Tandridge - The Barley Mow

Up The Swanney

Tuesday 5 April

Walkers: 2 Legs, Windy, (don't faint) Mrs Provincial, Lil, JaneG4, and Clat. Apologies from everyone else. Farty sends her love, and is concerned that Uncle has got her back on the vodka. We hope to see her and T.B next week.
Distance: about 6 1/4miles
Find of the Walk: A damaged swan
Assemblage was prompt -well done everyone - and we set forth at 1030. Over the road, and straight onto the Greensand Way. The forecast (incorrect once again) meant that the weather was windier, wetter, and greyer than planned - but we soldiered on.
About 20mins into our walk and alongside Leigh Place Ponds, we found a very damaged swan - blood all over its feathers, looking very forlorn, at the top of a steep bank. Trish quickly got her networks in order, and was in touch with the RSPCA and the swan rescue people. Further along, we found a fisheries worker, who said he would look for the swan and show the rescuers where to go.

We re-commenced our walk, and the odd phone call or two kept us on track with subsequent events. Down to the Enterdent - promises of bluebells in the making, and onwards to Godstone Farm. Now fully re-opened after its e-coli problems, so there are notices everywhere telling you to wash your hands. Lots of tiny ponies and donkeys in evidence, and we visited the petting area (oo ooo Matron. Occupants included an ex race
horse, some more tiny ponies, a Gloucester Old Spot called Doris, and a mummy Saddleback with her crop of piglets, noisily glugging at the teat - sweet. We washed our hands and carried on.

The outskirts of Godstone were skirted, and then an upwards travail took us through Garston Park and beyond. At the top of the hill we had our break, and Mrs P whetted our appetites with her marvellous flapjacks, with ginger, and a hint of lime - we are so pleased she is back with us!!!!

Time to head downwards - big drifts of wild garlic here - back on to the GSW and huge areas of bluebells in the bud. This will be spectacular very soon, so we need to revisit this walk. I don't know whether I was talking too much (probably) , not concentrating (very probably), or 'reading' a different walk, but a wrong turn was definitely taken in the ensuing woods. The result of this was that we were heading back towards Leigh Place Ponds - and a good job too.

As we reached the ponds, the swan ambulance had arrived, and its two un-likely occupants emerged with their tackle and a loaf of bread. The fisheries man was going to point them to their patient who was in the pond - completely wrong. We then headed back to the victim (still in situ), and pointed out the error in i.d. The unlikely occupants then impressed us with their calm and professional approach and successful rescue of our bird. Blood very much in evidence, so it was obvious it needed help, and had we not been around, we wonder if the rescuers would have left the scene empty-handed. So, job done then, and we arrived at our start point earlier than planned - no problem, we were hungry.

Although quite empty, our pub staff made us feel very welcome, and gave us table service. They are running a Spend a Penny menu which means the mains are £10 and you can have either a starter or a pud for lp - brilliant. The food was a vast improvement on last week's pub, but one or two comments have to mean lost marks. So here goes: food - 4 (no brown sauce, the rhubarb crumbles were served cold), service - 4, value for money - 4, ambulance 4. Marks of 5 will be given for exceptional standards. 16 for the Barley Mow. A rendition of The Ugly Duckling was then sung, by some of us, while the rest of 'us' hurried the others out of the pub - shame, just as we were getting into full throttle.

It was raining and therefore a good thing we had finished the walk ahead of time. Next week is already sorted - Reigate Hill - we shall meet again xxxxxxx

STOP PRESS: Mrs P has reported that our swan was known to the rescuers as she was ringed. She is called Patsy and had been bitten, they think, by a dog. Had she been left in situ, a fox would certainly have devoured her. So we saved a life today. She is in a sanctuary at Shepperton and doing well.