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Walking Group One 25th April 2024
Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.
Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.
The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay
Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )
The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.
Keep moving.
U3A Botany Group - 28 August 2015
by Beryl Matthews - 08:43 on 02 September 2015
Six members of the Botany Group and one guest had an interesting day exploring three different areas of Sanday.
At the island’s pier the Group was met by Mrs Rosemary Newton who was the driver, for the day, of the bus owned by the Sanday Afternoon Club. Having admired the view from Warsetter (the highest point in Sanday) we visited the area around Boloquoy Mill where we found:Common Mouse-ear, Hogweed, Pineappleweed, Perennial Sow-thistle, Angelica, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Forget-me-not, Silverweed, Bird’s-foot-trefoil, Hawkweed, Selfheal, Meadow Vetchling, Sneezewort, Knapweed, Creeping Thistle, Mint and Yarrow.
By the time we reached Whitemill Bay it was deemed time for a picnic lunch. Seldom could we have enjoyed better scenery as we ate. Then it was time to explore the marshy ground behind the dunes where in addition to many of the species we had seen earlier we foundYellow Rattle, Eyebright, Red Bartsia, Red Campion, Carnation Sedge, Marsh Marigold, Ragged Robin, Marsh Pennywort, the seed head of Northern Marsh Orchid, Bistort, Blue Water-speedwell, Hare’s-tail Cotton Grass, Lady’s Bedstraw and an abundance of Grass-of-parnassus.
As we drove to ‘Roo’, the home of our driver, to see the impressive plantation of around 15,000 trees that she and her husband have developed over the past 10 years or so we saw:
Comfrey, Rosebay, Willow Herb, Woundwort and an unidentified blue flower that caused much discussion.
During a very brief stop at Roos Wick we saw:
Sea Rocket, Scentless Mayweed and Orache but failed to find Oyster Plant.
As the rain came down we headed for the Heritage Centre followed by the Belsair Hotel and finally the boat back to Kirkwall. We had found the majority of the flowers listed in the Sanday Development Trust’s leaflet ‘On linksland and coast ….. Sanday in flower’, explored a few of Sanday’s 87 miles of coast and hoped to return another year to explore more.
THE DAYS BONUSES
Sitting on deck in glorious sunshine for the outward journey.
An accommodating, informative bus driver who took us to interesting and varied habitats.
Several Swifts zipping around the skies.
For one member, having an annual dip in the cool waters of Orkney.
A curious ‘flat’ rainbow.
Splendid tea, coffee and cakes at the Belsair Hotel.
The Group’s next meeting is planned for Tuesday 15th September to explore Russadale. (map reference 539119). More information as to where exactly to meet later.
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