Kitties outdoor adventures

 

Over the past few years, I have visited Lineover Woods several times. 

It is only about a 20-minute drive from home, past the very popular Dunkertons Cider if you're coming through Cheltenham.  

Dunkertons Cider is owned by Julian Dunkerton, who also co-founded the clothing brand Superdry. He took over the cider company from his parents, Ivor and Susie Dunkerton, who established it in 1980 in Herefordshire. Dunkertons Cider is known for its organic approach and use of traditional cider apples and perry pears. 

 

Walking through the woods, there are lots of different paths you can take. 

 

Lineover Wood was first recorded around AD 800 as part of the Dowdeswell Estate, but it is likely to be much older.

Look out for the lime-coppice stool that has stood here for the best part of 1000 years. It’s reached such an impressive age thanks to centuries of coppicing.

In the late 19th century, the site was purchased by Cheltenham Borough Council as part of the catchment area for the Dowdeswell reservoir.

The area of semi-natural ancient woodland seen today was once much larger, but between the 1940s and 1970s, much of the woodland was cleared and replanted with a range of conifers.

Severn Trent Water Authority bought the site in 1974 and sold the wood to us in 1986. In 1990, the Trust acquired a six-hectare (15-acre) addition, and this has been planted to create new native woodland.

 

Is lovely to see so many different flowers and blossom growing in the woodland.

 

There was a lovely variety of flowers out and when you reached the top, there was a lovely wild flower meadow full of so many bees and butterflies.

 

 

At some point, I really should learn more about flora and fauna but I presume these were crab apples.

 

 

I know this was a wild Orchid which is very special to see.

 

If you have seen my post on RSPC Arne you'll know that I really enjoy just for a few minutes using the Merlin app and recording the birds that are around just for a couple of minutes.

 

Isn't it great to see how many are living in the woods.

 

 

For those that know me on an "in person" way as opposed to the cyber world, know that I own a British Short Hair cat.

 

She is predominantly an indoor cat, but from a very young age as a kitten, I trained her to walk using a harness and took her out in her backpack so that she can experience different places.  Partly inspired by 1bike1world although I would be way too nervous to take her on the type of adventures he does!

 

Carrying her in is quite a feat in itself as she weighs the equivalent of about 10 bags of sugar! which in the heat is a good workout. 

 

 

Because she is so used to her harness, when at home and she sees it she comes running to the back door as she knows it's adventure time in the garden.

 

I am very conscious of finding a very quiet spot to let her out for an explore and it is so lovely to just slow down and do things at her pace.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed seeing her adventure and hearing the birdsong while she had a gentle stroll.