Kent County Council assigns “issues” for Countryside Access Wardens. This one was to remove branches from a gate in a footpath at Chartham. Welcomed an easy (i hoped) task as my left foot is recovering from being badly swollen.
Chartham is about five km southwest of Canterbury on the river Stour, the A28 and the railway to Ashford. Name from old English Certham, homestead in rough ground. The issue is next to primary school on Shalmsford St. Once Scamelesford, ford by place of slaughter, butchery. Used to leaflet there for Safeway: the only time i’ve been paid for walking.
This task involved more driving than walking. Wincheap, (A28), left on St Nicholas Rd. Been this way many times, but missed right turn into Cockering Rd. Into huge Saxon Fields housing development. New roads. Back on course past excouncil estate. Soon rural. Larkey Valley Woods, a favourite place. Farmland largely stubble. Past pub,The Local. Right onto The Downs, which becomes Shalmsford St. Parked on parallel Brice Ave.
Short walk to footpath. Removed ivy from concrete public footpath marker. Pruned a little by fingerpost. Wide grassy path between hedges. School grounds on right. Soon metal gate where path goes 45 degrees left. Pruned branches with secateurs. Also used saw on nearby tree to remove branches at eye height.
Path leads through a stubble field over a ridge to Mystole Lane. Good walkng conditions. 21 deg C. No rain forecast. Dry underfoot after drought. Comfortable in teeshirt. Walked to top of hill, determined to walk daily mile after days of resting. Breezy. Wide rural view to southwest. Few buildings: a farm below, tower of Chilham church further away.
Returned to car. Drove home via Morrisons for coffee, as often before covid. Cafe not crowded, maybe because hot food not avialable today. Slogan on wall “Food you’ll love company you’ll keep”
Pleased to be back to footpath work. A contribution to public good, though small. Foot tolerable. September 1st, autumn to meteorologists. Certainly nights are drawing in. Days like this are end of summer rather than start of winter.
Keep walking.
Reference: Judith Glover, “The place names of Kent”
Rambling Brummie 