TrustNews Sep 21

Summer walks round up

Covid - 19 restrictions may have meant a reduced programme, but this year's summer walks have been as popular as ever. Here are reports on three of them.

 

Bushfield Down

 

Bo Priestley, who has taken a detailed look at this area situated at the southern edge of Winchester, conducted a party of members around much of this large site. Bo pointed out the important views, features and wildlife considerations that make the area such a delight to wander around and experience. The views towards central Winchester where you can see just how large the Cathedral is, and towards the downland opposite, are spectacular.

 

Bo also pointed out just how important it is to manage such a beautiful site to obtain the best possible encouragement for wildflowers, insects etc. to thrive. It is not difficult to understand Bo's passion for the area, and she certainly passed this passion on to a fascinated audience.

 

 

Thank you Bo for such an informative evening and leaving us all with much to think about.

 

New Sport & Leisure Centre

 

It was raining so hard on arrival that it was not difficult to pick out fellow Trust members in the spacious entrance hall from their umbrellas and somewhat bedraggled appearance, so it was fortunate that after a brief introduction by Andy Hickman (Programme Director for WCC), we were taken round inside by the centre manager.

 

He did a great job patiently and proudly explaining all the fabulous facilities, from the 50m pool divisible into two variable lengths, complete with viewing gallery, and the second smaller pool with an adjustable underwater floor (allowing the pool to be set at any desired depth), to the range of sports and training equipment halls, all extremely well equipped and supervised. Andy then took us around the nearly rain-free outside areas, explaining features of the building and its relationship with the surroundings.

 

Canon Street

 

We all know our host on this walk, Trust member John Pilkington, whose incredible travels range from Patagonia to the Mekong and seemingly most exciting places in between. He nevertheless revels in Winchester and its surroundings as if they were in the same league.

 

Consequently, we all learnt much about this historic street on a warm summer evening, with various diversions including the mysterious little Rabbit Hutch Lane and the better-known Culver Road that originally ended in fields around St Michael's church. We learnt how the area abounded in little shops and other less reputable houses, catering for all the locals' needs where they seemed to share the road with numerous piggeries. The street was out of bounds to Winchester College boys, yet provided a home for indigent women in the elegant Hamilton House, reputedly built by the Duke of Hamilton for his sons to attend the College in the 18th century.