Ufford Walks 2008 Southey Woods Walk.P65
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LOCAL INTEREST insects, as well as amphibians in the wetland. Bush! The shepherd‘s sacred shade”. He wrote Southey Woods are now managed by the in his Journal in 1824 that the hundred year old The Drift Forestry Commission as a source of timber. hawthorn tree had been cut down by vandals. This was once a green lane used for driving they are a popular destination for family walkers, livestock between the common grazing land dog owners, cyclists and horse riders. Tree King Street & “protected” road side verges north of Southey Woods and the water meadows felling may seem destructive but it opens up the The straight section of Langley Bush Road is part in the Welland Valley. A clue to its antiquity is woodland rides and the small annual plants soon of the Roman Road, now known as King Street, the great variety of tree, shrub and climbing recover. which went north from the Roman town species in the hedges and the bluebells beside John Clare used to walk through these woods on (Durobrivae) near Water Newton to Lincoln. the track. his botanical rambles. In December 1824 he The verges on Langley Bush Road and Marholm The field on the left was once called High Field, Black Bryony & Old Man’s Beard was there hunting for ferns. He saw a branch of Road are designated as County Wildlife Sites one of Ufford‘s 3 large open fields. It extended blackthorn, dog rose and elder in full leaf in one because of the variety of limestone tolerant as far as King Street, the parish boundary. For The next field on the right was named on old hedge row as well as a bum-barrel (long tailed tit) plants which grow there. Look out for example centuries the village people cultivated crops in maps as “The Shrubbes” and used for communal with moss as if building a nest. for cowslip, bird‘s foot trefoil, lady‘s bedstraw, long strips, for themselves, the lord of the manor village grazing before the enclosure of the open field scabious, rest harrow, knapweed, and the parson. Even “the queane” (Queen fields. Langley or Langdyke Bush broomrape, salad burnet, bladder campion. The Elizabeth I) owned strips in Ufford‘s open fields. All that is visible now is a circular mound of verges act as corridors for seed dispersal and They formed part of the flat, mainly limestone Southey Woods unploughed land. Growing on it is a hawthorn many kinds of wildlife. Except at road junctions, country, known locally as “heath”, extending from They were once part of the Royal Forest of bush, planted by the John Clare Society in 1996. only a one metre wide visibility strip is cut in Helpston to Wittering. summer. In early autumn, the whole verge is cut. Rockingham and, in the lord of the manor of Situated at the junction of the parishes of Ufford, The field on the right was once part of Church Ufford‘s land inventory of 1566, they were called Upton, Ailsworth and Helpston, this was a pagan The wide verges on High Field Road are also Field. Lambpits Spinney on the right was shown Southehawe . Parts are described as “ancient religious site. For centuries it was the open air “protected” and are ablaze with wild flowers in in the Enclosure Map of 1799 and may take its woodland” because the land has never been court of the Langdyke Hundred, which met twice summer. name from a sheep pen. cultivated, but over the years it has been cleared a year to judge serious crimes. It was attended and re-planted many times. The largest trees by parish representatives and presided over by are oak, beech and pines and there is an under the Abbot of Peterborough. It was the site of the storey of hazel, birch, blackthorn, elder, gibbet until the early 1700s. About this time the dogwood, guelder rose and wild privet. There are court moved to the Exeter Arms at Helpston. also some surprises such as the large wild cherry trees, maples and hickory. In a recent year, over 50 kinds of wild flowers were identified in the woods, including less common flowers such as early purple orchids and fritillary. Wildlife is abundant but may remain in hiding on Millennium Trees & Ufford Church summer afternoons. Mammals – fallow deer, Oak & Ash by Old Stone Pit muntjack, fox, grey squirrel, rabbit, 3 bat species, The next group of trees on the right, including a shrews and voles. Birds – One of a series of circular walks issued by large oak and ash, have grown over an old stone spotted woodpecker, green parish councils in Barnack Ward pit. Limestone is classed as a permeable rock, woodpecker, goldcrest, Hawthorn on Grassy Mound John Clare logo by Roe Yates meaning that rainwater seeps down through wren, tawny owl, crossbill, cracks and joints. It appears that this may be a several birds of prey It was the destination of many of John Clare‘s Printed by Chadwick Associates swallow hole, which acts like a colander. After including red kite, and all favourite walks and he used to meet the gypsies 01780 740893 heavy rain water can be seen running into the pit the common birds; also there. He immortalised the old hawthorn which Supported by: but never forms a pond. many butterflies and other Fritillary grew there in one of his poems, “O Langley Peterborough City Council SOUTHEY WOODS AND LANGLEY BUSH shown on the 3b For the longer walk, continue walking on the Start and finish: Ufford, about 5½ miles from photo, and on main track through Southey Wood, noticing the Stamford and 10 miles from Peterborough. the map. This various types of trees and woodland continues round management. Before the gate at the entrance Parking: Ufford - roadside in Main Street, by a bend to the there are tall Corsican pines and some majestic church gate or in Hillside Close; or roadside near right to a oaks. Southey Wood entrance in Langley Bush Road, gateway at the as the car park is closed at present. northern edge Refreshments: White Hart, Ufford, 01780 of the wood. 740250. Keep left on the Distance: 4-5¼ miles, depending on route. narrow path Trail through tree archway between two OS maps: 234 and 235 Explorer, 1:25,000. overgrown hedges on to the road between Warning: strong shoes or boots are Marholm and Ufford. Walk right for a few yards recommended in wet weather. and then turn left into High Field Road. John Clare Country THE WALK To Bainton Southey Woods & Langley Bush 1 Start walking through the To Ashton village in the Peterborough 5 Bluebells & Wood Anemones direction. The map on the The Turn left on Langley Bush Road. Just before the Millennium Stone at the top 6 Jubilee road bends to the left, Langley Bush, a single of the hill shows the main High Field Road hawthorn on a grassy mound, can be seen on points of interest. The Ufford P the right through the gate and fence. footway ends at Hillside Close but it is only a 400 White 3c Either continue down King Street to the Hart crossroads, and then turn left on Marholm Road yard road walk to the track Marholm Road on the right. P and walk a short distance to High Field Road, or... 2 The track, known locally 1 2 P Retrace your steps back to Southey Wood, as “the drift” leads into 4 3d Southey Woods. Turn left at Lambpits go round the gate and this time follow the path the crossroads and walk Spinney through the forty year old beech plantation. This round the barrier which is leads on to the main track. Follow this round the there to exclude left hand bend as far as the trail on the right. mechanically propelled Continue as described in 3a. vehicles. Clay soils result in 3a 4 Then turn down High Field Road, a narrow lane standing water in ditches To between wide verges, for about ¾ mile. There and clumps of reeds. There Peterborough are good views over the wide Welland valley. King Street are some gorse bushes 3b Langley Turn left on the footpath beside the wood, planted which grow in acid, often Bush to commemorate Queen Victoria‘s jubilee in Southey Wood Road sandy soils. Notice how the 1893. 3d ages and types of plants 3c 5 Follow the path to Ufford, which crosses what 0 0.5 Southey Woods change as you continue was once one of Ufford‘s 3 large, open fields, along the main track. called Clay Field. The row of young trees was Langley Bush 3a For the shorter walk, turn To Upton planted by the farmer for the 2000 millennium. mile P to the left and follow the trail 6 Turn left on to Main Street and continue One in a series of circular walks issued through an archway of trees, through the village. by Parishes in Barnack Ward.