NEW YEAR’S DAY WALK

Warblington Castle

Once again the St George's Church walkers managed to attract about 20 people, four children and two dogs for a "Hangover Walk" on New Year's Day. In spite of the floods and the rain at Christmas we were lucky enough to have a fine, sunny and springlike morning, with low tide a comfortable distance away.

We met again at the usual starting point, St Faith's Church at Havant at 12.noon, all booted and ready for anything the weather could do. There was plenty of mud down the old railway cutting before we arrived at Langstone Harbour and met the usual constant flow of traffic both ways on the road to and from Hayling Island. After negotiating this hazard we crossed the road safely and found our usual seats facing the sea for lunch. Tony, who earlier had parked his car in this car park, now produced some hot garlic bread, left over from the previous night's party, and proceeded to share it out to walkers, children, dogs and lastly the ducks. Almost the story of the "loaves and fishes", but we had no fish! There we were, sitting in the sun enjoying the warmest New Year's Day I remember.

After lunch we made our way to the Old Mill where the water was lapping at your feet, and a wet path to the beach and here we found dry land even if a bit stony. There had been a lot of work done along this part of the coast to keep the high tides in check and the tamarisk trees seemed to be protected by a wall of cement. These trees must have been indigenous to this part of the coast many years ago as it was amongst the trees here that Henry VIII found it suitable to gather his army along this part of the coast under the shelter that they provided before embarking to fight his wars. It is a very historic part of the coast.

We had a good walk along the shingle, before turning inland towards Warblington Church and Castle. The Church is very old with its graveyard facing the sea, it always reminds me of the convict who was hiding up in such a place before being found by a boy who was the hero in one of Dickens books. The Castle is a ruin now but still full of history, and the house is beautiful and lived in by a family who work hard and look after it well, also its large surrounding garden. It is not open to the public, but a year ago I bought "an offer of a visit" at an "Auction of Promises" and so was taken over the ruins and told about its history over a cup of tea, and then shown round the garden. It was very impressive.

By now we were back on the roads, but before reaching the Church and the Castle, we encountered the very worst mud-laden fields I have ever seen so I have a sad memory of a field that still had its harvest standing gathered ready, and waiting since last autumn to be collected from where no tractor could possible move. It was a sad sight on such a lovely day.

Ruby Bullock