Easter Monday and not an egg to be seen!

The pre-opening walk around the reserve on Easter Monday followed a similar pattern to that of the previous Friday. We had no idea of how many people wished to attend but we were delighted to welcome almost 30 people in the bright sunshine.

We would normally restrict walk numbers to around 20 but everyone was so enthusiastic and did have two assistants in Alison & Rebecca who offered help and advice to the walkers.

All enjoyed immensely the bluebell wood which is surely now at its peak. Today the wild garlic was flowering which made the stream dipping area  smell like a French cooks' kitchen! Quite a treat.

Stopping only to repeat my newly learnt script about the flora found along the way in the woodland trail (Rebecca had briefed me last week!), we made our way over the canal to the lakeside. Plenty to see and hear as we strolled around the lakes and who will forget being inundated by a cloud of caddis flies over on the far side. I never seem to have a swat handy.

The hot weather was taking it's toll now so I had to shut up talking as I secretly increased my pace for the return journey reaching the car park just over 15 minutes late, no too bad for me. I wish to thank everyone for making the walk such an enjoyable experience.

One final note about the walk and I must mention the youngest participant, Connor who at 10 years old was the youngest walker. He was very knowledgeable about wildlife and he confessed a love of dinosaurs (Grey herons are a weak substitute for pteradactyls), however he said he was desparate to see a snake - any kind of snake would do. He was very reluctant to open our snake traps and he ensured he stood behind whoever made a grab for the oieces of conveyor belt. I'm afraid I let him down as I was unable to find him his snake on the way around the reserve. But he was in luck when returned to the play meadow. Diligently led by Rebecca they set off to look at the remaining snake traps and BINGO! There under the first piece of conveyor belt was a large grass snake, his first of the day. This was capped by another snake found in the very next trap.

Success all round I say!