Autumn is upon us and our countryside and gardens have been changing in recent weeks in preparation for the colder months. Sid’s Piece is no exception and we encourage everyone to visit for a spell in this relaxing place, with a couple of benches too.
We’ve recently held our AGM as we have to do, and supporters and gardeners alike will be pleased to hear that we plan to hold our popular Plants & Crafts Fair again next April – more news to follow.
A successful work party took place on the last Sunday of August, and we can now see real progress at Sid's Piece with more daylight entering the various paths, an encouragement to lower growing flowering plants. Our work parties are the last Sunday of every month for the foreseeable future, between 10am and 1pm.
No previous experience necessary and all helping hands are welcome, however small or large! Do come along and have an enjoyable morning.
A Circular Walk
It’s a lovely time of year for getting out and discovering our autumn sights and sounds, and this suggested circular walk will feature a few highlights. The route is mostly off-road and can take approximately 90 minutes. It can be joined at any point, but here’s the rough route; war memorial, Duke Street, Goldsmith’s Way, Shepherd’s Grove Park, Sid’s Piece, Wash Lane, The Grundle, The Street.
I’m starting at the war memorial heading north down Duke Street, then turning right across the grassed area to the junction of Hepworth Road and the A143.
Villages and gardens provide important habitat for wildlife amidst our arable landscape and you’re likely to see colourful berries, seed heads and perhaps some late butterflies boosting their energy supplies before hibernation.
Continue across Hepworth Road staying parallel with the A143. Enter Goldsmiths Way and you’ll start to get good views across Stanton. With High Wood on your left (a sight of special scientific interest) full of Hazel nuts now, expect to hear noisy Pheasants, Rooks, and Magpies at this time of year.
Take the second left through the wood, emerging past farm cottages then bearing right and downhill to meet Grove Lane, close to the entrance to Shepherd’s Grove Park (but don’t go that way). Cross the road and bridged stream, an indicator of recent droughts, or periods of rain. Walk towards the village parallel with the stream and after a short while you’ll enter a conservation area privately managed. Immediately take a left up a long slope before entering our community woodland, Sid’s Piece.
Muntjac, Roe Deer, Kestrels, Woodpeckers and Buzzards can often be seen from here, and in the far distance, Thetford Forest. On an early evening walk you may well spot a low flying Barn Owl and hear the local Tawny’s too. Deviate around the small woodland by all means, and see how many different autumn berries you can spot – there are plenty. At some point you’ll come to the 5-bar gate with access to Upthorpe Road. Take a quick left along the roadside and then cross at the footpath sign heading sort of southerly along the side of a field. The hedgerow on your left is often clad with Sloe’s, the fruit of the Blackthorn. At the bottom of the field take a right along Wash Lane curving to meet the top of the Grundle, with footpath signs indicating.
The Grundle features an unusual group of Hornbeam at this end and you might spot them by the silvery trunks and butter yellow leaves. The Grundle is great habitat for insects, birds and small mammals, with Ivy being an important host species here. Eventually you’ll enter the Street and along to the starting point, with some more valuable gardens left and right and the churchyard at the end.
We’ve recently held our AGM as we have to do, and supporters and gardeners alike will be pleased to hear that we plan to hold our popular Plants & Crafts Fair again next April – more news to follow.
A successful work party took place on the last Sunday of August, and we can now see real progress at Sid's Piece with more daylight entering the various paths, an encouragement to lower growing flowering plants. Our work parties are the last Sunday of every month for the foreseeable future, between 10am and 1pm.
No previous experience necessary and all helping hands are welcome, however small or large! Do come along and have an enjoyable morning.
A Circular Walk
It’s a lovely time of year for getting out and discovering our autumn sights and sounds, and this suggested circular walk will feature a few highlights. The route is mostly off-road and can take approximately 90 minutes. It can be joined at any point, but here’s the rough route; war memorial, Duke Street, Goldsmith’s Way, Shepherd’s Grove Park, Sid’s Piece, Wash Lane, The Grundle, The Street.
I’m starting at the war memorial heading north down Duke Street, then turning right across the grassed area to the junction of Hepworth Road and the A143.
Villages and gardens provide important habitat for wildlife amidst our arable landscape and you’re likely to see colourful berries, seed heads and perhaps some late butterflies boosting their energy supplies before hibernation.
Continue across Hepworth Road staying parallel with the A143. Enter Goldsmiths Way and you’ll start to get good views across Stanton. With High Wood on your left (a sight of special scientific interest) full of Hazel nuts now, expect to hear noisy Pheasants, Rooks, and Magpies at this time of year.
Take the second left through the wood, emerging past farm cottages then bearing right and downhill to meet Grove Lane, close to the entrance to Shepherd’s Grove Park (but don’t go that way). Cross the road and bridged stream, an indicator of recent droughts, or periods of rain. Walk towards the village parallel with the stream and after a short while you’ll enter a conservation area privately managed. Immediately take a left up a long slope before entering our community woodland, Sid’s Piece.
Muntjac, Roe Deer, Kestrels, Woodpeckers and Buzzards can often be seen from here, and in the far distance, Thetford Forest. On an early evening walk you may well spot a low flying Barn Owl and hear the local Tawny’s too. Deviate around the small woodland by all means, and see how many different autumn berries you can spot – there are plenty. At some point you’ll come to the 5-bar gate with access to Upthorpe Road. Take a quick left along the roadside and then cross at the footpath sign heading sort of southerly along the side of a field. The hedgerow on your left is often clad with Sloe’s, the fruit of the Blackthorn. At the bottom of the field take a right along Wash Lane curving to meet the top of the Grundle, with footpath signs indicating.
The Grundle features an unusual group of Hornbeam at this end and you might spot them by the silvery trunks and butter yellow leaves. The Grundle is great habitat for insects, birds and small mammals, with Ivy being an important host species here. Eventually you’ll enter the Street and along to the starting point, with some more valuable gardens left and right and the churchyard at the end.