One very hot sunny Saturday morning in July we went on a guided walk at the old USA airbase at Greenham common. We are members of the Berks Bucks and Oxon Wildlife trust and it holds loads of walks and events throughout the year. There were only 4 of us on the walk well 5 if you count the Ranger. We learned a lot about the history of the common before it was an airbase and right up to today. How it is hoped to expand and create even better habitat for wildlife. Some of the airbase has been preserved - the silo's where the cruise missiles were kept. You can see them but cannot visit them yet. The runway here was the longest in Europe and it must have been massive. I am glad that it is back to common land with cattle & ponies grazing on it.
We were out for 3 hours, were introduced to a variety of plant life, butterflies, day flying moths and the highlight a Dartford Warbler. No camera so no photo sorry. Its a shame as it would have been a great picture sitting on top of the gorse singing away. We also had great views of a Stonechat. We were taught how to recognise damsel and dragon flies, four spotted chasers, emperors, large reds and common blues. We saw Grizzled skippers, Marbled Whites a Cinnabar moth, Six Spotted Burnets, Ringlets, Red Admiral and Small Skippers. In the pond we spotted newts (not crested although there are some there.
Other birds were Linnet, Skylark, Woodlark, Red legged partridge and a buzzard circling overhead.
As I said this was a 3 hour walk and all for free, not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning.
We were so close it would have been a shame not to visit the Pot Kiln so we popped in for Venison Burgers and a beer - another perfect day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Greenham_Common
http://www.bbowt.org.uk/
http://www.potkiln.org/
