February 2018 Walk
REPORT FROM THE FEBRUARY WALK
19 people met in the upper overflow car park at Shinner’s Bridge on 2nd March for a walk that not only heralded in Spring but also emphasised how fortunate we are to live where we do. Eric and Irene Adams would not share their contact with whoever controls the weather as the complete walk to Staverton and back was carried out in sunshine, and lack of wind that made walking a pleasure.
It was a short distance to the Old Postern and then up to Huxhams Cross using the old concrete path that runs alongside North Wood. It was then down through the wood to Staverton Bridge. It was built in 1413 with indulgences paid to the Church, donors believing that such payments would reduce their time in purgatory for past misdemeanours. The Bridge is regarded as the best medieval bridge in Devon. From there a path ran along between the railway and the river, until we crossed the railway aiming for the parish church St Paul de Leon. Not only were the snowdrops in bloom but also the first few native daffodils. Hazel bushes had long yellow catkins about to shed their pollen on to the small red feather female flowers. On a very damp bank the Golden Saxifrage was blooming and a moist open bank had clumps of the Summer Snowflake. It is found across Europe to Turkey and the Caucasus, but not Scandinavia or the Baltics and Russia. Some botanists argue that it is not a British native, but they are at odds with the Botanical Society of Britain.. For the botanically minded Leucojums have 6 equal sized tepals (petals) whereas Galanthus- Snowdrops have 3 equal and 3 close together, looking like a tube.
At the 15th century coaching inn , the Sea Trout we all had coffee before making the return walk. We crossed the railway and skirted Dartington Trust’s old hydro electric building and entered the woodland area alongside the River Dart, owned by Staverton Parish Council and maintained by a conservation group. Here the Snowdrops grow in profusion carpeting the area, making a breath-taking display. It probably needed another week for them all to be fully out and scent the area. All that was left was to walk back over the bridge, where the river was flowing freely and then back up and through North Wood, where the morning’s warmth had brought out the delicate smell of the Cypress trees that made a large section of the wood. Back at Shinner’s Bridge Eric and Irene were thanked, with some of the group going to the Venus Café for lunch. A perfect way to spend a Friday morning, - exercise, scenery, nature and good company.