A group of thirteen met at the new reserve, Clophill Lakes.

Part of the site comprises Cainhoe Castle Scheduled Monument and Cainhoe County Wildlife Site.  The Greensand Trust have invested a huge amount of money and person-hours to create a wonderful reserve. Following the arson attack on the boardwalk and viewing platform last summer a massive sum of £100,00 was raised and a more robust boardwalk and viewing area has been installed and recently opened.

Our walk took us through the Conservation area, meadow and then (utilising the new boardwalk) around Castle Lake.  This was quite a leisurely walk with many flowering plants, butterflies and birds to enjoy as we went.

We managed to find 7 species of butterfly plus one moth species, 2 species of dragonfly, 23 species of birds and a multitude of insects including 3 species of ladybird which, interestingly, did not include the most common species (7 Spot).

Most of the group enjoyed a coffee (and lunch for a few) in the sunshine at the welcome café when we concluded our walk and one member kindly gave us strawberries from his allotment.

We had an interesting and very pleasant morning.

F