A Bee Orchid was seen on the group's inaugural walk in June 2022. As you can see the bee orchid is a sneaky mimic - the flower’s velvety lip looks like a female bee. Males fly in to try to mate with it and pollinate the flower.
In July 2022 the group completed an eight-mile loop through the Test Valley visiting Horsebridge, Michelmersh, and King's Somborne. During the walk some plant spotting took place:
In October 2022 - Eight participants met at Butts Green for a 7-mile walk around the countryside.
After a short road section, we cut across the fields, through woodland, to eventually exit on the lane to Gambledown Farm which is a popular place for glamping/camping in the summer. After crossing more fields our route took us past Owls Cottage with its noteworthy topiary large Owl identifying the property.
Skirting maize fields we passed the back of Telegraph House, which is a Grade II listed building of historic interest from the early 19th century, it is Now a private residence. A short section of woodland led us to lovely views from the ridge looking towards East Dean. We stopped here for a short refreshment break before finishing traversing the ridge, finally coming out onto Lockerley Green adjacent to Curlew’s Farm.
We crossed over the railway bridge and took the lane past picturesque Holbury Mill and the fishing lakes. After crossing a bridge over the river Test we branched left over the fields taking a path up to Holbury Wood. We walked through Holbury wood looping around eventually crossing the railway bridge and returning to Lockerley Green. Avoiding the attention of a herd of frisky young steers, we crossed a stile and skirted the bottom of the field to take a footpath which returned us to Butts Green.
After the seven-mile walk including 12 stiles, a few of us ended the walk with a well-earned lunch at the Mill Arms in Dunbridge.
