WHITLEY WI

A Picture is worth a thousand words

This Picture tells it all….

Escaping from our bubbles, happy walking group members commenced our walk to the Daresbury Firs, initially crossing the busy dual carriageway of the A56.  The route was full of wild flowers and such a pleasant walk through the trees so tranquil, all the better for the feeling of freedom. We steadily made our way down carefully negotiating a few of the tree roots till we came to a gate, which led us into a field of more wild flowers with a field of yellow which looked similar to butterweed. In the distance we could see a narrow boat trundling along the canal. Overhead in the distance we saw a circling raptor.

Reaching the canal, we slowly made our way along the tow path meeting several fellow walkers, cyclists and a couple of fishermen hoping for a catch. There was a family of ducks socially distancing enjoying a swim in the canal with a heron keeping an eye on them from the other side.  

Passing a few horses on the other side of the hedge which were also socially distancing, one horse in each field, we headed up Hobbs Lane to have our last photo taken on the Millennium Seat presented by Moore and Daresbury WI, which provided us with a welcome rest. From the top of Hobbs Lane we walked back along the pathway of the A56, returning to Daresbury Village.  Four of us had a meal in the beer garden in the Ring of Bells to finish our chat for the day. We all thoroughly enjoyed our first outing since March and looking forward to the next.  The weather was marvellous no rain at all.

THANK YOU ANN…. great to be back in business.

Four seeds in a hole, an old countryside saying! “One for the mouse, One for the crow, One to rot, and one to grow”

Occasionally we are allowed out…not in huge numbers but in small distancing groups.

How lovely for a few of us to visit the Antrobus Community Kitchen Garden…a project set up in 2011, on a secret location in Reed Lane Antrobus, which is run by a small number of very dedicated volunteers.

This year’s seeds had to be sown in isolation on window ledges and kitchen tables… they eventually got to their planting positions, and are growing to perfection. It’s amazing how plants like the rain more than humans!

Visiting this garden proved to be a real treat, especially the scrumping of raspberries and tayberries.  Have you ever seen a red cauliflower or walking onions? Peas, broad and runner beans, lettuce, tomatoes butternut squash, courgettes, flower- arrangers artichokes, along with strawberries and numerous other fruits, and vegetables, all asking to be picked, cooked and eaten.

OH….and what can we make with these juicy green grapes?

Thank you to Jackie for giving us her time and sharing her enthusiasm for one of her super hobbies.

Raised beds, are now on my list of “must do jobs” for my husband, he wont let me out of lock down again.

A last craft meeting, before shutdowns, was enjoyed by just a few Whitley WI members, spaced out to avoid contact, but near enough to enjoy each other’s company and learn a new skill.
We are so lucky to have very talented members and expert member Jackie showed us the gentle art of needle felting. Using naturally dyed wool and a felting needle, a variety of mushrooms grew as if by magic. Magic Mushrooms!!
We learnt a lot about the nature of wool and how its fibres can be brought together by agitation using a specially barbed felting needle. Fascinating!

Thank you Jackie,

a new craft we can now enjoy in isolation if need be.

If you were signed up for the walk in the Peak District walk on the 7th April it has been cancelled.

Nine keen walkers on a cloudy day with rain in the air started out from Millersdale Grove Runcorn. The plan was to follow hard paths, so avoiding the muddy fields and canal towpaths.
The walk took us along paths through the Beechwood West Estate, upto the enclosed wood that in a few week’s time would be smelling of wild garlic. We headed down to the main road passing clumps of spring flowers such as crocus and daffodils. On reaching the road we crossed the road and turned left making our way up the path at the back of Hillview School and onto the main road again to Wood Lane passing The Holiday Inn turning left at the junction.
We could see the old railway station which was Runcorn’s in 1851. It was renamed Runcorn Road 1861 then in 1869 was renamed Halton Station. The station closed in 1952 . Carrying on we passed a small garden nursery turning left at A56 towards Sutton Weaver. Making our way along Chester Road turning left down Station Road under the bridge turning left onto the path alongside the Southern Expressway towards Beechwood. Crossing the road at the traffic lights to go along the leafy path alongside the train line to London. The hedges are just starting to come into leaf and as our photo shows the blossoms are also on the trees meaning Spring is on its way.
We wended our way back up and over the bridge towards the Community Centre where we had a lovely lunch and put the world to rights.

A great walk, thanks to Ann for all your research and local knowledge.