A group of eleven met in the huge car park at the very new reserve now called Clophill Lakes.

Part of the site comprises Cainhoe Castle Scheduled Monument and Cainhoe County Wildlife Site.  It now belongs to The Greensand Trust who have invested a huge amount of money and person-hours to create a wonderful reserve. Unfortunately at the beginning of this month arsonists destroyed all the boardwalk and viewing platform which gave an easy route for prams, and those with limited mobility! Our thoughts are best not printed here.

Our walk was not impacted by this vandalism and we enjoyed a 2 mile walk around the two main lakes and conservation area.

Although it was somewhat overcast we managed to find lots of Small Heath butterflies plus Red Admiral, Small Whites and a very obliging Comma.  A single dragonfly (Common Blue Damselfly) was observed and there was a good showing of native wild flowers.  A variety of birds also entertained us – highlights being an almost overhead hovering Kestrel and a Barn Swallow feeding young on the wing.

Several of the group enjoyed a coffee at the welcome café when we concluded our walk and one member kindly gave us tomatoes from his allotment.

We had a delightful morning.