!).
We got the essential items packed - two collecting buckets - and off we set. It’s only 5 minutes to the reserve from Leek but as we drove I happened to mention that I had heard that signs of Fairies had been found at the reserve. “WOW really?” “Yes, but that’s all I know” I responded to keep that air of mystery. We resolved to go searching for signs along the new trail at the reserve.
As we arrived the sun broke through and off we set. We walked past the new Yurt and wondered who might live in a tent like this. I said that I thought it might be someone hairy (as I had met the Site manager before) (Site Manager response – “I’m not that hairy!"). Walking past a hazel bush we stopped and looked for nuts and after a bit of leaf kicking, found some eaten by squirrels and mice.
As we crossed the meadow we came to a fork in the path. Left we went, towards the shelters and dens built in the wood.
After finding the best sticks to carry and sitting on wet logs for a while, we moved on. Coming to the wooden archway we entered the Storytelling Circle. Claris read ‘The Gruffalo’ and we talked about all of the Logpile Houses that the snake had in the wood. Martha and I found some small fungi. Could these be fairy signs? I told them about how some people used to think fungi came up where Fairies had danced. We could be close.....
After a few steps we spotted a small path leading to a sunlit clearing. It must be Magic as in the clearing we did found Fairy Houses after all. They were tiny - no bigger than a wellie. The girls ran about finding more until we had found a little village. We stayed for a while, tried the doors and looked in windows. We decided they must be asleep or out, as we didn’t see any.
We walked on and through the woods towards the main track.
Our onward journey took us over some small troll bridges, we found a large red deer slot near the path and blew dew off the spiders webs spun on the thistles and brambles. Finally, we came to a little gate. The girls crawled through and sat in a holly den. A bit further on we found some sloes growing on blackthorn. Claris ate one which had us laughing until we got back to the centre.
We chatted with a warden and she said to try the Mud Kitchen . This ‘mudpie magic’ was a big hit, spoilt only when the unpopular decision was taken to go home.
We had a brilliant morning at the reserve, the new trail is great for kids and we will be back soon to try the Canopy Walkway and viewing platform.
Richard, Beth, Martha & Claris.
Jarrod Sneyd
Enjoying being the Site Manager of Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay - Saving Nature in a unique landscape