Belvedere Fields, Hindley Green.
Normally when i'm off over the fields it is to escape from the stress and strain of reality and everyday life so i have never really had a certain route, however my feet do seem to take me in the same general direction everytime. The route marked above is pretty accurate and will be the same route that i will take in the future, more or less.
Point 1.
Here lies the entrance, a small gap in the trees leads down to a small bridge across a flowing stream. In Spring it is possible to observe the male 3-Spined Sticklebacks building their nests on the stream bed. The path to Point 2 is normally very muddy, care is needed not to slip. On both sides lies brambles and scrub, broken up here and their by small hardy trees, perfect for Whitethroats. At the end of the path a raised hill about 12 feet in height stretches from right to left. A stone tunnel passes underneath. This used to be an old railway line, linking the many coal pits that were in the area, this is the north of England after all. However we must turn left here, through a concealed pathway bordered by high thicket.
Point 2.
The narrow path brings you out at the bottom right of a large field. A track, large enough for a car stretches out in front, leading upto a farm. On the right of this path, running parallel is what i call the Gully. Its a ditch, about 2 feet wide, trees on the far side, thistles on the near side. It's covered with green Algae, some vegetation protrudes up every so often providing landing space for Dragonflies and Damselflies. To the left a large muddy hill hides a small pond, which is now stocked with fish for an angling club. Swallows are sometimes found skimming the surface to either take on liquid or to catch some of the surface dwelling insects. The track upto Point 3 has held some surprises in the past, including a family of Mink and a beautiful Roe Deer. A lot of Manure is dumped here by the farm, attracting various bird species, regulars include Crows and Grey Wagtail.
Point 3.
This is the entrance to the farm, the field immediatly in front contains another slightly larger pond that is usually accompanied by a stationary Grey Heron. Pheasant and Grey Partridge lurk behind some of the tufts of grass while Lapwings fly overhead. From here the route turns East, over The Gully and into the adjacent field. A grassy path now runs parallel to the water treatment plant on the left. Many small trees and soft undergrowth make a perfect habitat for thrushes, especially in the winter when the trees are full of berries.
Point 4.
From here the entire unmanned water treatment plant is visible. In the grounds of the facility its not unusual for the Magpie numbers to be well into double figures, a good number of Pied Wagtails also scutlle and bob about the place. Telephone wires cross over this area, always worth a look as Kestrels like to keep a watch from them. From here the path crosses a wide bridge into a small field. A different stream borders the south side. This filed is normally pretty good for small passerines due to the hedgerow that is present on the north and east sides.
Point 5.
The field at point 5 is a farming field, always full with crops. The crops are changed every so often, the prettiest and most beautiful has to be when they are changed to Rapeseed, a sea of yellow as far as the eye can see, due to the field being slightly uphill to the north. Here i normally sit down next to the stream and collect my thoughts and have 5 minutes before turning around and setting off back in the direction i arrived.
Point 6.
The walk past point 6 follows a small stream, as of yet it's one of the most unproductive areas however a pair of Treecreepers made an appearence many moons ago. Older residents told me of how their used to be Water Voles present all along the stream, sadly that does not seem to be the case now, a similar story throughout the UK unfortunatly. The family of Mink that i spotted earlier in the year could possibly be a contributing factor.
Point 7.
Point 7 has thick tree coverage to the south, the stream form point 1 snakes its way through. This area allows great views north across the fields and great cover for birds in the treeline. The path curves round back to the old raised railway line. In Spring and summer the slopes of the hill are covered in pink Foxglove.
Point 8.
To get to point 8 i go past point 2 and then turn west at point 3, check out the Dragonflies again if it's spring or summer, and trudge across the scrub, flushing a few Grey Partridge or hopefully a Snipe or two. Point 8 offers a view of all four surrounding fields, two back south and then 2 farmers fields to the north. The field, in which the final walk back to point 1 is made, is full of small grassy tussocks and various wildflowers attracting a vast array of insects.
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