Out and about with Ron Freethy

RECENTLY I enjoyed a footpath following the River Ribble and I followed this up by exploring the River Calder.

This was once one of the most polluted rivers in the world but, following the closure of many coal mines and textile mills and factories, the Calder has recovered.

The river is seen at its best in the Whalley area, which is easily reached from Bolton via the M65 motorway. There is 'pay and display' parking in the village itself but those of us who love the Living World should follow the free car parking area at Spring Wood.

This has a toilet block, an information area and an easy to follow circular nature trail. The weather was excellent but there was a distinctly Autumn feeling to the woodland walk. There were lots of fungi in evidence including stinkhorn, orange spot, candle snuff and some fly agaric among a patch of birch trees. In an open space, there were lots of dandelion seeds or 'clocks', their seed heads looking very attractive indeed.

From Spring Wood there is a quiet footpath leading beneath the road and down into the old village of Whalley. Not only is there lots of wonderful natural history on offer, but, along with a fabulous Norman parish church, are the ruins of a 14th century Cistercian Abbey and a cornmill on the site of the abbey mill.

I stood for a while on the bridge overlooking the River Calder. Looking downstream I could see the red brick Victorian viaduct which still carries the railway between Blackburn and Clitheroe. As I looked towards the viaduct, I watched a kingfisher sparkle its way under the bridge and head off towards the weir on the opposite of the bridge.

Close by the Abbey Cornmill the footpath slices between a set of allotments. Here I found lots of thistles in the dividing hedgerow and this attracted lots and lots of butterflies including red admiral, painted lady, peacock and large whites. There was a constant buzz of bumble bees and the first humming bird hawkmoth I have seen in Lancashire.

Dusk was falling as I returned to the Spring Wood and the air seemed alive with midges which attracted pipistrelle and long eared bats. As Summer gives way to Autumn, there is one important lesson to be learned -- do not miss a single minute of available daylight.