Thread by @jimbfc

Here is a #thread 🧵about me seeking out a little river near where I live in berkshire and what happens when you close down access to people seeking a connection to nature and place @Right_2Roam @jm0ses @Buteblackbird @nicolawriting @nickhayesillus1 @Anna_Dillon @avlawson

This is the River Lambourn which sits nestled in the wonderful North Wessex Downs AONB, and it is indeed wonderful - a gorgeous clear chalk stream which flows from Lambourn in the downs to meet the River Kennet just near Newbury...it's known as the valley of the racehorse 🐎

I have become quite obsessed with the flow of water to the Thames recently and the Kennet + it's tributaries are amazing....the peace and tranquility combined with the attachment to the history is great (oh, and the pubs - this one in Great Shefford was The Swan I think?)

So, I set off this afternoon for a little dander aiming to take in the scenery and watch the stream do its own dandering.....after a walk through some fields I hit the first hamlet, I could sense the river but not see it until I ended up bridging the river....crystal clear!

A walk through a SSSI took me away from the stream and past a new development of houses...again the stream just out of view and only visible from the road...there were gates onto the riverbank but all were firmly closed 🔒 and signs stating private property 😣

I then followed my OS map into Elton Farm (not that one!) and a re-development of barns/sheds/kennels with newly tarmac'd drives held sway...I spent a rather confusing 5 minutes trying to assess the footpath but the signs stopped abruptly so had to find my own way onward

I found the footpath eventually on my return and the path went right through someone's front garden 🤷🏼‍♀️

Think @WestBerkshire may have to look into this a bit more as the OS/new development made me look a right tit!

Check out the cool barn on stilts

I was higher up the valley now but the views were superb....I think I had only seen the river three times by this point which was weird for an anticipated river walk

In the nxt field a mark on the OS referenced a Moat and my other map showed a church in the middle of a field

visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-l…

A church from pre-Norman times, too good to miss....would mean straying from the footpath to take a closer look....which I did

Didn't fancy getting further into trouble so veered back to the path (but I did get a short view of the river, bonus!)

Got into Great Shefford which is a lovely downland village for a quick drink in the pub and then turned back...the river and it's streams at least visible in the village

The same views saw me back towards my start point (I counted at least 10 private keep out signs, and v limited views of the stream) and dear reader, this is where I fear I may have tresspassed...I could see a load of footpaths on the other side of a gate and so I went for it

There in front of me was the perfect views of the River Lambourn...from reeds, ducks, weeping willow...the quintessential river Lambourn that I hoped to be able to sit next to with a blade of grass in my mouth, taking some time to laze + ponder, maybe even paddle in the sunshine

But alas, the right to roam does not exist across England so I followed my way through the excellent footpaths to my exit and the car feeling invigorated and refreshed to have walked along a stretch of the river which captured an essence of an English lowland chalk stream

The place is so quintessential in fact, that it hosts the #GBBO every year (looked like they were filming but stayed away!) - Welford Park...a beautiful place and pleasure to have crossed its outer limits to get to my car

That's an armoured boot on the top of the gate btw

That a lovely afternoon seeking relaxation by a river was almost denied me and I had to break an ancient law to access the space is astounding - as was the amount of "private-keep out" signs/locked gates in a 7 mile round trip. I only saw 5 or 6 glimpses of this beautiful (cont)

river from public footpaths and that makes me sad about the amount of countryside which *could* be enjoyed responsibly, is out of reach to 99% of the population

Thx for reading 👣👣👣

#righttoroam