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| AKA the day we saw the remains of a MASSIVE tree |
I have been moaning to David about how we never go anywhere
anymore for walks, so we had an impromptu day trip to Ludlow! We chose Ludlow
as I have a Wildlife Trust app on my phone where you can look for nature
reserves. We enjoy walking on Highgate Common, so I chose Whitcliffe Common for
a walk. I also wanted to explore a trail I know about in Ludlow, the geology trail (obviously!).
So off we went. It was pouring with rain as we left
Wolverhampton but it stopped and cleared up the further away we got, so most of the drive was sunny and
glorious. We managed to find a spot in the short stay car park in the centre of
Ludlow, had a quick look around the market (Teacakes! Cheeses! Whittled
objects! Vinyl!) and then settled into a pub for lunch. I had soup, fresh from
the pot (it wasn’t ready when we ordered it, but it was lush when it arrived).
We went and had a quick look at the castle and then we drove to the other side
of the river to visit the common.
There is a geology trail but I didn’t see much that really
explained about the bone bed or its significance. Each bench has a cement
fossil animal next to it, but I think more interpretation signs along the walk
and base of the cliffs would be a great addition here. David has canoed this
river before so he was showing me the weir and how you’d go over it to avoid
being sucked into the pool at the bottom.
We did a loop around the common (it is TINY) and then on the
way back to the car, David found a hidden quarry! So of course I had to go for
a mooch. We found lots of brachiopod and bivalve fossils in varying states of
preservation, and then in a pile of rocks that had been used as a fire pit I found
a mega nice rectangular bit of rock – with preserved ripple marks! So I now own
a piece of Silurian ripple marked seafloor.
Usually when we visit places of geological interest I come
away with pockets full of rocks, but I am trying to not do this anymore. I have
a lot of fossil brachios and bivalves so really don’t need anymore, and this
site is a SSSI, so hammering is not allowed and generally you can pick things
up from scree to collect. I limited myself to one sample instead of
pocket-loads and I am happy with that.
To celebrate a near-perfect Saturday (a lazy start, crochet,
three chocolate biscuits with my tea, a sunny walk, geology, beer at lunchtime,
spending time with David…), we then went to a gig on the evening, to see The Lancashire Hotpots. I for one had a great time!
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| We drove home over Clee |
