11 walkers departed Strode car park at 9.45, the leaders being almost late (embarrassingly !). And to Blackmoor Nature Reserve at Charterhouse on Mendip.

We were lucky to have a bright and breezy day for our 3 mile loop around the area which took in “habitats of marsh, open water, limestone heath, rough grassland and old lead mine workings”.

In addition we passed through some beautiful woodland, garlanded with ragged robin and tribes of black slugs, and thereafter along the beech drive and on into open countryside.

Our naturalists were rewarded with sightings of moths and other tiny beasties and the crowning glory, a red kite soaring on the wind above us for the final leg of our walk.

It was a varied and lovely expedition, passed in good company, and then for a pub lunch at The Langford Inn.
    
Report by Veronica
Photos by Jeff Eastmond and Ross Janes