Comments for Pete's Walks http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk Read about my latest activities and any changes to the "Pete's Walks" web site Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:41:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 Comment on Totternhoe nature walk by pete http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2009/06/14/totternhoe-nature-walk/#comment-4258 pete Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:59:21 +0000 http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2009/06/14/totternhoe-nature-walk/#comment-4258 The Man Orchid I saw wasn't actually on the reserves, but along the track from near the car park that passes the quarry reserve, further on towards the cement works (or whatever it is). They are quite hard to spot (I missed it the first time I searched that section), so possibly there are more (as there were last year) but I missed them. There were several Bee Orchids at College Lake, so I don't think it's a bad year for them. There was a discussion about Bee Orchids on the WildAboutBritain site (see: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildflowers-plants-and-tree-forums/53727-bee-orchids-2.html ) - I think the conclusion is it's a bad year for Bee Orchids in some places but not others. I certainly agree other orchids seem to be doing well, masses of Pyramidal and Common Spotted Orchids at College Lake and along the quarry path here in Kensworth. The Man Orchid I saw wasn’t actually on the reserves, but along the track from near the car park that passes the quarry reserve, further on towards the cement works (or whatever it is). They are quite hard to spot (I missed it the first time I searched that section), so possibly there are more (as there were last year) but I missed them.

There were several Bee Orchids at College Lake, so I don’t think it’s a bad year for them. There was a discussion about Bee Orchids on the WildAboutBritain site (see: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildflowers-plants-and-tree-forums/53727-bee-orchids-2.html ) - I think the conclusion is it’s a bad year for Bee Orchids in some places but not others.

I certainly agree other orchids seem to be doing well, masses of Pyramidal and Common Spotted Orchids at College Lake and along the quarry path here in Kensworth.

]]> Comment on Totternhoe nature walk by Hilary http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2009/06/14/totternhoe-nature-walk/#comment-4185 Hilary Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:51:29 +0000 http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2009/06/14/totternhoe-nature-walk/#comment-4185 We saw man orchids at Totternhoe 20 years ago and two visits this year have yielded nothing - not even a bud or seedhead. We have never seen bee there. Is this year unusually poor? Odd as other orchids seem to be doing remarkably well. We saw man orchids at Totternhoe 20 years ago and two visits this year have yielded nothing - not even a bud or seedhead. We have never seen bee there. Is this year unusually poor? Odd as other orchids seem to be doing remarkably well.

]]> Comment on Woburn to Ampthill and back by pete http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2009/04/04/woburn-to-ampthill-and-back/#comment-1605 pete Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:40:19 +0000 http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2009/04/04/woburn-to-ampthill-and-back/#comment-1605 Hi Dennis, I don't walk in the Ampthill area too often, but I'll send you an email next time I'm thinking of going that way. Good luck with your challenge walks! I haven't walked 26 miles in a day since I was about 19 or 20 (30 years ago!). I found the 20 miles from Woburn to Ampthill and back not too bad, but when I did a similar distance from my home to Toddington and back I found it a bit of a struggle. I'm happier walking about 15 miles. I understand the challenge of walking long distances, but I think I'm more interested in the pleasure of walking than the challenge - I like to have plenty of time to take photographs, look at the wildlife, etc. Good luck with your walking, Pete Hi Dennis,

I don’t walk in the Ampthill area too often, but I’ll send you an email next time I’m thinking of going that way.

Good luck with your challenge walks! I haven’t walked 26 miles in a day since I was about 19 or 20 (30 years ago!). I found the 20 miles from Woburn to Ampthill and back not too bad, but when I did a similar distance from my home to Toddington and back I found it a bit of a struggle. I’m happier walking about 15 miles.

I understand the challenge of walking long distances, but I think I’m more interested in the pleasure of walking than the challenge - I like to have plenty of time to take photographs, look at the wildlife, etc.

Good luck with your walking,

Pete

]]> Comment on Woburn to Ampthill and back by Dennis http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2009/04/04/woburn-to-ampthill-and-back/#comment-1589 Dennis Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:24:01 +0000 http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2009/04/04/woburn-to-ampthill-and-back/#comment-1589 Pete I am based in Ampthill and a fairly keen walker. whenever your about Ampthill way give me a shout - maybe do a few miles together. I am trying to focus on longer distance walking - doing a LDWA challenge this weekend, 26 mile Avebury to Stonehenge the weekend after (Never walked that distance before) and 16 miles in the clun valley challenge on 16 May Happy days Dennis Pete

I am based in Ampthill and a fairly keen walker. whenever your about Ampthill way give me a shout - maybe do a few miles together.

