A Hidden Patch of Wilderness

We are back down in the West Country - living in the van - spending the working week in the city of Bath, parked up at the University. Whilst Bath is undoubtedly a beautiful city, fantastic limestone architecture etc, I’m not one for wandering around shops to often and the museums are something to do on a rainy day but not everyday. I’m really missing the wildness of the Scottish Highlands that surround our home, there I can't help being out in nature but down here I need to seek it out - everywhere just seems so crowded and busy - how quickly I have become a country mouse!

However, I have found a hidden gem - running alongside one of the university car parks is a wide strip of land that has been left to nature. A few dog walkers route-march around the edge each day but not many others and I can wander freely, through the various copse of birch and beech tree. Raven and jackdaw circle the air above the trees and a inquisitive robin accompanied me for most of my walk - sing to me when I stopped and flying on ahead of me when I'm on the move -next time I shall have to bring him some nibbles

Low management of the woodland has allowed fungi, lichen and mosses to grow on the fallen, rotting branches giving an abundance of species for me to investigate. I never seem to get far on my walk before feeling compelled to lift the camera!

I know I'm going to spend a lot of time walking around this area whilst I'm here in Bath.

If interested this walk is at Claverton Down just above the American museum. There is a signposted route just off the road. (what3words ///blast.path.areas)