LEYLAND

 WORDEN WANDER 3 Miles

Wanderers :- Martin and John W

With Lockdown still with us and  local 2 by 2  still the rule Martin and John W  decided on a walk round Worden Park.

With the world and his friends all using parks for exercise  and dog walking the car park was completely full with others queuing to get in. John was fortunate to spot someone leaving and got into the space before anyone else did. Martin, arriving later, was not so lucky and ended up double parked with Martin's car pushed close up behind John's.

Once parked up we set off to follow the edge of the park towards the rather imposing main gates into it.

We continued around the edge of the park till we came to this rather neat, modern toilet block. Martin's "Magic" key allowed us to use these facilities.

From here the path took us the short distance to the children's play area which was busy with mums and children enjoying the bright if somewhat cool sunshine.

Over to one side as we walked round the outside of the play area was either an imaginatively designed bike rack or the line up for the "Grand Penny Farthing National".

Shortly thereafter we left the park to walk along a rather delectable suburban road.

"Oh Dear ! Martin has found someone to talk football with him".

I might have to collect him on the way back !!!!

We didn't stay long on this road and soon ventured back into the park at least onto a narrow footpath on it's woodland edge.

Again it wasn't long before the woodland gave way to the grassland of the park itself. Very wet grassland. Even the seagulls had to find a dry perch.

We turned away from the football pitches and headed for the  cafe set amongst the art and craft buildings. However as there was a long queue and a chilly, drafty wind was blowing we walked past to find some sheltered seating to use our flasks instead.

The above photo. was taken by a young man dressed entirely in pink which I, in my outdated "fashion" sense,  thought was very brave of him. He was also playing chess with the young lady who was accompanying him. Was it not rather cold for "Al Fresco" chess ?  Dunno..... The Russians play it in Siberia. so why not Leyland ?

Cups of coffee and a shared chocolate bar later and off we went to find the maze.

On the way we came across this Cedar of Lebanon which was planted in 1877 and was forced by large oaks,  growing nearby,  to grow sideways.  Fancy that "Arboreal Bullies". Fifty yards away was the maze but sadly it was closed. Another casualty of this D****d corona virus.

So on we went looking for the path down to the stream in the wood. The ground was sodden. So much so that Martin dug in his rucksack for his "Poles" to help him keep his balance in the quagmire.

Me and my shadow.... interpret that as you wish !

The path now sloped steeply down to the brook which, were it not a mucky brown colour, would have been vey pretty.

John by a Tree !

Martin on a Bridge !     

Two statements of the bleedin' obvious.

The terrain either side of the path continued to be unremittingly wet.

Perhaps this was a dry spot where a gentlemen had a tree trunk carved into a seat as a memorial. This was the spot where he used to sit and ponder a while.

"What is this life if full of care

We have no time to stand and stare

No time to stand beneath the boughs

and stare long as sheep or cows."

"LEiSURE"  by W H DAVIES

The path continued to follow the stream which was interrupted at intervals by small but picturesque waterfalls.

Redundancy is never a good thing even if you happen to be a "Kissing Gate".

This particular section of Worden Park is known as the "Italian Walk". We were not quite sure why but perhaps this somewhat isolated arch is a "Roman arch" . My architectural knowledge is insufficient to be sure.

Being guided by advice from John's daughter that the steps at the end of the path were difficult, for us old fellas,

we left the path at this point to walk up a gently sloping path back into the main area of the park.

Here we stopped briefly to sit in the sun and finish our flasks.

As we sat in the sun John discovered that he had acquired some stowaways. Clinging seed pods from the woodland plants.

Where to now?

Well , back to the cars. But not before passing Worden Parks famous miniature railway.

This very popular railway is run entirely by amateur railway enthusiasts and is open for rides each Sunday, Tuesday and Bank Holidays. The rides are free but donations are happily given and accepted from passengers, one of whom has been me,  accompanied by grandchildren.

And so back to the cars passing as we went a handsome reminder of our own mortality.

THE END

(Oooh !  I hope not)

JW

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