I am trying to focus on longer distance walking - doing a LDWA challenge this weekend, 26 mile Avebury to Stonehenge the weekend after (Never walked that distance before) and 16 miles in the clun valley challenge on 16 May

Happy days

Dennis

]]> Comment on Fowlmere by pete http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2008/11/20/fowlmere/#comment-1219 pete Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:42:20 +0000 http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2008/11/20/fowlmere/#comment-1219 Thanks for that Geoff. I wasn't aware of it, but I've just registered with the site and added a few sightings to it. Thanks for that Geoff. I wasn’t aware of it, but I’ve just registered with the site and added a few sightings to it.

]]> Comment on Fowlmere by Geoff http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2008/11/20/fowlmere/#comment-1204 Geoff Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:22:52 +0000 http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2008/11/20/fowlmere/#comment-1204 Not sure if you are aware of this site http://www.birdpost.com/ Not sure if you are aware of this site http://www.birdpost.com/

]]> Comment on Milton Keynes Boundary Walk - Day 2 by pete http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2007/07/19/milton-keynes-boundary-walk-day-2/#comment-116 pete Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:03:00 +0000 http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2007/07/19/milton-keynes-boundary-walk-day-2/#comment-116 Thamks for your comment Virginia S. I'm glad to say the wildflowers are now starting to appear again, it makes such a difference to my walks to see a splash of colour beside the path. Lesser Celandine, Violets, Bluebells, Wood Anemone and now Greater Stitchwort are all appearing. Thamks for your comment Virginia S.

I’m glad to say the wildflowers are now starting to appear again, it makes such a difference to my walks to see a splash of colour beside the path. Lesser Celandine, Violets, Bluebells, Wood Anemone and now Greater Stitchwort are all appearing.

]]> Comment on Milton Keynes Boundary Walk - Day 2 by Virginia S. http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2007/07/19/milton-keynes-boundary-walk-day-2/#comment-115 Virginia S. Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:31:46 +0000 http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2007/07/19/milton-keynes-boundary-walk-day-2/#comment-115 The definition of "weed" is very loose, so there's no sharp line between what is and what is not a weed. Anything that grows when/where you don't want it to is a weed, and since borage is hardy and self-propagating, it grows wild. So, some people consider it a weed, and other people willingly cultivate it. Just like heartsease/"johnny jump ups," which my mother calls a weed and pulls up by the roots, while my grandmother plants it in her garden. The definition of “weed” is very loose, so there’s no sharp line between what is and what is not a weed. Anything that grows when/where you don’t want it to is a weed, and since borage is hardy and self-propagating, it grows wild. So, some people consider it a weed, and other people willingly cultivate it.

Just like heartsease/”johnny jump ups,” which my mother calls a weed and pulls up by the roots, while my grandmother plants it in her garden.

]]> Comment on Coombe Hill, Whiteleaf Hill and the Hampdens (again!) by pete http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2007/11/30/coombe-hill-whiteleaf-hill-and-the-hampdens-again/#comment-28 pete Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:00:52 +0000 http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2007/11/30/coombe-hill-whiteleaf-hill-and-the-hampdens-again/#comment-28 Thanks Tim, it was a good walk. As I said, I do think where we went is one of the best parts of the Chiltern Hills. Hopefully we can do another walk together in the New Year. Thanks Tim, it was a good walk. As I said, I do think where we went is one of the best parts of the Chiltern Hills.

Hopefully we can do another walk together in the New Year.

]]> Comment on Coombe Hill, Whiteleaf Hill and the Hampdens (again!) by Tim B http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2007/11/30/coombe-hill-whiteleaf-hill-and-the-hampdens-again/#comment-27 Tim B Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:56:32 +0000 http://s201849020.websitehome.co.uk/2007/11/30/coombe-hill-whiteleaf-hill-and-the-hampdens-again/#comment-27 Hi Pete, This really was a nice walk thorugh a very pleasant part of the countryside, one I would definitely recomend to anyone. It was great to read about the walk whilst being once again stuck in the office. I can almost smell the earthy scents of the beechwoods! Tim Hi Pete,
This really was a nice walk thorugh a very pleasant part of the countryside, one I would definitely recomend to anyone.

It was great to read about the walk whilst being once again stuck in the office. I can almost smell the earthy scents of the beechwoods!
Tim

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