Tags
Chilterns, Cushion calamint, Forestry Commission, Harriet Mead, Lady's bedstraw, red kite, Somerset Rural Life Museum, Tom Hill, Wayfaring tree, Wendover, Wendover Woods
Buckinghamshire 4. The last day of my visit to friends was intended to be very different, a quiet walk in Wendover Woods (Forestry Commission) in the Chiltern Hills. On the way, we stopped for a coffee in Wendover.
Outside an art gallery there was a sculpture which reminded me of that by Harriet Mead which I had seen at the Somerset Rural Life Museum in June, but after a little research I think it may be by Tom Hill, who specialises in sculpting using horseshoes.
We were planning for a quiet Monday walk, but when we got to the woods, and took a while to park because of all the crowds, we were a little apprehensive. No need to worry. The vast majority of people remained around the café and children’s play area.
We scarcely saw a soul in fact. We took the ‘Firecrest Trail’, 4.5.km/2.8 miles, and its official description proved to be accurate, ‘surfaced tracks and unsurfaced woodland paths… a great way to explore different habitats.’

Chalk soil and flints, underfoot for some of the time
There were plenty of wildflowers to be seen. (These identifications are subject to any suggested corrections.)

Cushion calamint, clinopodium vulgare. The leaves certainly had a minty smell

Lady’s bedstraw, Galium verum

Wayfaring tree, viburnum lantana (I’m least sure of this one)
A convenient bench about two-thirds of the way round enabled us to rest and debate the patterns before us, especially that of the broad field in the middle distance.
We knew we were nearing the hub once more when we passed Go Ape – and were not tempted to join in. (Unlike some I know – sorry, private joke.)
Despite the large numbers of visitors, lunch at the café was peaceful in the open air.
After all those activities, my visit finished with a quiet afternoon in the garden, where I was able to get some better pictures of red kites.
Thank you, Geoff and Jackie, for a lovely break.