This walk was organised by the Friends of Troopers’ Hill and South Bristol Riverscapes and explored some of the wonderful sites in our part of the Avon Valley, from Troopers’ Hill, through St Anne’s Woods, Nightingale Valley and Eastwood Farm. Who would believe that this verdant gem lies behind the roar of the Wick Road traffic? I understand kingfishers are regularly seen here (a flash of blue) but it’s several decades since I’ve seen one myself. The spraint of otters has also been found http://www.ottersite.btinternet.co.uk/spraints.htm showing they come upstream though have not yet settled here.  I only did the bit between the Somerfield Car Park and Allison Road. These are some of my photographs.

The archaeologist believed that it was possible that the stones in the stream below the pack horse bridge could have been part of an earlier pilgrims’ crossing.

The pack horse bridge – with signs of at least two historic “builds”.

The London Plane Tree, the inside strengthened by stones by the Friends after local yobs set fire to the inside. The tree, over 200 years old, perhaps the oldest in Brislington, is in “no man’s land” and therefore beyond the jurisdiction of “Elf and Safety” so that kids can swing on ropes, Tarzan-like, across the stream, just as they have always done – including my three, thirty years ago.

The inevitable supermarket trolley. What fun to push it into the stream. Ha Ha Ha. These same idiots also probably let their dogs poo on the pavement. Or they may be the neat and tidy sort who pick up their dogs’ poo in a plastic bag, neatly tie a knot in it and then throw it down in the countryside, thus leaving a memorial of their visit, lasting, give or take, a thousand years. (I am the person with a walking stick who goes behind you and removes the offensive object. You know who you are.)  And whilst I’m on the subject, what about those cultural vandals who arbitrarily change historical names?  – Arno’s Manor for Arno’s Court, Long Fox Manor for Brislington House, The Thunderbolt for The Turnpike, The Dovecote Inn for The Smythe Arms.  Bring Back the Stocks.

I have joined the Brislington Community Archaeology project http://www.brislingtonarchaeology.org.uk/ and am particularly looking forward to knowing more about the Pilgrims’ Way  and St Anne’s Well.