A lovely day to be out, especially after the recent bouts of rain, snow and bone chilling cold. Today we had new leaders to get to grips with or them with us, but no need to worry, the walk was well planned, timing was excellent as was the pace and with just one stile, we were mostly in contact with one another and able to move up and down the column to have a chat with others in the group.

Paul warned us, in his H & C talk before the off, that we faced one stile and a water jump, perhaps leap! We soon found the water obstacle just as we made our way along the southern edge of Mapperley reservoir, it wasn’t particularly deep nor wide, although it may have been when they did the recce’. We cleared the water with ease and then followed the lovely wooded path alongside the reservoir, to reach John Wood and the aforementioned stile. Once over we walked on by a manmade pond with two bird watcher’s shelters, a pleasant place to be in the spring and summer, I would imagine. We then joined and walked Bell Lane, on a slight incline for the next half mile, until reaching Manchester Wood. We now walked through the wonderful, Woodland Trust’s, Young Peoples Forest at Mead, mostly a young plantation, with well-maintained paths and sheltered information points. I remember leading a walk here, back in the day when, young saplings were being planted, after the Coal Board had finished, reinstating the land after ‘open cast surgery’, had finished. One day, it will become a great forest. We nearly circled the plantation and made our way to Shipley Park visitor centre, where we were able to sit in the central courtyard for our morning break, again excellent planning here, toilet and washing facilities freely available.

Now onward through open parkland to pass through Cinderhill Coppice and up Shipley Hill, pausing to see the scant remains of Shipley Hall. We now made our way, down to the southern end of Shipley Lake, noting the new housing on yon side of the water, where the former American Theme Park was once sited. For the last stretch, we continued south, passing by Woodside Farm. We were now bound for Mapperley, but made a slight loop to include Mapperley Pond and Wood, where there is an excellent nature reserve, the birdsong here was much in evidence. We reached the dam end of the reservoir and joined our outward track back into the village, arriving there by twelve forty-five. Some of us had parked in the village, to allow othesr the limited use of the Black Horse pub, kindly offered for our use. It just now remains for Gale and Paul to top this walk in the coming months. It will take some doing! Thank you both.