South bridle path build continues east. Inert clear path over yellow bridge to north bridle path. 9th September 2023

Today, temperatures are expected to hit 31C around Finchampstead. Weather records broken with 30C temperatures for five consecutive days and counting. It has been very dry and hot this past week.

Inert appear to have sped up on their construction of the south bridle path. It has almost reached where the trench ends, about 50 yards west of the Bailey bridge.

I did find it curious as to why the western side of the south bridle path trench ended, rather than carrying on to join up with the eastern side of the south bridle path. Two thoughts spring to mind.

1) Inert do not want to have the south bridle path cross the track from the Bailey bridge. Too much heavy plant will be crossing between Manor farm and Chandlers farm over the next few months. This would damage any bridle path.

2) The vehicle track from the Bailey bridge to the current end of the south vehicle track is quite suitable as a bridle path. It has been built up over the years with limestone and rubble, which has then been well consolidated by lots of movement of heavy vehicles over it.

Time will tell which is correct.

Inert have also dumped, quite randomly, piles of rather nice soil along the west part of the bridle path. I'm quite intrigued as to what on earth (no pun intended) they will be used for, seeing as this part of the site has been restored for some time.

I could do with roughly 20 tons of topsoil. Bank repairs for ditch at bottom of our garden. I wonder if Inert have any spare, and will they deliver in 4, 6 or 8 ton loads on to double driveway, over several weeks?  :-) :-) :-)

I am concerned with the wetter parts of the site which the south bridle path crosses. I think these wet parts will compromise the integrity of the bridle path, causing it to erode quickly and cause problems for users of the path i.e. who wants to walk across boggy, muddy ground.

Inert have cleared a path from the south bridle path, across the yellow bridge; where it winds its way to where the north embankment and east embankment intersect. The cleared path meets the north bridle path. This would indicate that Inert will use this cleared path to transport materials with which to construct the north bridle path.

There were plans mooted for a path through the middle of Manor farm, and there is one indicated on plans I have. I feel this would be excellent. I find Moor Green Lakes nature reserve too restrictive, as it doesn't have a path along its northern edge or through its middle. The house owner of the huge properties on the north side of Moor Green Lakes get superb views of Colebrook and Grove lakes, but some, we know, care nothing for nature.

Construction of the north bridle path will therefore take ages as there is so far for vehicles to travel; plus we have their working practices e.g. driving over to Chandlers farm to get one roll of weed proof membrane. Sigh, I was looking forward to a lie in on Saturday.

I have mentioned on a few occasions that whilst wildfowl tend to disappear during the day from open bodies of water close to foot and bridle paths, they do tend to be around from evening to morning. Well, case in point, this morning. Bits of open water (e.g. Finch pond, Manor lake next to yellow bridge) were heaving with wild fowl. Some would fly off to feeding grounds, early in the morning. Typically larger birds like ducks and geese and swans. Other smaller birds (plus some big ones) lurk around, mainly hidden from view, which is what they would do normally. Too many predators around.

Manor farm is far more photogenic than Moor Green Lakes. I suspect that Fleet Hill farm would also be fairly photogenic. Sunrise in particular when viewed over Manor farm restoration.

​Sunrise was semi-exciting, this morning. I was hoping for a spectacular sunrise, as we have had Saharan dust and sand blown over the UK. Friday's sunrise was very nice over Wokingham and Bracknell. Shame it obscured any sight of comet Nishimura.