Diane still being unable to lead a walk it was Linda and her three helpers that planned the April walk.

Fifteen walkers met at Orchard Meadows car park on the Southminster by-pass.

It was a lovely sunny day and dry and firm underfoot.  After a short walk alongside the Burnham Road, we turned left onto a footpath.  Fortunately, the fallen tree (from the high winds a month or so ago) had been moved and the path re-routed, so we avoided clambering into a deep ditch!   We wandered alongside a few fields, passing Ratsborough Farm with its fishing lake and caravans, and it didn’t take long to see the outlines of new buildings in Stoney Hills.  Over a narrow “bridge” and along a path, we came to the tarmac road at the top of Stoney Hills. Whilst stopping for cars on the narrow road, we spied a familiar figure ahead – great to see Diane (Caulkett) coming to meet us!   We crossed over the Southminster Road and into Green Lane.  Diane turned right up the lane towards her house, the rest of us carried on to the next footpath.  In hindsight we should have walked Diane’s way, as apparently, she heard a cuckoo on her way home!  We followed our chosen path, passing Mangapps railway line and “Old Heath” station, then cut through – over a rickety stile and along a wide path with grazing horses to Old Heath Road.   A few of us walked along the road and straight to the Rose Inn, but the majority turned up Scarborough Road and picked up the footpath, across a few more fields and back to the by-pass.  10 of us enjoyed the special OAP lunch at the Rose Inn.

Linda