21/01/13……An invitation to discoveries on your door-step

IMAGINE that on the outskirts of Thame there lies a special land ? a land crossed by many paths that each lead to a new and exciting place. You step onto one of these paths and it takes you down through swishing grasses, alive with crickets and grasshoppers chirping their welcome.

You arrive at a pond where emerald dragonflies and azure damoiselles dance in the sunlight, skimming the water in a dazzling display of aerobatics. Frogs wallow in the mud, keeping cool until sundown when they emerge to romance in the moonlight.

Imagine this path then leads you through beds of reeds and sedges that whisper secrets in the wind. Songbirds nestle safely between their swaying stems and sing out their gratitude in a repertoire of chirps, clicks and warbles. The path leads to a wooden bridge that crosses a meandering stream. A kingfisher darts by – electric blue – hunting for fish and other edible delights. A small crayfish scuttles under a rock in case he?s on the menu, but the kingfisher is already long gone.

You cross the bridge and find yourself in a beautiful meadow, where wild flowers glow pink and yellow amongst the waving grasses. Brightly coloured butterflies flit past like excited fairies and bees hum happily as they fill their sacks with pollen.

Imagine the path leads you along the stream, under weeping willow trees and blossom-filled hedgerows. You reach the entrance to a woodland, dark and mysterious ? should you go in? You decided to enter and discover that it is not such a scary place after all, but a place full of birdsong and playful squirrels, and gently swaying trees.

As you emerge back out into the sunlight the path takes you along the woodland edge, where butterflies bounce across the hedgerow and out onto yet more meadows ? there appears to be no end to this mysterious land.

Imagine if this place really existed! Well, actually it does: It?s called Cuttle Brook local nature reserve; just a few minutes walk from Thame town centre and it?s YOURS!

So please accept this invitation to come and walk its paths, discover its secrets and enjoy a real breath of fresh air. All are welcome, but please ensure that you leave only footprints so that others may enjoy a pleasant visit and the wild life is not disturbed or endangered.

If you would like to get to know this magical land better you are welcome to join a group of dedicated volunteers, who work away at maintaining Cuttle Brook?s magic places and keeping the wild ones happy.

Also, this summer they are building a new bridge over the brook and would welcome any extra helping hands.

For more information contact: Elaine Aldridge via 01844) 292307- Email: leafylaine@yahoo.co.uk

Website: www.cuttlebrook.org.uk
PHOTE: Courtesy of Deborah Porter